Oil Change on Yamaha 450 Dirtbike

With gas prices being so crazy right now, using alternative transportation such as mopeds or dirt bikes can really save money, but the owner must know how to properly maintenance them.

In rural areas where there are few repair shops, and the ones that exist are far away, knowing how to perform tasks without a professional can really save a lot of time and money.

By the end of this presentation, the viewer will be able to quickly and easily perform this very important maintenance task on a 2003 Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike.

I have been doing this for years on my bike, and it has saved me tons of time and money, and I am excited to show everyone how quick and easy this task is to perform.

•First, gather the following supplies:

•8mm socket

•12mm socket

•Allen wrench

•1.1 quarts of 10-40 oil

•1 standard Yamaha oil filter

•Catch tub

•Shop towels

•Funnel

•Ground cover

Next, cover the floor to protect it from leaking oil.

Then start the dirt bike and drive to warm the oil to make it easier to drain. After five minutes, park the bike on the floor covering and kill the engine.

NOTE: Make sure the kickstand is flipped completely out so the bike doesn’t tip over!

First, use the 8mm socket to remove the skid plates under the front of the bike. This will make accessing the drain plug easier. CAUTION: Before proceeding, make sure the waste oil tub is directly beneath the oil plug!

Next, place one of the waste oil tubs under the bike before proceeding to the next step. Then locate the drain plug under the crank case and remove the bolt with the 12mm socket.

Finally, use the same socket to remove the second drain plug that is located on the front of the bike, in between the radiator hoses. The oil will begin draining into the second bucket which should be placed under the front end of the bike before the second plug is removed.

After the oil is done draining from both plug holes, use a shop towel to clean any spilled oil from the frame and engine of the bike. Use the 8mm socket and the allen wrench to remove the bolts from the oil filter housing cover. And place them in a safe place to avoid losing them.

Then carefully remove the used oil filter from the housing and place into one of the buckets of waste oil.

Next, use a shop towel to carefully clean around and inside the oil filter housing.

NOTE: Check the housing, the filter, and the shop towel for metal pieces. If there are none, proceed to the next step.

First, remove the new filter from the box and insert into the housing with the solid end facing into the engine.

Next, place the filter housing cover back on, insert the bolts, and tighten with the 8mm socket and the allen wrench.

Then replace the top and bottom drain plugs and tighten with the 8mm and 12mm sockets.

After they are all tight, replace the skid plates and tighten the bolts.

NOTE: It is very important to make sure the plugs and covers are all tight or oil will leak everywhere in the next step!

Now it is time to remove the oil fill cover. Then place the funnel into the hole and carefully and slowly begin pouring the new oil into the crank case. NOTE: It will take exactly 1.1 quarts to fill it.

After the new oil has been added, carefully remove the funnel without dripping oil onto anything, and replace the oil fill cover and tighten it.

Once the new oil has been added and nothing is visibly leaking from the bike, remove the stand, roll the bike off the ground covering, and start the engine. Allow it to run for five minutes. Then carefully check the level on the dipstick that is located on the frame of the bike, up high.

NOTE: The oil is extremely hot so great care must be taken during this time! The level of oil on the dipstick should be at the full line.

When the oil change is complete, gather up all the tools used, make sure they are clean. Then put them away in the proper place.

Next, gather the used oil, the filter, and the ground cover carefully and put them in a plastic bag so no oil leaks out and causes ground contamination.

Finally, dispose of this according to your local ordinances.

Congratulations on successfully completing the oil change on a Yamaha YZ450F dirt bike! It is now ready to ride for another 10 hours, without a wasted afternoon sitting in the shop.