Oil Change

MrTsquared903 · August 17th, 2012, 06:03 AM

What's a good estimate (mileage wise) to change the oil? Been about 2500 miles ago since the last one and thought about changing it this weekend.

csmith12 · August 17th, 2012, 06:06 AM

Tough question based on the info you gave us. Depends on so many factors. Honestly though... Look through the sight glass and if the oil is a nice amber color your good. If it's some other color or smells funny (burnt or sweet), it's time.

MrTsquared903 · August 17th, 2012, 06:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Tough question based on the info you gave us. Depends on so many factors. Honestly though... Look through the sight glass and if the oil is a nice amber color your good. If it's some other color or smells funny (burnt or sweet), it's time.

No major mods to the bike other than a slip on. Haven't jetted (yet). I'll check the sight glass when I get home though. Thanks

Malicious Logic · August 17th, 2012, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

Tough question based on the info you gave us. Depends on so many factors. Honestly though... Look through the sight glass and if the oil is a nice amber color your good. If it's some other color or smells funny (burnt or sweet), it's time.

Amber you say? Lol, mine didn't even look amber coming out of the bottle.

xSean13 · August 17th, 2012, 08:05 AM

Depends what oil you used. I believe the full synthetic (rotella t-6) a lot of people use is much darker.

csmith12 · August 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM

What oil you using Mark?

Lol, my bad... I was playing the law of averages. Let's face it, most oil is amber or slightly darker. Similar to beer, coincidence???? Maybe.

It should be close to the color that I came from the bottle.

csmith12 · August 17th, 2012, 08:12 AM

*** for tat on color shade, maybe I am color blind. If I had to give a color name it would be amber, because no other color is remotely close to accuracy.

csmith12 · August 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM

dubojr1 · August 17th, 2012, 08:18 AM

Those colors are easily seen thru the glass jars. Our sight glass would have no back light and would appear darker without it. Maybe shining a flashlight down from the fill would illuminate the oil in the sight.

Personally I use T6 and change every 5k miles.

MrTsquared903 · August 17th, 2012, 08:21 AM

Thanks for the chart. I'll keep that for reference.

lgk · August 17th, 2012, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dubojr1

Those colors are easily seen thru the glass jars. Our sight glass would have no back light and would appear darker without it. Maybe shining a flashlight down from the fill would illuminate the oil in the sight.

Personally I use T6 and change every 5k miles.

i changed the oil at 600mi then at 4000mi.
for break in the oil didn't look bad at 4k.

if anything i probably wasted my money.

MrTsquared903 · August 17th, 2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgk

if anything i probably wasted my money.

Lol this is why I'm thinking I'll just wait until that 4K+ mark

seanshawnS · August 17th, 2012, 09:19 AM

Isn't it good for a new engine to have the oil changed.. pretty regularly? More regularly than is currently being suggested.

lgk · August 17th, 2012, 09:23 AM

i should have gotten the oil tested, to see if it made a difference.

didn't think about it at that time...

Alex · August 17th, 2012, 09:31 AM

The recommended maintenance schedule from Kawasaki is in a sticky thread at the top of this section. Some people change oil their oil more frequently. It would probably not be a great idea to change it less frequently than that recommended schedule.

MrTsquared903 · August 17th, 2012, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex

The recommended maintenance schedule from Kawasaki is in a sticky thread at the top of this section. Some people change oil their oil more frequently. It would probably not be a great idea to change it less frequently than that recommended schedule.

Thanks Alex, that's exactly what I was looking for.

alex.s · August 17th, 2012, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

hey! nice!!! thats a great photo.

azimmer11 · August 17th, 2012, 12:12 PM

I change mine every 1,500-2,000 miles.

lgk · August 17th, 2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

hey! nice!!! thats a great photo.

i think it would look better if you darken it two shades.

alex.s · August 17th, 2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lgk

i think it would look better if you darken it two shades.

shine a flashlight into the sightglass

Miles_Prower · August 17th, 2012, 01:08 PM

Alex.s hows your butt? lol that slide looks not so fun

alex.s · August 17th, 2012, 01:10 PM

nah it was actually loads of fun. no real damage to the bike either.

lgk · August 17th, 2012, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alex.s

no real damage to the bike either.

thats good, i figured the frame would get bent if the bike caught air.

menikmati · August 17th, 2012, 10:16 PM

I usually go around 3k miles since changes are cheap and actually pretty fun.

Malicious Logic · August 18th, 2012, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmith12

What oil you using Mark?

Lol, my bad... I was playing the law of averages. Let's face it, most oil is amber or slightly darker. Similar to beer, coincidence???? Maybe.

It should be close to the color that I came from the bottle.

On my last oil change, I used Mobil 1 10w-40. It's a full synthetic.

