This may be a stupid oil question, so sorry guys
But it has been a few years since my last cycle, and due to the age of mine now (82 maxim 750) have been paying close attention to things.
I changed my oil at a friends house, and drove home (about 30 minutes) when got home rechecked oil and oil level and all was good, but noticed that (thru the check window) the new oil was already VERY black, is it normal to get so black so fast? or should I do a few oil changes or flush to the bike? I do not think the PO changed oil very often.

The oil often looks worse than it really is in the window due to built up grime on the glass.

However if it is noticable from when you changed it and it has been awhile since the last change then by all means dump it.

Give it another good 15 minute ride and drop it while it's good and hot.
Also do the filter as it can hold quite a bit of dirty oil in the housing.

If it comes out dirty then do it again after another 200 miles or so.

Oil is a cheap commodity compared to the damage done by old oil.

I would agree that preventitive maintenance was neglected on this bike. Issue should be resolved after next oil change (300 to 500 miles to flush out the crud and change oil again, including filter). Treat her gently for those miles and you should be ok. Good luck!

Yup - sounds like there's still some of the old dirty stuff in the engine -- good idea to run her for a couple of hundred miles to let the new oil get the crud in suspension, then drain it while it's still warm.

Oh - and don't forget to drain the middle-gear drain too -- if you miss that, all the stuff sitting at the back of the transmission doesn't get changed.

Oh yes, the stupid middle drive drain plug. It is hidden rather inconvieniently in the rear portion under the transmission final drive area between two of the case webbings, deep in a hole. There is a picture of it's location somewhere in our forum, need to get that thing stickied. I've missed it all these years with no ill effects but it should be done. I do it now since my ignorance was banished. That rear sump holds about a cup and a half of oil as a bath for the final drive, it should be cleared. Good luck to you Regulator!

Do all the XJ's have the middle gear drain? I have checked my owners manual and there is no mention of it. BTW mine is the XJ900F 1989. I did an oil change yesterday and only found this group afterwards. Will have to crawl under the bike and see if I can find one at the weekend.

I'm only aware of '80-'83's Ian. I'm not familiar with any other years. Anyone else out there savy on this issue?

Ian nice bike. I was wondering if your bike is shaft drive or chain?

Thanks guys, for the good advise! will have to look for that middle plug didnt find when changed oil. One more question to due with my oil, The PO had a aftermarket oil cooler on the bike, and it is leaking from the fins (radiator part) all over the chrome headers, stopped by a local yamaha dealer and the tech I talked to said there is really no need to have one on this bike, so i was planning on removing it, any thoughts, suggestions on keeping it or removing it?

That depends upon what ambiant temperature ranges you plan on operating in. I'll go out on a limb here, but I need to know what bike your riding (you really ought to post it on your signature). If your running an air cooled bike (such as our beloved XJ's), cooler stable temperatures are a desirable condition. You don't want the oil too cold but heat is an issue with cooling the heads (thus the cooling fins which require air flowing over them to really work efficently). If you are up north, let's say MN, and you ride open freeways most of the time, the oil cooler is probably not needed at all. Now look at sitting in traffic in say San Diego. Minimal air movement, short trips and higher ambient temperatures. An oil cooler would be a darn good idea. If you are looking to do long haul at high speed (resonable speed mind you) you wouldn't need the cooler. I'm thinking in your part of the world and if you don't do a lot of stop and go, dump the cooler, it's leaking anyway. I live in southern California and I picked up the cooler's off of two turbo units for both my Seca and Maxim because of our temps and traffic conditions. If you are of a mind, sell/give the oil cooler to someone who could use it (it might be nice to pressure test it first but that may cost and if your giving it away, tell the interested party and let them worry about it). A new core shouldn't be more than $70. Repair is also an option depending upon where the leak is occuring. Hope this was of some use.

XJFIan wrote:

Do all the XJ's have the middle gear drain? I have checked my owners manual and there is no mention of it. BTW mine is the XJ900F 1989. I did an oil change yesterday and only found this group afterwards. Will have to crawl under the bike and see if I can find one at the weekend.

Nope - your bike won't have it - you've got a slightly different engine from most of us with the early-to-mid 80's bikes.

On yours you're good to go with the regular oil drain.

Oh - and for the Oil Cooler - shouldn't really be a necessity in Minnesota, even during summer city driving in Minneapolis (as an example).
I'd take it off, see about what a repair would cost, and just drive normally - you probably won't miss it much.

The only time I've ever felt like I needed an oil cooler was in the parking lots that people call the interstate in New Hampshire.

I've had plenty of times sitting in traffic in Chicago when the bike would start to act strange. And I know Minneapolis traffic, contrary to popular misconceptions, can be every bit as bad as Chicago's.

Personally, I'd take every bit of cooling I could get, but maybe my fairing makes the difference.

thanks guys

CTSommers wrote:

Ian nice bike. I was wondering if your bike is shaft drive or chain?

Thanks. Bike is shaft drive.