Como Mudar o Óleo da Mota em Casa: Guia Passo-a-Passo (e Poupa na Oficina)

How to Change Your Motorcycle Oil at Home: A Step-by-Step Guide (and Saving Money at the Garage)

Did you know that changing your motorcycle's oil is one of the simplest maintenance tasks and can save you hundreds of euros a year?

Many motorcyclists are afraid to tinker with their machines, fearing they might do something wrong. But the truth is that changing the oil is a basic, almost therapeutic procedure that allows you to get to know your motorcycle better and ensures that the engine is always protected with fresh lubricant.

You don't need to be a MotoGP mechanic to ensure your machine's heart beats healthily. In this guide, we'll get our hands dirty (just a little!) and explain everything you need to do.

The Necessary Material

Before loosening any screws, make sure you have everything at hand. There's nothing worse than running out of oil on your motorcycle and realizing you're missing the drain plug washer.

  • New Oil: Check your motorcycle's manual to find the viscosity (e.g., 10W40, 15W50) and the exact quantity.

  • New Oil Filter: Never change the oil without changing the filter.

  • Socket wrench or open-end wrench: To loosen the drain plug.

  • Drainage tray: Or an old, cut-off bottle, to collect used oil.

  • Funnel: To prevent new oil from spilling into the engine.

  • Latex gloves: The oil used is carcinogenic and difficult to clean from the nails.

  • Cloth or paper: You'll need it. Believe me.

Step 1: Warming Up the Engine (The Secret)

Cold oil is thick and runs slowly, leaving dirty residue inside the engine. You start the motorcycle and let it run for 3 to 5 minutes (or take a short ride around the block). This makes the oil more fluid and ensures that it washes all the impurities out when you open the drain plug.

Step 2: Drainage

Place the motorcycle on the center stand (if it has one) or on a stand, on a flat surface.

  1. Place the tray under the engine.

  2. Locate the drain plug (usually the lowest screw on the oil pan).

  3. Loosen carefully. Warning: The oil will be hot! If necessary, drop the screw into the tray (retrieve it later with a magnet or once it has cooled down), but remove your hand quickly.

  4. While it's draining, unscrew the top filler cap to allow air in and the oil to drain faster.

Step 3: The Oil Filter

While the old oil is still dripping, he takes care of the filter.

  1. If it's an external cartridge filter (can-type), you use a special wrench or strap wrench to unscrew it.

  2. Clean the surface where the filter makes contact with the engine.

  3. Golden Tip: Take a little new oil with your finger and apply it to the rubber (o-ring) of the new filter. This prevents the rubber from drying out and sticking to the engine in the future.

  4. Screw the new filter on by hand . Don't use tools to tighten it! Hand strength is enough. If you tighten it too much, you'll have a nightmare trying to remove it next time.

Step 4: Close and Fill

  1. You clean the drain plug and install a new crush washer (it costs pennies and prevents leaks).

  2. Tighten the plug. You don't need to use the strength of a bodybuilder; tighten until it feels firm and give it another quarter turn (or use a torque wrench according to the manual).

  3. Using the funnel, add the new oil. Pour it slowly and check the level on the dipstick or the side gauge.

Step 5: Final Verification

Start the motorcycle. The oil light should go out in a few seconds. Let it run for a minute, turn it off, and wait for the oil to settle. Check the level again and top it up to the correct mark if necessary. Check that there are no drips on the ground under the drain plug or filter.

Congratulations! You just saved on labor costs at the repair shop and you can be sure the job was done right.

Pro tip: You've already taken care of the engine, but what about the rest?

Now that you have the engine roaring smoothly with "new blood," it's time to look at the rest of your riding experience. A motorcycle with impeccable mechanics deserves technology to match.

Can you imagine having your maintenance records , GPS for your weekend routes, and your favorite playlist, all visible in one place?

While new oil protects the engine, Motoplay protects your phone and improves your navigation. What good is having an engine ready to go for miles if you end up with a dead phone battery in the middle of a trip or can't see the road because of the sun?

Give your motorcycle the digital "brain" it needs to keep up with the mechanics you just rebuilt.

👉 [See here how to modernize your cockpit after servicing with Motoplay]

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