Changed my oil and filter by the owners manual. I could not put in the amount of oil called for with filter got about 2 quarts in ran the bike for a few minutes waited a few minutes re-checked the dip stick reading on level ground and did not screw the dip stick in.It read overfull by about 1 to 1 1/2 inches above the full mark.I recalled that when I had the dealer do the service it also read way above the full mark by about the same.So I did the whole proceedure over again without redoing the filter.Pulled the oil tank drain plug and just a little dribble came out.Stuck the dip stick back in and still had over full on the stick with the drain plug pulled out.Drained the crank case oil next.Went back up to the oil tank and it still had a lot of oil in it.One suggestion was to replace all the oil plugs start the bike up and drain the crank case again. I did this and of course more oil came out and the oil tank seemed to be empty.Placed the crankcase oil plug in and commenced to refill the oil tank.Got about 2 quarts in the tank started it up (although he manual states 2 1/2 quarts) and I was able to put in another 27 oz. Ran the bike around for awhile.Let it idle for about 10 minutes so everything settles down , shut it off and waited a few more minutes, rechecked the oil and it was at the full mark.Without filter it calls for 3.91 quarts. I'm about 1 quart short for what the manual calls for and I am at the full mark.As I stated before when the dealer changed the oil for service when I did check the oil after they changed it (few day's later) the oil was almost 2 inches above the full mark and this was from the dealer.I guess I have several concerns one being can I be a quart short even though the dip stick say's I'm at the full mark or should I disregard the dipstick and go by the manual like the dealer did.I guess they figure if they change the oil by proceedure that they just put in what the manual states.Yamaha Road Star 2004..Seems that the oil tank dains somewhat slow.Has anyone else ran into this situation either a rider or service tech ?.I hate to be the only one.Man I think I hear a few seats clicking off now !.

I changed the oil and filter on my 2004 Roadstar last night and found that following the manual is a joke! I did what it said about the 2.6 qts and starting it up (along with rev ving the engine 3Xs) then proceeded to finish adding oil. Well like you said the thing filled up and ran over! I screwed the dipstick back in and just fired it up and let it IDLE for a couple of minutes. I rechecked the oil and was abel to finish adding oil till I got the prescibed amount in. I checked my level again this morning after riding last night, it was right at the full mark.
I'm still cleaning up the oil that ran over.
Hope this helps
Maddjack

CD,

Not sure whats going on here. When I change my oil it pours out, doesn't dribble.

I drain from both plugs, remove and replace the filter, then add about two quarts. I run the engine for a minute or so (oil cap on), turn the the bike off and fill until it hits the full mark. I haven't had any problems.

I am worried that the oil is not flowing out CD, that causes me concern. What kind of oil, and how long do you run it? My bikes are 2001, and 2000, so not sure Yamaha hasn't changed something, but seems that it should flow out. Do you have the oil filler cap removed while draining?

Mine tends to take right at 4.2 to 4.3 quarts when I replace the filter, following the procedure I have just outlined.

As to being short on oil, trust the dipstick after it has been running for a few minutes. If it says full, it is. And one more thing, if you drain the front plug, then check the oil it will still show full, have to drain the rear to get the dipstick to show empty.

Hmmmmm..... Just thought of something. When I drain my oil, after the drains stop flowing, I straddle the bike and hold it up level. I even rock it side to side toward the plug side to empty the last of it out. A lot of guys change the oil on stands too, which will hold the bike relatively level side to side. I don't, but find its not a problem. If you didn't do this, there would have been some remaining oil in your bike when you went to refill.

GRAM

Hi.
I don't know,,but I hope they didn't put a plug under there for the gear lube..I've changed my oil a couple times and it runs out good,,,from both plugs....

