My first oil change...

[Botch]

Okay, I'm not nicknamed "Botch" without reason. The simplest things....

Got back from a fun ride this afternoon, and put the bike up on the centerstand in prep for my first oil change (I had the dealer do the first two "break-in changes; at >$200 apiece it was time to get my hands dirty).

I let the bike cool just a bit while I reviewed the procedure and gathered my tools and rags. Put the oil pan under the bike, removed the oil plug, and poured oil past the pan onto the driveway, quickly moved the pan, and caught most of it.

When the drain was reduced to a trickle I mounted my brand-new oil filter wrench cap, mounted it on the oil filter, and started pulling. NOTE! Make sure the handle is to the left (so you're pushing down) or down (so you're pushing back), not Up so you're pushing the bike forward! That filter was on pretty tight and I suddenly realized I almost pushed the bike off the centerstand, yikes!

Got the filter off, drained it, then spent the next 10 minutes trying to dislodge it from the wrench cap. Instead of a nice 6-sided end cap, these damn filters have, I think, 57 sides, so it jams up real good.

Wiped everything clean (a joy to work on sorta-new machinery that's not all caked up with gunk!) and screwed in the drain plug, then got out my cool brand new Craftsman torque wrench. Slipped in my oily fingers and hit the cement! Only dropped about 18" so hope it's okay.

Torqued down the plug and the new filter, then started refilling my bike with oil.

The FZ-6 has a pretty small oil hole compared to every other vehicle I've ever owned, so I'd recommend a funnel. So now I have matching oil patches on the cement on both sides of the bike.

Started the bike up, ran it a few minutes, and shut it down to let the oil drain. Meanwhile, I grabbed an empty 1-gal plastic jug to pour the old oil into, but couldn't find my funnel. Searched a bit, then found a tall, slender funnel that I think was left behind by the previous homeowners. Dropped it into the jug (fit perfectly) and started pouring oil into it.

Well, the jug and funnel started oscillating, then began to tip over! I grabbed it with one hand, leaving me holding the drain pan with just one hand, it folded and poured the rest of the oil on the cement. Again. Glad I wore my oldest jeans. Turns out this slender funnel didn't have any ribs on the outside, and the tapered body sealed off the interior of the jug, air couldn't escape from the jug, the funnel couldn't drain, became top-heavy, and over she went!

Some guy from Exxon is looking at my driveway right now and I think he's writing out a check...



Well, the job's finished and I have two bags of kitty litter covering my driveway. Got some ideas to do it better next time.

Ya see, I'm not nicknamed "Botch" without reason...

[wodger]

Good story Botch. Sorry, not got any advice, just want to say you convinced me to take mine to repair shop each time. I have a new drive and she would be pi$$ed if I put oil all over it!!

[sportrider]

sorry botch, I give you an A for effort though. you can always just mop oil over your entire garage floor though and it will match.

[sideshow_downs]

You get better everytime you do it. Now that you know where you had trouble you will be thinking about that next time and it will go smoother. Practice makes perfect

[CanadianFZ6]

LOL.... Still, kitty litter is much cheaper than $200 oil changes... Next time you'll be a pro at it....

[VEGASRIDER]

[Rushiku]

LOL, I haven't tried my bike yet, but this definately reminds me of my first cage oil change (took 3 or 4 washings to get the oil out of my hair...)

[Tailgate]

Entertaining story! I find it handy to jam a couple of aluminum foil sheets underneath the drain plug so that oil will not flow on bike parts and will channel better into the drain pan. Yeah, cardboard or newspapers underneath because, inevitably (unless you are really good) some oil will spash/get dripped on the ground.

[abacall]

Too funny! I just did my first change on the Fizz and had huge oil stains too. Luckily it was not my driveway, but the abandoned house next door.
When I drained my oil, I had the overshoot problem also. Then when I went to empty out the pan into the jugs I have, I overflowed the jug and dropped the pan....
Live and learn. Next change needs to come sooner than later anyway. I just realized I put in Pentosynth, which is a fantastic oil, but has friction modifiers..... Doh!

[MarinaFazer]

Good for trying! Besides...what's a driveway without some battlescars???? I've done 2 changes...my first was about 50% less of a disaster than yours, but you learn quick. Congratulations!

Feels good don't it??