Service Concerns

[TimF]

On my K8, I had an oil change done at 750 klms - mainly because I thought it seemed like a good idea.

My dealership used Shell SX4 oil which I believe is a mineral/synth mix. Same stuff used from 1000klms to 6000klms.

Does this sound right to you guys? I was under the impression it should be mineral only for at least 1000klms...

Continuing my whinge, they put my right hand fairing back on wrong so that a huge part wasn't flush and was in danger of breaking a tab off. I expect better when I'm paying $$. I don't like having to fix stupid mistakes...

[REVIT13]

On my K8, I had an oil change done at 750 klms - mainly because I thought it seemed like a good idea.

My dealership used Shell SX4 oil which I believe is a mineral/synth mix. Same stuff used from 1000klms to 6000klms.

Does this sound right to you guys? I was under the impression it should be mineral only for at least 1000klms...

Continuing my whinge, they put my right hand fairing back on wrong so that a huge part wasn't flush and was in danger of breaking a tab off. I expect better when I'm paying $$. I don't like having to fix stupid mistakes...

not good about the fairing. My dealer will be putting in a mineral/synthetic at the 1000 kay service and it will be a motul or belray oil. Most people i've spoken with don't run fully synthetic oils unless you like spending big $$ on oil. The oils of today are of high standards.

[1hotbusa]

Hi there,

With modern motors and modern oils, I would allow at least 10000km before going onto a full synthetic oil, as it truly allows the motor to fully bed in. If a synthetic oil is used to early ie 0 - 1000km then the bores of the motor will glaze over, the rings will not seat properly and you'll suffer down the track.

I'm at 50K, got the bike at 19K and have been on semi synthetic from day one.

[TimF]

Thanks for your advice guys. I won't allow them to change to fully synthetic until 10,000klms as I can see the merit in the point you have made.

But for the life of me, I can't figure out why they'd use a semi-synthetic before the 1000klms mark.

[BUSGO]

I didn't switch my 99 busa over to full synth until 80,000.
At those high miles the full synth made it run smoother but the engine is noticeably noisier due to the higher viscosity of the oil. You can feel the engine revving more freely in the top half of the rev range.

I don't think I'll switch to full synth at all on the K8 unless I get this one back up into those high kilometers again.

[kawasuki]

On my K8, I had an oil change done at 750 klms - mainly because I thought it seemed like a good idea.

My dealership used Shell SX4 oil which I believe is a mineral/synth mix. Same stuff used from 1000klms to 6000klms.

Does this sound right to you guys? I was under the impression it should be mineral only for at least 1000klms...

Continuing my whinge, they put my right hand fairing back on wrong so that a huge part wasn't flush and was in danger of breaking a tab off. I expect better when I'm paying $$. I don't like having to fix stupid mistakes...

+1 anyone who runs there bike a 1000 klms with all that shit in the motor has rocks for brains, i have seen oil after approx 1000-1200 first service with little shiny bits in the oil ,now that goes around and round your little motor. After 350 i would drop the oil and put some new stuff in and again at 800 , spend a few $$ and save your bores.

[spamanglenn]

i thought higher viscosity oils 50w compared to 40w make your motor quieter as the thicker oil cushions the clearances better but produces slightly less power.I found the semi synthetic the best for clutch feel at the drags compared to full synthetic.I like chris,s idea of a big neodidium(spelling) taped to the oil filter.Holds all the metal out of your sump.After a while you,ll notice differnt fuels,different oils all make a noticeable differnces to your bike and you,ll find what it likes as all aren,t exactly the same.

[black13]

service handbooks recommend observing critical 1st service at 1000ks, thats too long i think ,after your initial run in ride , piss the oil off & put a new filter in, then take it to your local rip off centre for the 1000k service

[Busa Greavett]

service handbooks recommend observing critical 1st service at 1000ks, thats too long i think ,after your initial run in ride , piss the oil off & put a new filter in, then take it to your local rip off centre for the 1000k service

I took my K8 to local shop for it's first 1000kms service, under the belief that they would do what's best for my new bike.

When got home, thought it was a bit strange that it didn't take him all that long, and seeing as it was the first one they had serviced, should have taken him a bit longer, especially as the fairings are a little different to get off.

Looked at the fairing, saw that they hadn't put it back properly and it was stressed due to not being put back into it's proper postion (rubber mounting hole) but thought, at least they've had it off!!

Continued to take the fairing off myself, to learn how bike comes apart for my servicing. Was amazed at the lack of oil staining on the exhaust under the filter......???

Been a car mechanic since leaving school....and I've never seen an exhaust which sits underneath an oil filter so clean and oil free.
There wasn't even a splash of oil around the bottom of the filter, suggesting that it had been changed. You would have to be a surgen to get an oil filter off without staining, even slightly the hot exhaust!!


