OIL....i am planning on doing my first oil change due to the great article on here. I purchased the royal purple 20-50, and the mobil 1 filter. I wanted the KN, but could not find anyone that had it. I was also considering the amsoil oil and filter...but nobody had it. Of course Chicago Cycle said I can only use oem Where to find a K&N or amsoil?
Second..I saw the seafoam, bought it. Went to the bike show and bought a Reid Technologies oil cooler. The bike runs fine right now...so would it hurt to do the seafoam thing, then change the oil and add the cooler... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

If your not having any trouble then don't do a shock treatment. If you want to clean it out a little just put a couple ounces in a full tank for 2 or 3 tanks and call it good. K&N has a dealer locator on their website. Some auto parts store carry Amsoil filters but not many.

4.5 qts right? thoughts on the oil cooler? It's shiny and looks good.

Normally 4 qts max but you have some extra capacity with the cooler. I think the motors get the hottest when you going slow or stopped. A cooler won't help much in either situation but it won't hurt. If you want to put one on go for it. It will drop the temp some.

You mention .. and I have seen others say the same thing .. "4 qts and no more".
On all previous oil changes I have always put 4 and about .15-.25 of a quart extra (just enough to bring the stick level upto a few millimeters above the bottom of the fill line). Last oil change I did the "4 qts and no more". I have noticed that when I check the oil now it is consistently a few millimeters below the fill line on the stick.
Should it be?

NOTE I am checking the oil level with the bike LEVEL (not on side stand) and just letting the stick rest on the threads (not screwing it down into the threads). I guess first question .. is that the correct way with the Road'ie? Thats the way Ive checked the oil level on every bike Ive ever owned. Correct way for the Road'ie as well?

The area between the bottom of the "fill line" and the top of the "full line" (the cross hatched area on the stick) .. is really quite a large area. I have never even gotten close to the midpoint of the 2 lines on any oil change but it seems that it should at least be at or slightly beyond the bottom fill/low line. Am I wrong in that?

I ask all this because, again, on my last oil change I did the 4 qts and no more approach .. but the level being below the bottom fill line just doesn't feel right to me.

Is it ok .. or should I bring it up to my normal just above the bottom fill line? Were only talking about a few ounces of oil here .. but It might make quite a difference in the long run.

Opinions?

Thx guys .. and be safe out there!

Doug

Bongohutch.. I was the same way for awhile, kinda wierd feeling when that stick doesnt read right but, I know 4 qts. went in ...I have no leaks and the 4 qts. is still in there. I never get the same reading on that stick no matter what I do. So I just watch for leaks, check it a couple times between oil changes, and dont worry bout' it anymore. I've heard a couple ways to check oil in here. yours sounds good except make sure it's warmed up and you wait a few minutes before you check it.

Welcome to the clinic bongo

There was a bulletin put out by Yamaha saying not to put in their recommended amount (4.33 qts)becauase of SVS. I've been running a hair under 4 since my first oil change. I'm with blackroadie. I can't get the same reading twice on the stick and I doubt you will get 2 people to agree on where it should be on the stick anyway. Unless it's leaking out or burning up there's only one place the oil can be.

fourjp wrote:
OIL....i am planning on doing my first oil change due to the great article on here. I purchased the royal purple 20-50, and the mobil 1 filter. I wanted the KN, but could not find anyone that had it. I was also considering the amsoil oil and filter...but nobody had it. Of course Chicago Cycle said I can only use oem Where to find a K&N or amsoil?
Second..I saw the seafoam, bought it. Went to the bike show and bought a Reid Technologies oil cooler. The bike runs fine right now...so would it hurt to do the seafoam thing, then change the oil and add the cooler... any suggestions would be greatly appreciated..

Amsoil.com has an online store where you can purchase the oil and filter that you need for your bike if you are deadset on amsoil products.