Honda Vtx 1800 F Service Manual

							102
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Engine oil quality is a major factor that
af f ects both the perf ormance and the
service lif e of the engine.
Using the proper oil (page ) and f ilter,
and regularly checking, adding, and
changing oil will help extend your
engine’s life. Even the best oil wears out.
Changing oil helps get rid of dirt and
deposits in the engine. Operating the
engine with old or dirty oil can damage
your engine. Running the engine with
insufficient oil can cause serious damage
to the engine and transmission.Change the engine oil as specif ied in the
maintenance schedule on page .
When running in very dusty conditions, oil
changes should be perf ormed more
frequently than specified in the
maintenance schedule. 10381
04/08/11 14:38:21 31MCH630_111 
						

							Î
Î
Pro Honda GN4 or HP4 (without
molybdenum additives) 4-stroke
oil (USA & Canada), or Honda
4-stroke oil (Canada only), or an
equivalent motorcycle oil.
MA SAE 10W-40 SG or higher
except oils
labeled as energy
conserving on the
circular API
service label API
classification
JASO T 903
standard viscosity
(weight)suggested oil
103 Oil Recommendation
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Suggested oils are equal in
perf ormance to SJ oils that are not
labeled as energy conserving on the
circular API service label.
04/08/11 14:38:31 31MCH630_112 
						

							OK
NOT RECOMMENDED
104
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Do not use oils with graphite or
molybdenum additives. They may
adversely affect clutch operation. Your motorcycle does not need oil
additives. Use the recommended oil.Other viscosities shown in the f ollowing
chart may be used when the average
temperature in your riding area is within
the indicated range.
Do not use non-detergent, vegetable, or
castor based racing oils. Do not use API SH or higher oils
displaying a circular API ‘‘energy
conserving’’ service label on the
container. They may affect lubrication
and clutch performance.
04/08/11 14:38:42 31MCH630_113 
						

							(1) code number of the sales company
of the oil
(2) oil classification(1)
(2)
105
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
JASO T 903 standard
The JASO T 903 standard is an index to
choose engine oils f or 4-stroke motorcycle
engines.
There are two classes: MA and MB.
Oil conf orming to the standard has the
f ollowing classif ication on the oil
container.
04/08/11 14:38:48 31MCH630_114 
						

							µµ
(1) (2)
(3)
(3) lower level mark (1) oil filler cap/dipstick
(2) upper level mark LEFT SIDE
106Checking & Adding Oil
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Saf ety Precautions Refer to on page .
Hold the motorcycle in an upright
position. Stop the engine and wait 2 3 minutes. Start the engine and let it idle f or 3 5
minutes. Make sure the low oil pressure
indicator goes of f . If the indicator
remains on, stop the engine
immediately. Park your motorcycle on its side stand
on a firm, level surface.
Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick ( )
and wipe it clean.
Insert the oil f iller cap/dipstick until it
seats, but don’t screw it in. 2.
3.
4.
5.
6. 1.
1 74
04/08/11 14:39:00 31MCH630_115 
						

							107 Changing Engine Oil & Filter
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Saf ety Precautions
Using the wrong oil f ilter may result in
leaks or premature engine damage. Refer to on page .
Your motorcycle’s oil f ilter has very
specif ic perf ormance requirements. Use a
new genuine Honda oil f ilter or a f ilter of
equal quality specif ied f or your model. If the oil is at or near the upper level
mark ( ) –– you do not have to add
oil.
If the oil is below or near the lower
level mark ( ) –– add the
recommended oil until it reaches the
upper level mark. (Do not overf ill.)
Check for oil leaks. Reinstall the oil filler cap/dipstick. Remove the oil filler cap/dipstick and
check the oil level. 7.
2
3
8.
9.74
04/08/11 14:39:09 31MCH630_116 
						

							µ
µ
(1)
(2)
(1) drain bolt (front)
(2) drain bolt (rear)
RIGHT FRONT, UNDER ENGINE
108
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Drain the Engine Oil: This procedure requires mechanical skill
and prof essional tools such as a torque
wrench and oil filter wrench, as well as a
means f or disposing of the drained f luid
(page ). If you do not have the skills
or the tools, see your Honda dealer.
Park the motorcycle on its side stand on
a firm, level surface.
If the engine is cold, start it and let it
idle f or 3 5 minutes. Turn the engine
of f . Wait 2 3 minutes f or the oil to
settle.Place a drain pan under the crankcase.
To drain the oil, remove the drain bolts
()and().
1.
2.3.
4.
12
164
04/08/11 14:39:18 31MCH630_117 
						

							(3) oil filter
(4) oil filter rubber seal (4) (3)
RIGHT REAR, UNDER ENGINE
109
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Install a New Oil Filter:
Improper disposal of drained f luids is
harmf ul to the environment. Remove the oil filter ( ) with a filter
wrench and let the remaining oil drain
out. Discard the oil f ilter in an approved
manner (page ).Pour the drained oil into a suitable
container and dispose of it in an
approved manner (page ).
Apply a thin coat of engine oil to the
rubber seal ( ) of a new oil filter.
(cont’d) 5.6.
7.
4 3
164164
04/08/11 14:39:28 31MCH630_118 
						

							20 lbf·ft (26 N·m , 2.7 kgf·m)
22 lbf·ft (30 N·m , 3.1 kgf·m)
3.9 US qt (3.7
)
110
Engine Oil & Filter
Servicing Your Honda
Add Engine Oil:Install the new oil f ilter and tighten it by
hand.
Using an oil f ilter wrench attachment
and a torque wrench, tighten the new oil
filter to the specified torque:
Check the condition of the sealing
washer on the drain bolts. Replace the
washers every other time the oil is
changed.
Install the drain bolts and tighten them
to the specified torque:
Fill the crankcase with the
recommended oil (page ),
approximately:Install the oil filler cap/dipstick securely.
Start the engine and let it idle f or a f ew
minutes.
Stop the engine. Wait several minutes.
Hold the motorcycle upright and check
that the oil level is at the upper level
mark on the oil f iller cap/dipstick (page
).
If a torque wrench is not used f or
installation, see your Honda dealer as soon
as possible to verif y proper assembly.Check that there are no oil leaks. 8.
9.
10.12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
11.106
103
04/08/11 14:39:39 31MCH630_119 
						

							111 Coolant RecommendationServicing Your Honda
Coolant
Using coolant with silicate inhibitors may
cause premature wear of water pump
seals or blockage of radiator passages.
Using tap water may cause engine
damage. Your motorcycle’s liquid cooling system
dissipates engine heat through the coolant
jacket that surrounds the cylinder and
cylinder head.
Use Pro Honda HP coolant or an
equivalent high quality ethylene glycol
antif reeze containing corrosion protection
inhibitors specif ically recommended f or
use in aluminum engines. Check the
antifreeze container label. Maintaining the coolant will allow the
cooling system to work properly and
prevent f reezing, overheating, and
corrosion.Use only distilled water as a part of the
coolant solution. Water that is high in
mineral content or salt may be harmf ul to
the aluminum engine.
The f actory provides a 50/50 solution of
antifreeze and water in this motorcycle.
This coolant solution is recommended f or
most operating temperatures and provides
good corrosion protection.
04/08/11 14:39:48 31MCH630_120