FFS...

[Dodgy69]

Time for a quick oil and filter for the MT. First 2 had been done at dealer for warranty bollox. Off with the sump plug and oil in container, sorted.

Now the filter. Ffs could I move it . I've read in the past that Yamaha are notorious for over tightening filters from factory, but this should have already been changed at least once. Do I trust dealer's, no i don't.

So me thinks this could be the original, who knows. First attempt to remove was with proper socket that fits to the flats on outer edge, rounded them. Next was a belt strap, just slipped. Next was chain wrench, this squashed the filter so finally the screwdriver and hammer. Again further destruction of filter and no movement.

Finally, back to chain wrench but with plenty of grippy bits of filter to grip on to and I saw movement and eventual success.

Why o why do they tighten them like this, arseholes. Anyway, job done and sorted but not as quick as expected.

[KungFooBob]

I had one once where I applied so much pressure using the screwdriver method (after all others had failed), that it just sheared the whole thing from the base. What a ballache that was. IIRC I ended up drifting it off.

[Skub]

Hand tight + a wee nip with a filter socket is all I've ever done. I'd not trust a shop who employed anyone to swing on an oil filter.

But hey,they walk amongst us.

[Taipan]

You're Savio du Funk and i claim my soapy tenner!

[Skub]

You're Savio du Funk and i claim my soapy tenner!

That did occur to me too.

[ChrisW]

It was just the same in my experience with a Yamaha dealer service, and I'd done the first filter change so it wasn't the factory.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I've never done them up more than (as tight as i can get) hand tight.

Mrs. Ds old Honda (car) had filters which go in a canister with a bolt on lid thats part of the engine. I.e. like an air filter is. Little bit messier to deal with, but way easier to undo!

[Supermofo]

My GSXS is coming up to a service if I stick to doing it annually around May time and I'm very worried I'm going to have the same issue. I'm not going back to the dealer as it's out of the 3 year warranty now.

Seems the torque setting in the service book for the oil filter is 20nm, which is only 3nm less than the drain plug! The book says either 20nm or 2 full rotations after the gasket sits flat with the housing. That seems a bit much to me?? I've only done the hand tight plus a nip as per @Skub method before. I've no idea if St Neots Suzuki have gone for the full 20nm but it wouldn't surprise me if they had. I guess I'll find out when I go to undo it.

I also notice that the service schedule is oil every 7500 (I've done about 2600) with a filter every 2nd service. I know St Neots did the filter as I checked with them and they thought it was nuts too for the sake of an extra tenner so do filters every time but it's the first time I've done so I'll see how tight they went. Hoping they didn't go full Tonto.

As for doing it up I'm probably gonna stick to my usual method and maybe mark the filer so I can see if it moves. I've never had a filter leak, but Yamaha/Suzuki must have a reason...maybe. I'm guessing it covers them from any chance of it coming off. I'm gonna buy an OE filter and the matching filter socket.

[KungFooBob]

If you're in anyway worried about it coming off...

If there's enough filter exposed where it's fitted, put a large jubilee clip round it and then lock wire that to something. It's how they do it on race bikes (unless it's one of them K&N oil filters with the nut on the top that is pre drilled for lock wire).

[mangocrazy]

Like Skub, I do the filter up as tight as I can manage using hands only and have never had a filter come loose. To me they always seem to self-tighten in use. And I'm probably old-skool (in fact I know I am) but 7500 miles between oil changes is a bit high for me. That would be OK for a car, but not a bike. Bikes rev way higher than cars while often making as much power, plus bike gearboxes are integral with the engine and chew the oil up in a way that cars (with entirely separate gearboxes) never experience.

Old pre-unit Nortons and Triumphs are excluded from this broad brush statement, obvs...

[Supermofo]

but 7500 miles between oil changes is a bit high for me

Me too. Mine's gonna have it's 3rd oil change in May probably at about 6500 miles total, 2500 odd since the last change. I've pretty much stuck to the 3k miles/12 months I've always done with all my bikes. I think bike manufactures are going the way of cars. I think some Triumphs and Ducati's are at 10k miles oil changes. Not sure I'd wanna leave it that long!

[Supermofo]

If you're in anyway worried about it coming off...

If there's enough filter exposed where it's fitted, put a large jubilee clip round it and then lock wire that to something. It's how they do it on race bikes (unless it's one of them K&N oil filters with the nut on the top that is pre drilled for lock wire).

