Oil filter on 83 KZ550?

KZ Riders - I'm finally to the point of changing the oil for the first time on my 83 KZ550 LTD... the only thing is that I have the Owners Manual, the Kawasaki Service Manual, and the Clymer Manual - and not one of them mentions what oil filter I should use!

Am I going crazy or how do I find out what filter I need to get?

Thanks!
-Dustin

16099-003 is the part number.

You're not crazy!

You can go to the Kawasaki website and look under "Owner Info" then "Parts Diagrams". Go through the year and model selections until you get to your bike. Pick the area of the bike you want to look at, that's where you find your part number, & part diagrams, and you can print them out. The parts diagram shows how the whole filter assembly fits together with the spring and washer.

You can buy the filter at the dealer or get a generic one from Ebay, or Z1Enterprises. Z1 has good prices and fast shipping.

Have fun and good luck!

If you're lucky, you can probably walk into one of the larger auto-parts stores and get one. Some of them have started carrying motorcycle parts and the KZ's use some of the most common filters and batteries.
The motorcycle filters will sometimes be in a corner seperate from the car filters. I find them at Pepboys, but maybe Autozone or Murrays might have them. They come with new o-ring gaskets, but often you won't need the gaskets.

Don't use Fram, if you can help it.

Your 550 uses:
Purolator ML16812
or
STP SMO-12

The KZ400's, and use the same filter, so it may be the same as your 440. (Gotta luv Kaw for that!)

When you change the filter, there are several metal parts (washers and a spring) that sometimes stick to the old filter. Pay attention on how it comes apart and make sure you don't accidently throw them away.

When you open it, that filter dumps a lot of oil so be ready.

Post edited by: loudhvx, at: 2007/06/18 09:15

I use Napa 4941 or Wix 24941, same filter and readily available everywhere. My CSR uses the same one also:)

A while back I gathered up oil filter compatibility information from various websites, mostly from filter companies' cross-reference charts. Most Kawasaki's use the same size of filter, the 16099-003. Here are compatible filters for this -003 filter:

If your local Kawasaki dealer's oil filter part number is: 16099-003 "Filter,Oil (3C)" (H: 2.205 OD: 3.028 ID: .772 )

The following filters WILL WORK

Baldwin: P148
Emgo: 10-37500
Fram: CH6012
Hastings: LF571
Honda: 15410-422-000
Honda: 15410-422-004
Honda: 15410-426-000
Honda: 15410-426-010
Honda: 15410-300-024
K&N: KN-401
NAPA: 4941
Purolator: ML 16812
STP: SMO-12
Triumph: 1210031
Triumph: 1210031T301
Wix: 24941
Yamaha: 36Y-13441-00
Perf-Form: J-501

As far as Honda filters having 5 different part numbers, if I recall correctly the measurements were the same for all 5, I don't know why there would be different part numbers.

The bigger 750 twins and the 1000 use a different size, I'm not sure what it is.

Thanks Kent! Nice list there. That is wierd about the Honda numbers.

Juat a note, the Kawasaki filters from the dealer don't come with the O-rings. They are an additional rediculous charge. I use the Wix filter, very reasonable price and includes the O-rings. Napa is also a good choice. I agree with what someone else said here, don't go orange...

Just wondering, why not uce Fram filters?

Our local NAPA store currently has a cutaway of a Fram PH8 compared to a Wix 51515 (or NAPA 1515),which fits my Ford pickup. I had heard about poor construction but I was shocked when I saw the difference, much fewer paper pleats, cardboard end bulkheads, and a chinzy check valve. The only nice thing about the Fram was the grip section on the outer case.:blink:

Post edited by: oldcoldankles, at: 2007/06/19 10:54

Just wondering, why not uce Fram filters?

If you have the time to read it...

minimopar.knizefamily.net/oilfilters.html

Last time I checked, the STP looked like it was made by the same company making the Purolator KZ filter.

I wonder if any of those others are made by Fram? You may have to buy a Fram filter, label it, never use it, but keep it as a sample of what NOT to use. If you buy another brand that looks identical, avoid it. Too bad that'll help Fram sales.

a minor suggestion. this is a pic of an oil filter:



the filter is pushed onto the oil filter bolt:



i found the aftermarket (emgo?) filters fit easily onto the bolt. but the OEM kawasaki filter was a tight fit and the rubber seals on the filter got ripped off when trying to push the filter onto the bolt.

afterwards i read in one of my manuals that it helps to put oil on the rubber seals, and screw the oil filter onto the bolt, rather than pushing it on.