First Oil Change 2013 ST-S SE at 2K miles

[JimVonBaden]

Having no idea what the service history is on my wife's bike I decided to play it safe and change the oil and filters on her ST. Oddly, at 2K miles, there was a fairly significant leak in what appears to be coming from the drain on the tank. I'll keep an eye on it and see if it comes back.

I did manage to change both drain plugs, with new washers, and using a torque wrench without breaking either of them. I must be incredibly lucky!

Photos:

[ARtraveler]

IMO--best to err on the side of more frequent oil changes rather than the other option. When in doubt, change it out. The ST has an initial oil change at 600 miles and then every 4000 or so.

[Chupaca]

A bit late for the first but the oil and filter look to have held up well... I would search out the newer filter with the mesh around it. They hold up better if going longer on changes. Many oils vary with when to change but motorcycles are different running the oil through the trans and clutch. BRP recommends 4,600 but most oils start braking down around 4,000. Looks like your good to go...

[billybovine]

I have never had any problem with the OEM drain plugs. But a lot of folks seem to for some reason.
I see there is a crush washer stuck to the bottom of the oil tank in the picture. A double washer could be a source of your leak if it was not removed.
Aluminium foil to keep the oil off the HCM cooling fins. Never seen that done before. Whatever works. I use an old rag stuffed under the filter and brake clean after.
There is a lot of surface corrosion on the aluminium alloy parts. Your Spyder must spend a lot of time near the ocean?

[JimVonBaden]

A bit late for the first but the oil and filter look to have held up well... I would search out the newer filter with the mesh around it. They hold up better if going longer on changes. Many oils vary with when to change but motorcycles are different running the oil through the trans and clutch. BRP recommends 4,600 but most oils start braking down around 4,000. Looks like your good to go...

I changed it now because I didn't know if the original owner ever changed it. I got the kit from Baja Ron.

[Snowbelt Spyder]

I have never had any problem with the OEM drain plugs. But a lot of folks seem to for some reason.
I see there is a crush washer stuck to the bottom of the oil tank in the picture. A double washer could be a source of your leak if it was not removed.
Aluminium foil to keep the oil off the HCM cooling fins. Never seen that done before. Whatever works. I use an old rag stuffed under the filter and brake clean after.
There is a lot of surface corrosion on the aluminium alloy parts. Your Spyder must spend a lot of time near the ocean?

Nice catch about that washer. I see it now.

[JimVonBaden]

I have never had any problem with the OEM drain plugs. But a lot of folks seem to for some reason.
I see there is a crush washer stuck to the bottom of the oil tank in the picture. A double washer could be a source of your leak if it was not removed.
Aluminium foil to keep the oil off the HCM cooling fins. Never seen that done before. Whatever works. I use an old rag stuffed under the filter and brake clean after.
There is a lot of surface corrosion on the aluminium alloy parts. Your Spyder must spend a lot of time near the ocean?

Nah, there was only one washer on each one.

I've been using the tinfoil trick for years. Makes it lots cleaner.




The original owner parked it outside since new in NJ. I garage it.