How to Change Engine Oil Without Replacing the Filter

Changing motorcycle engine oil is a very important part of bike maintenance. Therefore, after a certain period or several thousand kilometers of riding, the engine oil should definitely be changed. Bike manufacturers and experts also highly recommend this task. However, when changing engine oil, another aspect that should be paid attention to is replacing the motorcycle's engine oil filter. Many people do not want to do this when changing engine oil because replacing the filter incurs some extra cost. So, should you change your motorcycle's engine oil without replacing the filter? Today, we will try to explain this in detail.

Should the filter be replaced when changing engine oil?

Replacing the filter every time the engine oil is changed is definitely a good practice. The motorcycle engine filter traps dust, dirt, or other debris during oil filtering to keep the oil clean, maintain the engine well, and prevent piston deposits. This ensures that only clean oil reaches the engine.

Furthermore, the engine filter also helps maintain oil pressure. This allows the engine to deliver the right amount of oil to various sensitive parts such as pistons, cylinder walls, crankshafts, etc. So, if dirt accumulates in the filter, the oil pressure decreases, and the oil flow is hampered. This can reduce the bike's mileage and damage the engine. Therefore, replacing the filter is quite important for getting good mileage from your motorbike.

So, should the filter be replaced every time the oil is changed? Yes, that is good practice. However, if you wish, you can also change the filter every second oil change. This does not cause any particular damage to the engine, and many riders do this. However, if you change the oil very infrequently, then problems can arise. So, try to follow the advice given in your bike's manual regarding how often or after how many thousands of kilometers to change the oil. If you do this, there's no problem skipping one filter change and doing it the next time.

How to change motorcycle engine oil without replacing the filter

Before changing the oil, run the bike for 10 minutes; this will warm up the oil and make changing it easier.

1. Ensure the area where you want to change the oil is free from dust and dirt.

2. If any parts are attached to the drain plug, remove them.

3. Remove the drain plug and hold a drain pan underneath to collect the old oil. It may take 5-10 minutes for all the oil to drain.

4. Clean the oil filter with a clean cloth.

5. Reinstall the drain plug, but avoid overtightening.

6. Once the old oil has completely drained, you can now add new oil. Use the quantity specified in the user manual and try to always use good engine oil.

7. Now start the engine and check if everything is correct.

Conclusion

Additionally, some off-road and dirt bikes use metal or washable filters. These usually do not need to be replaced unless they are broken or damaged. However, even for these, the filter should be removed and cleaned at regular intervals. By checking your bike's user manual, you will know what type of filter is used in your bike.