Another Road Star owner with a 04 had the same problem with the oil taking a year and a day to drain out to the crankcase on fill up.Me I just had the Valdez oil spill and that was less than a quart. Wound up doing the oil change twice in 2 day's to get it at the correct mark of full on the dip stick. At the tank after running it for 10 minutes shut it down very little oil came out but I could see oil in the tank I even had to go real radical to get the oil out of the tank. After initial draining tank and crankcase, had to the drain holes and run it for a fast second so I could get the more oil out. I rocked it back and forth just short of hanging the scooter by the rafters from the tires and I still could not put in the prescribed amount. As I stated before I let the dealer service the bike twice and after several day's or so I would check the oil (by the book no mistakes) and the 2x they did it the oil was about 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the to full mark. This happened to me on day one of the oil change and I didn't even get but maybe 3 quarts in and than I went radical with it. It took a little less than 3 quarts of oil but I am on the top full mark.<br><br>Post edited by: ClutchDisk, at: 2004/07/09 22:10

Well I guess I'm not the only one that had an interesting time with oil !. As I said before all those the had there 04 scooters serviced at the dealer better check the oil level cause they maybe in for a surprise as in overfill. Most dealer assume that all the oil drained out and go by the manual without checking the final stage I also made that assumtion but lucky I re-checked it by the book and it is a joke. Did you read about how to service the front tire yet ?. It wil tell you that the front tire must be off the ground !. Page 6-35 (but your not suppose to service the front tire duh ?pg 6-19 ) I'm just being a Butt head now.
Maddjack wrote:
I changed the oil and filter on my 2004 Roadstar last night and found that following the manual is a joke! I did what it said about the 2.6 qts and starting it up (along with rev ving the engine 3Xs) then proceeded to finish adding oil. Well like you said the thing filled up and ran over! I screwed the dipstick back in and just fired it up and let it IDLE for a couple of minutes. I rechecked the oil and was abel to finish adding oil till I got the prescibed amount in. I checked my level again this morning after riding last night, it was right at the full mark.
I'm still cleaning up the oil that ran over.
Hope this helps
Maddjack

I'm not an expert by any means, but it sounds like there may be a restriction in some of the oil tanks. I don't know if they use baffles or what, but if something isn't right, it could block the oil from the drain.

I would measure the oil that came out of the crankcase and then measure the oil out of the oil tank. There's always a plastic jug around somewhere you can pour it into.

Sure seems like a lot of work, but if it saves gernading the engine from lack of oil or blowing the seals and gaskests from overfill, it would be worth it.

You might want to check the oil lines also and make sure they are clear too.

Just my .02 worth.
David

Yesterday I went to another Yamaha dealer and he said he never dealt with the sticky valve thing but they did have a bike that had to much oil in it and it acted the same way. He showed me a bulletin the Yamaha had out on this problem especially with 2004 &amp; 05’s. It seems that the 2004 &amp; 5’s need less oil .
Now back to why I wrote about the bike going to the shop for the pipes, they also did the oil change at this time and they have done every oil change since. Stupid me right.
The problem is that the manual says 5qts. of oil and that’s seems to be about a quart to much. I know there’s a discussion here about how to change oil and they seem right. It goes run the bike til hot, about a couple of miles then let the bike cool down for about 15 min. then check level (my was about a little more than a quart heavy).Seems the oil is getting pumped into the back cylinder because of the vent hose off of the oil tank. This happens more when cold because oil is thicker and doesn’t flow as good, thus backing up in the rear head and flooding the valves, fouling the plugs, running uneven, backfiring, causing it to act like valves are sticking and carbon on plugs. It does all of this when cold because the thicker oil doesn’t flow back through the head. On a hot day it doesn’t seem to act up thus the thinner oil flows through head better.
Hope this helps some of you. I know that I have fought this for a year now and haven’t ridden much because of it but now maybe there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

Good Luck,
Tisley

I changed my oil using the method described on this web site but used the second method putting oil in the bike. The method where you take the plug off the top of the crankcase, put X amount of oil in, then put X amount inthe tank. When draining the oil it drained fine.I removed filter, put plugs backin, put filter on it was fine. The only prob I had was I overfilled the tank. It was about 1 1/2 inches over the hash marks. I removed almost two cups of oil to get it into the hashes. The bike runs fine. The transfer case drain is on the same side of the bike as the tank drain except it is on the side.

Wildrat

Wildrat,

Careful using the &quot;plug on top of the crankcase&quot;. I've heard of guys stripping the threads.

Doc