oil change?

so this is going to seem really stupid.....

::zips flamesuit::

i am going to change my oil and filter tomorrow on my 77 kz650b.

the problem is:
my manual has not arrived and a search on the forum has not turned up what i want to know.

that being said, what oil is recommended? how much? and where is the filter? jeez, i sound really dumb...

at least the V&H doesnt cover up the drain plug.

thanks!

Any name brand 10/40 will do,
How much is cast into the engine by the fill cap,
Start by filling it short, then top it up to full using the site glass with it on the center stand or standing straight up.

A good guess would be to buy 4qts. and a filter.

I would add some zinc (ZDDP) since most current oil makers do not include it in their oils anymore.

If you want my opinion for best oils, I would vote for Amsoil synthetic or Rotella synthetic (10-40 or 15-45).

Cant tell you where the filter is. On my 750, its behind the left side engine cover.

Hi Davestradamus,

In the diagram below, find a large bolt head (item 31) near the back of your oil pan (item 20). It is holding up a 5 inch or so disk (item 30) above which is located the oil filter (item 26). See diagram here:

Diagram

From the above diagram, for the Oil Filter to work properly be sure you check that the PO's have not lost the items 27, 28 and 29 that hold the filter in place. Don't ask. :blush:

Just a note... this bolt head is often damaged by poor removal tecniques used by PO's. A replacement can be got for less that $10 USD from our friends at Z1 Ent. This what the removed bolt looks like new:




Ok bountyhunter , I'll bite. What's the Zinc about? :huh:

Oppsss, just saw your other thread on ZDDP. You are fast. :laugh:
Bill

Do you have the Owner's Manual for the bike?
Just in case... it's located in a plastic pull-down compartment on the underside of the seat pan.

The oil filter cover kinda has a starburst pattern on it.

Shell Rotella-T 15W-40. It has a higher amount of Zinc-phosphate (ZDDP or ZDP) than regular car oils. It's a heavy duty oil marketed for diesel engine use. Chevron Delo or other diesel engine oils would be good as well.

You were asking where the oil filler is, it is on the right, rear engine cover. Look next to the kick starter, you need to swing it out to add oil. Most of us use 10-40 or 20-50 (warmer climate) After draining oil (warmed up) and changing filter (two separate drains, the filter being about 6-7 inches back from the oil drain bolt), add 3 qts and start motor. Shut off and add remaining oil (on center stand) to between high/low marks on oil level site glass. That is located down low between the right side front and rear engine covers. The motor will take about 3.5 - 3.7 qts total. Pic below shows filler at upper right and sight glass (bike on side stand, yes... it has oil ) down between engine covers, Geez, I need to clean my bike!

+1 on most of what's been said so far...the guys pointed you in the right direction for where to locate everything on the bike, and how to find capacity, and 10w40 is the manufacturer recommended weight, and Rotella-T is the shit. BUT, don't use just any 10w40 weight oil. Most conventional car oils have energy saving additives that aren't good for our wet clutches. I'd avoid using any of these oils if I was you. Bike specific oils (or Rotella) are the way to go. I used to run BelRay semi-synthetic in all my bikes, until I read enough about Rotella to be comfortable trying it out. Been using it now for the last 2 seasons and the bikes all love it. And it's about $10 a gallon at Wal Mart instead of $7+ a quart for the BelRay...

I have over 150,000 miles on my 78 KZ650 and I use whatever oil is on sale, 10/40, 30, 20/50. I change it once a month and never had issues, ever. I have used synthetics with bad results, leaking seals and gaskets. Remember these old bikes were designed to use car dino oil. There was no bike specific oil when these were made. Just remember to change the oil and filter regularly and yu will not have oil related issues.

Would like to know more about the leaking seals and gaskets. Did you have to replace these gaskets? Any additional info would be appreciated.

Roger

Chevron Delo 15w-40 diesel oil. Has all the zddp you will need. CI formula is better I believe, but the CJ formula is fine as well. Happy riding.

baldy110 wrote:

Remember these old bikes were designed to use car dino oil. There was no bike specific oil when these were made.

Auto oils didn't have the energy conserving additives in them back when these bikes were made either. Hence the need to use either bike specific oil or an alternative that doesn't have these additives that are detrimental to our wet clutch system.

Not open up a can of worms here but let me get this straight.
Auto oil back in the 70's did not have the energy conserving additives in them, that is correct. However the recomendation is to use synthetic oils for these bikes. Sythetics have way more friction reducing properties than any current produced car oil. So how can that be any better for our wet clutches? In fact when I rebuild these old bike engines I have a supply of old car oil that I use to seat the new rings in the cylinders. The newer dino oil sold today is so slippary they do not allow the rings to seat properly. And you cannot use syntheics to seat in new rings on theese older engines due to the friction reducing properties in them. Use the oil the manufacturer recommends.