The oil had been done, for sure, but the filter....no way!!! Very dissapointed, especially as I got charged for an oil filter!!!

No more dealer servicing for me, doing everything myself, right down to the valve clearances...because I know....there is no way in this life time any dealer mechanic is going to spend the right amount of time to get them right, much less even take the cam cover off to check them!!!

It's bullshit....trust NO ONE!!!

They make such a hoo haa about warranties and special servicing, what a load of crap. I would say, even if you aren't mechanically minded, most on this site would spend the time and do a better job!!

[BUSGO]

I think (HOPE) that you will find good service centres in most locations.
But yes, there are some dodgy ones that is for sure.

You can easily check if they have done your filter by putting a paint dot or some other recognisable mark on the old one before taking it in for service.
That way you can easily spot then and there if it has been changed before picking the bike up.

The new fairings are a lot more difficult to get on and off properly, mine too had a misplaced locating tab when I picked it up from first service but it was easily fixed.

[TimF]

Hey Busa Greavett...

I live in Brisbane and I go to a reputable dealer and while I don't always agree with everything, it is by far the best service I've ever had.

I lived in Maryborough for 19 years - what a sh!thole to try and get a bike serviced in. A lot of times in smaller places I find myself not wanting to say anything because your options are quite limited...

[TheShredder]

Dont get the shops to service my bikes anymore BUT when i did
i'd do the oil & filter change before going there & i always took the fairings off before hand for a few reasons.
1 it saved time as they could get straight onto the job.
2 it saved $ as it was there less time.
3 I'd never have to argue with them when or if i found anything wrong eg panel damage ,scratched etc.
As they could have turned around & said it wasnt there fault ,was fine when it was here etc. Then you are pissed off & still got the damage then have to go through the bullshit all over again trying to find a better dealer.

Guys might say they havent the time to do this BUT
you should make time as NO 1 will look after your stuff like you will
If you damage it you'll live with it better than getting worked up over some punk kid at the shop ( stress who needs it)
BIGGEST + i think is you will learn more about ya bike by checking shit out .

Oil well on any new bike ive had oil has been changed atleast 3 times before 1st 1K service. 1st change is usally as soon as bike has made it into the garage after the ride home from the dealers.
Ive had Full Syn oil in bikes from 1K no problems.


shane

[Busa Greavett]

Hey Busa Greavett...

I live in Brisbane and I go to a reputable dealer and while I don't always agree with everything, it is by far the best service I've ever had.

I lived in Maryborough for 19 years - what a sh!thole to try and get a bike serviced in. A lot of times in smaller places I find myself not wanting to say anything because your options are quite limited...

Lucky you, Yes couldn't agree more about Maryborough, your the lucky one, if you managed to escape....ha ha!!

I'm not going to bother any more, and i'm sure there are good people out there, heck...i'm one! but i'll do myself from now on! The last thing I want to be to someone else, is the pain in the arsecustomers I get coming into my shop. You know the ones, "I used to be in the trade" & "Are you going to check this?"

Bundaberg is where I took it, and apart from giving me really good parts service, I don't think I'll be going back any time soon!!

That's life!

[Busa Greavett]

Dont get the shops to service my bikes anymore BUT when i did
i'd do the oil & filter change before going there & i always took the fairings off before hand for a few reasons.
1 it saved time as they could get straight onto the job.
2 it saved $ as it was there less time.
3 I'd never have to argue with them when or if i found anything wrong eg panel damage ,scratched etc.
As they could have turned around & said it wasnt there fault ,was fine when it was here etc. Then you are pissed off & still got the damage then have to go through the bullshit all over again trying to find a better dealer.

Guys might say they havent the time to do this BUT
you should make time as NO 1 will look after your stuff like you will
If you damage it you'll live with it better than getting worked up over some punk kid at the shop ( stress who needs it)
BIGGEST + i think is you will learn more about ya bike by checking shit out .

Oil well on any new bike ive had oil has been changed atleast 3 times before 1st 1K service. 1st change is usally as soon as bike has made it into the garage after the ride home from the dealers.
Ive had Full Syn oil in bikes from 1K no problems.


shane

I hear ya, but the whole point I suppose, is that we shouldn't have to be the fussy, pain in the arse people. We are taking the dealers at their word, that they will service the bikes exactly per manufacturers specifications.

My regret is that I didn't mark the oil filter, but I try and refrain from tricks like that, just incase i myself turn into a nutcase!!!
I was going to change the oil and filter again at around the 2k mark, but with all this worrying, and new land speed record attempts, i may just do one this weekend!!

I will just say though, 285kmph is amazingly fast, I think I even became airbourne once, at around 275. Very Scary!!

[Volvi]

personally ive always serviced my own that way you know what was done to it, however isnt there a warranty issue on new bikes? say at 20thou you have a warranty prob but service book only shows first 1k service, isnt that a prob?