Yeah I've heard of that from reading on the GSXS forum. Both methods are things people have done rather than the 20nm.

[mangocrazy]

but 7500 miles between oil changes is a bit high for me

Me too. Mine's gonna have it's 3rd oil change in May probably at about 6500 miles total, 2500 odd since the last change. I've pretty much stuck to the 3k miles/12 months I've always done with all my bikes. I think bike manufactures are going the way of cars. I think some Triumphs and Ducati's are at 10k miles oil changes. Not sure I'd wanna leave it that long!

And then you have KTM's recommendation for the Duke 690 engines to change oil every 10000 km (6200 miles). With an oil capacity of only 1.7 litres! Madness. Mine gets changed at maximum every 3000 miles/12 months, like you do. Why wouldn't you? I've never done 3000 miles in a year on the 690 so it actually gets changed at significantly shorter intervals than 3k. But at 1.7 litres per fill up I can get nearly 3 oil changes out of a 5 litre bottle of Motul 10w60...

[weeksy]

but 7500 miles between oil changes is a bit high for me

Me too. Mine's gonna have it's 3rd oil change in May probably at about 6500 miles total, 2500 odd since the last change. I've pretty much stuck to the 3k miles/12 months I've always done with all my bikes. I think bike manufactures are going the way of cars. I think some Triumphs and Ducati's are at 10k miles oil changes. Not sure I'd wanna leave it that long!

And then you have KTM's recommendation for the Duke 690 engines to change oil every 10000 km (6200 miles). With an oil capacity of only 1.7 litres! Madness. Mine gets changed at maximum every 3000 miles/12 months, like you do. Why wouldn't you? I've never done 3000 miles in a year on the 690 so it actually gets changed at significantly shorter intervals than 3k. But at 1.7 litres per fill up I can get nearly 3 oil changes out of a 5 litre bottle of Motul 10w60...

Kinda weird that you choose to change it more often, but not use the KTM recommended oil ?

[Mr. Dazzle]

My car is just coming up to it's first ever service at 14,000 miles - oil has never been changed since it was brand new. Didn't even have any running in instructions S'not burned a drop of oil in all that time, so far as I can work out. Not that it's easy to tell, it doesn't have a dipstick

[KungFooBob]

The dealer says my car is due a cambelt.

The interval is 90,000 miles or ten years.

My car is five years old with 47,000 miles. So why is it due I ask?

It's got 18,000 mile/one year service intervals.

The dealers computer says that by year five the car will have done 18,000 miles five times... 90,000 miles and is therefore due a £699 cambelt change.

It's bonkers, I wonder how many actually fall for it?

[Mr. Dazzle]

It's genius on the part of the dealer though

[mangocrazy]

Me too. Mine's gonna have it's 3rd oil change in May probably at about 6500 miles total, 2500 odd since the last change. I've pretty much stuck to the 3k miles/12 months I've always done with all my bikes. I think bike manufactures are going the way of cars. I think some Triumphs and Ducati's are at 10k miles oil changes. Not sure I'd wanna leave it that long!

And then you have KTM's recommendation for the Duke 690 engines to change oil every 10000 km (6200 miles). With an oil capacity of only 1.7 litres! Madness. Mine gets changed at maximum every 3000 miles/12 months, like you do. Why wouldn't you? I've never done 3000 miles in a year on the 690 so it actually gets changed at significantly shorter intervals than 3k. But at 1.7 litres per fill up I can get nearly 3 oil changes out of a 5 litre bottle of Motul 10w60...

Kinda weird that you choose to change it more often, but not use the KTM recommended oil ?

I regard Motul as a step up from the OE Motorex; in fact I regard Motul as about as good as it gets. When I changed from Motorex to Motul, as soon as I started the bike up it sounded way less clattery. And the Motorex was the same grade (10w60) and had only done about 1500 miles so shouldn't have been shagged out.

What do the Swiss know about oil anyway? They should stick to making cuckoo clocks...

[KungFooBob]

...and odd shaped eggs.

[mangocrazy]

My car is just coming up to it's first ever service at 14,000 miles - oil has never been changed since it was brand new. Didn't even have any running in instructions S'not burned a drop of oil in all that time, so far as I can work out. Not that it's easy to tell, it doesn't have a dipstick

Doesn't it have an oil level indication on the dash? My 40 year old Lancia has that...

Coming soon to a forecourt near you - sealed for life engines...