How to Change the Oil on Suzuki Bikes

This procedure is relatively straightforward on many bikes, due to the mechanical layout and clearance of the bike off the ground. For the Suzuki bike replacing the oil is complicated by the bike's low clearance and the fact that the engine needs to run for a bit before you can get a proper oil reading and adequate oil drainage. But with the proper tools and guidance, you should be able to change the oil in your Suzuki bike with relative ease.

Under The Hood:

• How to Change the Oil on a Suzuki Motorcycle
• How to Change the Oil in a Suzuki M109R
• How to Change the Oil in a Suzuki GS500F
• How to Change the Oil on a Suzuki Boulevard M50

 How to Change the Oil on a Suzuki Motorcycle

Warm the engine oil by running the motorcycle for 5 to 10 minutes. The warmed oil will flow easier and allow for a complete drain. Stop the motor and turn the ignition switch off once the oil has been warmed sufficiently.

Remove the motor's oil filler cap and place a drain pan directly beneath the motor. Remove the oil drain plug with a socket wrench. The drain plug is located directly under the motor, but it can also be found near the sides of the motor on some models. Hold the motorcycle upright and allow the oil to drain completely. Wipe the drain plug with a shop towel to remove any debris before reinstalling it onto the motor. Tighten the drain plug until it is seated against the motor, then tighten it an additional half turn. Place the motorcycle back onto its kick stand.

Move the drain pan directly beneath the oil filter. Most newer Suzuki motorcycles use a spin-on type oil filter that is mounted to the exterior of the motor. These filters are removed with a strap or cap-style filter wrench and can be discarded once removed. Older models, however, may have a filter element that is concealed behind a cover on the motor. Remove the cover's bolts with a socket wrench and pull the filter out of the motor.

Install a new oil filter onto the motorcycle. Spin-on filters should be screwed on by hand until it is seated against the motor. Tighten the oil filter an additional half turn to secure it. Internal filter elements are installed by sliding the element into the motor and replacing the cover. Be sure to reinstall any o-rings that may be present.

Add oil into the motor through the oil filler neck using a funnel. Oil capacity will vary between different Suzuki motorcycles, but most models will have the maximum capacity listed on the motor's engine cover. Fill the motor with less oil than the maximum capacity listed. Wipe away any spilled oil and replace the filler cap.

Start the motor and let the new oil warm for 5 minutes. Once the oil is warm, stop the motor and check the oil level through the sight glass on the motor's crankcase. In most cases, the proper amount of oil will be represented by the oil level being at or near the center of the sight glass. Add oil as necessary to bring the oil level to the center of the sight glass. Remove excess oil through the oil filler neck with a hand pump.

 How to Change the Oil in a Suzuki M109R

Turn on your M109R and let it run for at least 15 minutes. Turn the bike off and let it sit for no more than three minutes. The oil must be warm to get a proper oil reading and let the oil drain completely.

Drive or wheel your bike up onto a set of bike stands. Because of the low clearance of the M109's oil pan, it is impossible to access the oil pan's drain plug and place a drain tray underneath it without the increased clearance provided by the bike stand.

Position an oil drainage tray underneath the bike's drain plugs.

Crack and remove the oil pan's drain plugs with a ratchet wrench. The drain plugs look like a small bolts screwed into a large flat container at the bottom of your bike, between the front and rear tires. Oil will pour from the pan's plug holes as soon as the plug bolts are removed. You may need to adjust the drainage tray to ensure that you are catching all of the oil.

Replace the the drain plug bolts when the oil has completely drained from your M109R.

Remove the oil filler cap and add clean oil to the oil pan. Your M109R requires 3.4 liters of oil if you are replacing just the oil, and 3.6 liters if you are replacing the oil and the oil filter. Reattach the filler cap.

 How to Change the Oil in a Suzuki GS500F

Place your GS500F on its center stand. Spread newspapers beneath the engine area and place an oil pan or other container under the oil drain plug.

Loosen the bolts on the oil filter cover, just enough to break the seal, but not far enough that oil begins to leak out. Loosen the oil drain plug below the engine, just enough to break the seal but not enough that oil leaks out. You want to loosen these parts so that they are easy to remove once the engine is hot.

Start the engine and let the bike idle for five minutes. Turn the engine off and let it cool for two or three minutes. If you just finished riding your bike you can skip this part since the engine will already be warm.

Remove the dipstick cover on the engine and leave it off until you are finished.

Remove the oil drain plug completely and let the oil drain into the pan.

Remove the oil filter cover completely, starting with the nut located at the bottom of the cover, to allow the oil to flow freely down into the pan.

Remove the oil filter and hold it over the oil pan to allow it to drain completely. Clean the filter with paper towels or replace if overdue. The manufacturer recommends changing the filter at least every other time you change the oil.

Allow the old oil to drain completely. Put the oil filter and cover back into place and bolt the cover back on. Place the drain plug back into the motorcycle and tighten it back into place.

Place a funnel in the crankcase where the dipstick was located and add more oil. Check your owner's manual for the recommendations on the type and amount of oil to use. A GS500F generally needs three quarts of SAE 10W-40 oil, but it can vary depending on the climate.

Replace the dipstick cover and start your motorcycle, allowing it to idle for two to three minutes. Turn it off and check the oil level again, adding more if necessary.

 How to Change the Oil on a Suzuki Boulevard M50

Warm up the motor for up to five minutes, and let the motorcycle idle in place. Turn off the ignition right before you begin the oil change procedure.

Lift the motorcycle off its kickstand, and place a wooden block under the stand to get the motorcycle in a level position. Unscrew the oil cap from the right crankcase cover.

Unscrew the oil drain bolt from the bottom of the motor, using a 17 mm socket and a socket wrench. Pull the plug out, and give the oil some time to completely drain into your oil pan.

Clean off the threads of the drain plug with a clean rag, then screw it into the motor by hand until it's just snug. Torque the bolt to 15 foot-pounds of pressure using a torque wrench.

Unscrew the oil filter from the front right-hand side of the motor using a cap wrench, and drain any remaining oil into a drain pan.

Coat the new oil filter's sealing O-ring with 10W40 API SF/SG motor oil. Screw the oil filter onto the motor by hand until it is seated firmly against the crankcase, and torque it to 14 foot-pounds using a torque wrench.

Pour up to 3.5 quarts of 10W40 API SF/SG motor oil into the crankcase through the oil filler on the right side of the motor. Lubricate the cap threads with a bit of clean oil, and screw it firmly onto the crankcase.

Start the motor and check for oil leaks from the oil filter and drain bolt, and tighten the drain bolt or cap as needed to stop the leaks. If you encounter a leak that won't stop after tightening, there may be damage to the threads or plug. A rubber washer -- available at any hardware store -- can help to control the leak until you get it properly fixed.