Okay, so the other day, I decided it was time to give my motorcycle some love. And by love, I mean an oil change. I’ve got this bike, see, and it’s been running a little rough, so I figured, why not start with the basics?
First things first, I needed to grab the right oil. After looking through what I had and I did not have what I needed, I went down to the local auto parts store. I told the guy there, “I need some 10w30 motorcycle engine oil.”
Getting My Hands Dirty
I found a good brand I use all the time, so with the oil and a new filter in hand, I headed back home.
Back in my garage, I got everything set up. I’m talking, getting the bike up on the stand, making sure it’s nice and steady. Then, I grabbed my tools – wrench, oil pan, some rags, the usual stuff.
- Wrench set
- Oil pan (an old one, of course)
- Plenty of rags
- New oil filter
- Fresh 10w30 motorcycle oil
The first step was warming up the engine a bit. You know, get the oil flowing so it drains easier. Not too hot, though, because I didn’t feel like burning myself.
I found the drain plug underneath, put the oil pan in place, and with a few turns of the wrench, loosened the plug. Hot oil, is no joke if you get it on your hands.
I let the old oil drain out completely. It’s kind of satisfying watching that black gunk come out, knowing you’re about to put in some fresh, golden liquid.
The Filter and the Fresh Oil
Once the oil was all drained, I moved on to the filter. It’s an easy swap, usually located next to the drain bolt. I did remember to put a bit of new oil on the rubber seal of the new filter – old trick to make sure it seals properly.
With the new filter on and the drain plug tightened back up (not too tight, just snug!), I grabbed the new 10w30 oil. I added a little at a time until the oil was at the proper level.
Finally, I ran the engine for a few minutes, checked for any leaks (none, thankfully!), and then checked the oil level one last time after letting it settle. Perfect!
And that’s it! My bike’s running smoother already. It’s amazing what a simple oil change can do. And hey, doing it yourself? It’s not rocket science, and it saves you a few bucks. Plus, you get that good feeling of taking care of your own ride.