August 17th, 2012, 06:03 AM	#1
MrTsquared903 ninjette.org member Name: Tony Location: Dallas Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r Posts: 78	Oil Change What's a good estimate (mileage wise) to change the oil? Been about 2500 miles ago since the last one and thought about changing it this weekend.

August 17th, 2012, 06:06 AM	#2
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	Tough question based on the info you gave us. Depends on so many factors. Honestly though... Look through the sight glass and if the oil is a nice amber color your good. If it's some other color or smells funny (burnt or sweet), it's time. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

August 17th, 2012, 08:08 AM	#6
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	What oil you using Mark? Lol, my bad... I was playing the law of averages. Let's face it, most oil is amber or slightly darker. Similar to beer, coincidence???? Maybe. It should be close to the color that I came from the bottle. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

August 17th, 2012, 08:12 AM	#7
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	*** for tat on color shade, maybe I am color blind. If I had to give a color name it would be amber, because no other color is remotely close to accuracy. __________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

August 17th, 2012, 08:13 AM	#8
csmith12 The Corner Whisperer Name: Chris (aka Reactor) Location: Northern KY Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much. MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13	__________________________________________________ Goal: Shake A Million Hands \| Look through the corners \| Track Day Prep \| Closest track? \| The Mid-Ohio School

August 17th, 2012, 08:05 AM	#5
xSean13 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Sean Location: Middle TN Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250r (sold) / '03 CBR 600RR Posts: A lot.	Depends what oil you used. I believe the full synthetic (rotella t-6) a lot of people use is much darker.

August 17th, 2012, 08:18 AM	#9
dubojr1 ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Jacksonville, Florida Join Date: May 2010 Motorcycle(s): 09 Ninja 250R SE, 07 Honda CRF230F, 06 Honda CRF150F Posts: A lot.	Those colors are easily seen thru the glass jars. Our sight glass would have no back light and would appear darker without it. Maybe shining a flashlight down from the fill would illuminate the oil in the sight. Personally I use T6 and change every 5k miles. __________________________________________________ 09 250R SE: Paying it forward one post at a time! Don't forget to add yourself to our Member Map

August 17th, 2012, 08:21 AM	#10
MrTsquared903 ninjette.org member Name: Tony Location: Dallas Join Date: Jun 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250r Posts: 78	Thanks for the chart. I'll keep that for reference.

August 17th, 2012, 09:19 AM	#13
seanshawnS ninjette.org member Name: SHAWN Location: NS Join Date: Jul 2012 Motorcycle(s): Ninja250r(2012PR) Posts: 86	Isn't it good for a new engine to have the oil changed.. pretty regularly? More regularly than is currently being suggested. __________________________________________________ Turn around at half a tank

August 17th, 2012, 09:23 AM	#14
lgk ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Jason Location: Norfolk, VA Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 EX250, 2014 EX300 Posts: A lot.	i should have gotten the oil tested, to see if it made a difference. didn't think about it at that time... __________________________________________________ Ethioknight Memorial Fund- Sticker sale http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=111700

August 17th, 2012, 09:31 AM	#15
Alex ninjette.org dude Name: 1 guess :-) Location: SF Bay Area Join Date: Jun 2008 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 (white, the fastest color!), '13 R1200RT, '14 CRF250L, '12 TT-R125LE Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 7	The recommended maintenance schedule from Kawasaki is in a sticky thread at the top of this section. Some people change oil their oil more frequently. It would probably not be a great idea to change it less frequently than that recommended schedule. __________________________________________________ Montgomery Street Motorcycle Club / cal24.com / crf250l.org / ninjette.org ninjette.org Terms of Service Shopping for motorcycle parts or equipment? Come here first. The friendliest Ninja 250R/300/400 forum on the internet! (especially Unregistered)

August 17th, 2012, 12:12 PM	#18
azimmer11 ninjette.org sage Name: Alex Location: michigan Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250r Posts: 784	I change mine every 1,500-2,000 miles.

August 17th, 2012, 01:08 PM	#21
Miles_Prower One Loyal Fox Name: Rahul Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250R (RIP), 2011 ZX-6R Posts: 869	Alex.s hows your butt? lol that slide looks not so fun __________________________________________________ My riding blog! Check it out if you are bored!aninjaridingpandabear.blogspot.com RIP Alex 8.10.12

August 17th, 2012, 01:10 PM	#22
alex.s wat Name: wat Location: tustin/long beach Join Date: Sep 2009 Motorcycle(s): wat Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 5 MOTM - Oct '12, Feb '14	nah it was actually loads of fun. no real damage to the bike either. __________________________________________________

August 17th, 2012, 10:16 PM	#24
menikmati crash 250, get supersport Name: Richard Location: San Diego, CA Join Date: Apr 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250R SE (Sold 6/9/14), 2009 ZX-6R (Sold 6/25/14), Subaru BRZ Posts: A lot.	I usually go around 3k miles since changes are cheap and actually pretty fun.

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