How To Change Oil on a Four-Stroke Dirt bike (Complete Guide)!, by The D Zone on YouTube. 4 min 51 s.
- Video length
- 4 min 51 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Warm the engine for 2 or 3 minutes so the old oil flows out easily, then switch off and let it cool for a few minutes.
Put the bike on a stand on level ground and slide a drain pan under the engine.
Remove the skid plate if your bike has one so you can reach the drain bolt.
Wipe dirt away from the filler cap and drain bolt, then unscrew the filler cap or dipstick to let air into the engine.
Loosen the drain bolt with a socket, take it out by hand and let the oil drain completely.
Remove the oil filter. On a YZ450F it sits behind a small cover held by a few bolts, so undo those, pull the old filter out and keep the o-rings.
Fit the new filter the right way round, oil the new o-rings, then refit the cover and tighten the small bolts evenly.
Refit the drain bolt with a new crush washer and tighten it firmly, but do not force it.
Pour in fresh oil through a funnel, using the amount your manual lists for an oil and filter change.
Refit the filler cap, run the engine for a minute, switch off, wait, then check the level on the dipstick and top up. Look for leaks under the bike.
Tips and common mistakes
Hot oil and exhaust parts burn, so wear gloves and let the engine cool a few minutes before you touch the drain bolt.
Never overtighten the drain bolt or filter cover bolts, because stripped threads mean splitting the cases.
Change the filter and crush washer every time you change the oil, not every other time.
Pour used oil back into the empty bottle and take it to a recycling centre rather than down a drain.
Questions
How often should I change the oil on a four-stroke dirt bike?
Follow the interval in your owner's manual, which is usually measured in riding hours rather than miles. Change it sooner if you ride in deep mud or dust.
Do I have to change the oil filter too?
On most four-stroke dirt bikes, yes. The filters are small and cheap, and a clogged one undoes the point of the oil change.
How much oil does it take?
It varies by bike, so check your manual for the figure with a filter change. Fill, run the engine, then set the level on the dipstick rather than trusting the bottle.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
