06 Shadow Oil Change

[Dannosarusrex]

I called my local bike shop today to see about an oil change. They said it would cost $55. So now my question is, how do I change my own oil? I have no idea what to do. Any advise is appreciated.


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[droland]

Take it to the shop.
Or get a shop manual.

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[ButchA]

Read this link... Newbie Question about oil change

Also, watch the You Tube video for tips. I did my own oil change and had never done it before either. It wasn't too bad. Based on my "mechanically challenged" ability, I will offer this advice, from a first time experience:

• Try to park your Aero so it straddles a little divet or something. You only have like 4-5" of clearance, and believe me - it's tight under there!
• Use a 17mm offset metric wrench for the oil drain plug. Go in from the front side and slip it in beside the lower radiator hose. Slowly crack open the drain plug, but not all the way. Remember, lefty=loosy, righty=tighty.
• Find the smallest, thinnest, flattest, oil drain pan that you can get your hands on, and somehow wedge it under the bike. You might have to sit on the bike, hold it upright, and kick the drain pan under the frame with your foot.
• Go back to the drain plug and carefully remove it with your fingers, and let the oil drain into the pan.
• Sit back and have a beer while the oil drains...

Now for the fun part - the %*#&% oil filter....

• After all the oil has drained out, check the washer on the drain plug and if really worn and nasty, replace it. (I reused mine, and it's okay and doesn't leak).
• Screw the drain plug back on and tighten with the 17mm wrench. Tighten it good, with the same amount of torque used to take it off.
• Use a 64mm metric oil filter wrench (the one that looks like a small dish with a 3/8 socket wrench hole on the end).
• Trust me... it's worth it. It looks like one of these -
• 
• Take off the oil filter - believe me... Use some serious "cajones" with the 3/8 socket and filter wrench. Honda notoriously puts them on so tight, it almost takes an act of God to get them off!
• Coat the new oil filter gasket with oil and screw it on, but HAND TIGHT and maybe 1/2 turn more, or until you can't muscle it on anymore by hand. DO NOT use the filter wrench to tighten it!!!
• Refill the engine crankcase with 2.75 quarts of synthetic oil that is JASO-MA rated.
• Start the bike and let it run for a little bit to circulate the new oil, then shut it off.
• Hold the bike upright and check the dipstick level. Take a reading with the dipstick resting on the hole of the crankcase - NOT with the dipstick screwed back in. If not enough oil, add just a touch more.

That's all there is to it. I said it before in a few threads... If I can change my own oil, anyone can!

Edit: My recommendations...
Oil = Shell Rotella T6
Filter = Purolator L14612

[GiveItToMikey]

It is actually easy, at least after the first time you change it.

However, that being said -- you just might want to take it to the shop (the first time) and make sure they let you watch. Then you're good to go for the rest of your motorcycle life.

Also, some shops actually charge more than $55 to change oil, believe it or not. And by the time you're finished getting an oil drain pan, funnel, oil (especially synthetic) you're gonna be up to around $55 anyway -- the first time. And while it's in the shop (if that's the way you decide to go) have them point out some general maintenance tips for your bike. They should be happy to do so. (Famous last words.)

[MudholeMike]

ButchA pretty much covered what you need to do. The only thing I would add is it really helps if you can get the bike a little higher off the ground to allow for easier access underneath the bike. What I usually do is drive the bike up onto a couple of pieces of 2X8 boards, one under the front tire and one under the back, and then a third piece placed under the kickstand. This raises the bike a couple of inches which makes all the difference in terms of getting to the drain plug, putting a drain pan underneath, and accessing the oil filter.
All in all it's a simple procedure and you can do it for much less than what a shop would charge. If that is the only maintenance you ever do over time, you'll save a considerable amount of money.

[El Fenix]

I buy my own supplies and let the shop do the wrenching. Rotella T6 FTW!

[jsalman93]

55 is kind of a lot in my opinion. Yeah you'll need to buy a drain pan and funnel and oil and filter, but that wouldn't be that much (maybe about 5 bucks for a motorcycle drain pan, funnel is about 2 bucks, oil maybe 10 or so, and filter about 15 if you look around). Although in saying that I also know that prices for things vary state by state. I have to agree though, either watch a few videos of it on youtube and have your service manual ready, or take it to the shop and watch how they do it.

[gmck]

Butch covered it very well. I do recommend using a box end wrench to avoid rounding the drain plug with an open end or cresent wrench. Good advise always to use box end or sockets whenever you can. Select an oil for your climate but something like the rotella synthetic will cover about anything you might want to ride in. I prefer Mobil 1 10w40 and have used a filter from Walmart, the Purolator Classic. I hope it is as good as the Supertech was. The 2x8s sound like a really good idea, it is a bit close especially to use the wrench. Good luck and I have replaced my washer with some copper ones from the autoparts store.