Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Oil Cooler drain

How much oil is retained in the oil cooler when you do a standard oil change? If any stays in the cooler, how can you get it out?

I recently bought a new oil to try, Motul 300V 4T 15w50. I'm pretty excited about it!

At 5880 miles the bike was filled with Drag Specialties oil (cheapest the shop I bought it from had and used when they changed it). At 9006 miles, I had them change it with Amsoil 20w50 Motorcycle oil and a new Napa/Wix filter.

The new oil should be here today and I want to get all of the old oil; probably, a mix of eight years worht of old oil, mostly newer Amsoil; out of the bike and have just the 300V double ester inside.

I also plan on sending the old oil to Blackstone Labs for an analysis. I've never done that before, but seems like a good idea. Unless, someone knows of a better lab or a cheaper, almost as good, one.

Also, I'm doing this change at a buddy's house (he has a lift!). Do you pour a little oil in the filter and screw it on or do you just screw it on and let the bike fill the filter? Anything else I need ot know (first time changing oil on a bike).

Off hand I would say no oil remains in the oil radiator as it drains down to the sump. I'm sure a bit remains in nooks and crannies yet the only good way to drain the oil is to warm up your bike then remove the oil drain plug. This job is easier off the lift too. That said you'll need to lift the bike off the side-stand periodically while the oil drains out.

Fill up the oil filter before you install it. If you intend to use the amsoil for double the normal interval or 12 months (whichever comes first) ensure you change out the wix oil filter halfway through the amsoil interval. You could get an amsoil filter and not have to bother with the oil filter change until your replace the amsoil oil...

Keith (blackwind) has his oil tested. You might send him a PM asking which lab he uses.