848 oil change

[tweek]

Did my 848’s second oil change myself. Couldn’t believe how easy and nice it is to do. Picked up a filter and a gallon of Motul. Threw the bike up on its rear stand and removed the right side lower fairing (the black thing closest to the ground).

The lower fairing comes off pretty easily, 3 screws on bottom 5 screws on top. There is a hose the goes through the fairing. No idea what it is, I just left the whole thing alone and laid the fairing on some newspaper so it wouldn’t get scratched up. Then I slid my catch pan underneath and removed the oil drain plug. Then I removed the cap from on top of the engine. Once most of the oil was out I removed the filter.

What was cool was that once the fairing was gone everything is right there. No awkward bending and twisting required - it's easy to get at. Just slip the strap around the filter and twist. Same with the drain plug. Even the fairing came off pretty easily.

sitting next to the bike:


looking up from the left side (the oil drain plug is large bolt by itself):



Once everything was drained away I wiped things up and did a simple visual inspection. Everything was nice and clean so I started putting things back. New filter went on after putting some oil on the rubber seal. I tightened it down to hand tight and then used the strap to give it about another inch of turn. Inspected the oil drain plug – found a few small metal bits, but I don’t think it is anything to worry about – the engine is all of 2300 miles old so it’s probably something that didn’t drain off during the first oil change. I cleaned up the plug’s magnet and put it back in. I don’t have Allan wrench bits for my torque wrench so I had to judge by hand. Got it hand tight and then pushed it a little further. I’ll have to keep inspecting it for the first few hundred miles to make sure it isn’t too loose.

Then I started refilling. Just watch the glass, once the oil stays up and the second line stop. Put the cap on, roll the bike outside and start it up. Watch the oil light it will stay on a bit longer than normal while the new oil refills the system you just drained out. IF it doesn’t go off after about 15 seconds though, shut the engine down and reinspect your work. I can’t image how you could screw up an oil change but I suppose it can happen. Anyway, after the light has gone out and the engine has run for 2 minutes shut the bike down. Keep the bike on the ground and recheck the oil level, if it has dropped refill to the second line. Once that is done you're good to go. Cleanup the mess and dispose of the old oil in your neighbor's flower bed.

Seriously - changing oil really isn't a big deal and is kind of nice to do. Even if you have limited wrenching talent you can handle this one. However, if you just aren't comfortable doing it - take it to the dealer or to your favorite local shop.

[hawc]

Originally Posted by tweek

Once that is done you're good to go. Cleanup the mess and dispose of the old oil in your neighbor's flower bed.

[NateM]

why not remove the mesh filter and clean it also?

[tweek]

dumping oil - be sure to do it at night so there won't be any witnesses

mesh filter - could you tell me more about it? I missed that.

[Cecil]

Um yeah. The mesh filter. See those 4 allen bolts next to the drain plug? Those hold the "mesh" filter. According to the 1098 Service Manual the mesh filter should be cleaned out every 2 oil changes.

Don't have a heart attack or anything. I'm sure your bike will be fine. But next oil change make sure you take that thing out and clean it.

From the 1098 Service Manual...without pics...sorry

Every two oil changes, clean the oil pickup gauze filter.
Undo the four bolts (5) securing the outer cap (6) and plug.
Take care not to damage the gasket (7).

Take out the filter element (8), check the O-rings (9) and replace if necessary.

Clean the filter with petrol and compressed air. Take care not to damage the gauze.
Refit the gauze filter (8), gasket (7) and O-ring (9) to the cap (6).

btw... Those bolts are on there pretty tight from the factory. I highly recommend getting some socket allen's.

[NateM]

I did my own oil change at 500 miles and the mesh filter had a considerable amount of metal shavings in it (normal)

[tweek]

Glad I posted this then. I wondered what that plate was hiding. Next oil change will be at 4K and I'll take a peak behind that plate next time.

BTW- perhaps everybody doesnt know this, or maybe I'm the only moron who didnt: you take your old oil and filter to any parts store or oil change place and they'll take care of it for you. That way you don't have to be sneaking around at night playing Cpt. Hazelwood and the Exxon Valdeze.

[tye1138]

I assume the 848 has the same filter. My filter cover is RTV'd in, no visible gasket... so I kinda assumed, the filter screen wasn't a normal 3k oil service check item.

Nice thing about the 848 so far is the bloody drain plug magnet... its FREE of metal shavings! LOL. Both my 748 motors had almost constant shavings on the magnets... gotta love older Duc's!

Ohh and BTW... you don't have to remove the upper fairing on the 848, just the bottom left fairing. That makes it much easier to deal with, that upper fairing is a bitch and 1/2 to deal with! WHERE ARE MY DZUS AT! LOL

I just installed an RS pipe on my 748 and it covers, not only the oil filter BUT the oil drain plug too! So do to an oil change, you've gotta take that section of pipe out... woops... LOL

[kaos]

it's good practice to fill the filter with oil before installing.that way you not running the engine dry

[SuperGooch]

Just a heads up:

I changed my oil and filter today at 3100 miles. The filter was cranked on so tight that the filter tool wasn't able to remove it and actually "stripped" the filter...had to get it out by drivin' a screwdriver in there...

I can't believe the dealer charges an hour of labor for something that took me 20 minutes...