PRO TIPS - Change the Oil on your R3 (or MT-03)

Changing the oil on a regular basis is a guaranteed way to extend the life of your bike. Doing this yourself is very rewarding and will allow you not only to save some money but give you some extra knowledge about the inter-workings of your bike.

Tools and material needed

Tools/Equipment needed:

12mm wrench to remove the oil drain plug.
Oil filter wrench (if you have your OEM filter).
17mm wrench if you have an aftermarket filter with a nut welded on top.
Oil pan or container to catch the oil.
Optional: Funnel
Optional: Measuring cup
Optional: Rear and front stands (it’s easier when the bike is straight up and leveled)

Material needed:

Shop towels / paper towels.
New crush washer for the drain bolt (Yamaha part number: 4YS-E1198-00-00). This is optional but recommended by Yamaha.
Oil filter for your R3. I am using the HiFlo HF204 filters or the K&N204.
Motorcycle oil – You will need a maximum of 2.4L (2.5 quarts for those of you using the imperial system).

Buying motorcycle specific oil is highly recommended. Oil designed for cars will work but might not be optimal. I’ve had to pour automotive oil in my dirt bike once and the clutch didn’t work properly…

Synthetic vs conventional oil – I’ve been running Synthetic oil in all my bikes and I’ve noticed that the bikes tend to run cooler (by a few degrees) and the shifting is smoother when I am using Motul Synthetic oil.

You also need to select the correct oil viscosity based on your environmental riding conditions. Yamaha recommends the following for the R3:

Disassembly

My bike is a track only bike, so I don’t have an option, I need to remove the fairings in order to access the oil filter cartridge. If you still have the OEM body work, it is possible to change the oil and filter with the plastics on, but I strongly recommend spending a few minutes to remove your clutch side fairing. It makes the process simpler, and you won’t have to “roll” on the ground to access the filter.

If your engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes to warm it up. Oil will flow better when you drain it. If you are just getting back from a long ride, wait for a little bit before you change the oil, otherwise it will be too hot and you risk getting burned.

With an oil pan or container under the bike/drain bolt, you can remove the drain bolt, the oil filter and let the oil drip out. To maximize the flow of oil, you should also remove the engine oil filler cap (found on the brake (right) side of the bike.

Adding the oil and re-assembly

Before installing your new filter cartridge, fill it with oil to minimize the amount of time where the engine will run with limited oil. Then assemble the cartridge and the drain bolt along with the gasket. The torque specs for the drain bolt are 20Nm and 17Nm for the cartridge.

The amount of oil required when you replace the oil and filter is 2.10 L (1,8 L if you don’t replace the cartridge).

You are now ready to pour the oil. Once the liquid is in and the oil cap is back on, start your engine and let it run for a few minutes. Let it cool down and then look at the engine oil level to see if you need to add more oil.

You can now put your fairings back on.

Reset your multi display

Congratulations, you are almost done!

You now need to reset your oil change tripmeter and the oil change indicator on your multi-display unit. In order to complete this process, you need turn the key on, navigate to the “OIL TRIP” option on the display by pressing the SEL button 5 times. Once you see the “OIL TRIP” option, push the RES button for one second.

You should now see the “OIL” text flashing. Push the RES button again but this time, you need to hold it pressed for 3 seconds. You’ve just completed the reset procedure for the “oil change indicator and for the “Oil change tripmeter”. You are now good for another 5000km (3000 miles) before seeing this indicator again. You should do this process every time you change your oil. Also keep in mind that the first oil change should be at 1000km and the other changes should be done at every interval of 5000km. Keep in mind that if you change your oil at 4800km and reset those 2 values, you will be notified again when you get a total of 9800km (vs 10,000km).