How to Change Yamaha YZFR3 Oil
Few motorcycle maintenance jobs are more essential to the health of your Yamaha motorcycle than an oil change. A few quarts of oil and a handful of tools is all you really need.
Watch the video above and follow the steps below to learn how to do an oil change on a Yamaha YZF R3 motorcycle.
Tools and Supplies - 2020 Yamaha R3 Oil Change Service
- 3/8th ratchet
- Torque wrench
- 17mm socket
- Ratchet extension
Changing the Oil on a Yamaha R3 Motorcycle
Step 1. Run the engine for a couple of minutes to heat the oil a little, which helps it thin it out and makes it easier to drain.
Step 2. Remove the fill cap to allow the crankcase to vent as the oil drains out.
Step 3. Locate the drain bolt underneath the unit and get a drain pan underneath it. Remove the drain bolt using a 17mm socket and let the oil drain out.
NOTE: There’s a crush washer (#15 in the YZF R3 oil pump diagram) behind the drain bolt. Replace it if it’s damaged or missing.
Step 4. Replace the drain bolt and crush washer, and torque them to 15 foot-pounds.
Step 5. Remove the old oil filter with a 65mm oil filter wrench.
Step 6. Install the new oil filter, then thread it into place snug without overtightening it.
NOTE: OEM Yamaha oil filters come with a little oil on the gasket to make it easier to remove the filter later. If you’re using an aftermarket filter, apply a little oil to the gasket.
Step 7. Fill the engine with 10W40 motorcycle oil. The YZF R3 takes about 2.2 quarts of oil.
NOTE: We used Yamalube brand 10W40 oil, but you can use whatever brand you want as long as it’s formulated for a wet clutch system.
Step 8. Replace the fill cap, then run the engine for a couple minutes to circulate the oil. Next, shut the engine off and let it sit for a few more minutes so the oil can settle again. This gives you the most accurate oil level reading.
Step 9. Check the oil level at the sight glass near the bottom of the engine. The level should approach the upper level, which is an imagined line across the two notches near the top of the sight glass. Top off the oil if necessary and you’re done.
The steps for changing the oil in a YZF-R3 motorcycle are the same or similar for most Yamaha models. However, if you want to see an oil change done on an older model YZF, watch the video below to see how to change the oil in a 2014 Yamaha YZF-R1.
