How to Change the Oil on a Kawasaki 1500 Mean Streak
by Chris GillilandThe basics of changing a motorcycle's oil and oil filter are fairly similar among most motorcycles. Kawasaki's Mean Streak 1500, however, requires an additional step to clean the internal oil screen, ensuring that its oil supply remains uncontaminated before reaching the motor's sensitive components. In addition, the Mean Streak's motor must be warmed thoroughly before beginning to remove any trapped debris within the oil. The entire job should take less than 30 minutes to do, so plan your time accordingly.
Step 1
Start the Mean Streak's motor and allow it to idle in place for three minutes. Stop the motor after it has warmed up and let it cool for another five minutes.
Step 2
Remove the filler cap from the left side of the motor to allow the oil system to vent while draining.
Step 3
Unscrew the oil drain plug from under the rear left side of the motor with a 17 mm socket. Drain the motor oil into an oil pan. Wipe the oil drain plug with a shop rag and screw it into place once the motor has drained completely with the 17 mm socket. Tighten the oil drain plug to 15 foot-pounds with a torque wrench.
Step 4
Remove the oil screen, positioned on the side of the motor and above the oil drain plug, with a 19 mm socket. Pull the oil screen out of the motor and drain any trapped oil into the oil pan.
Step 5
Clean the oil screen with a brake cleaner spray and shake out any particles trapped in the screen. Pull off the oil screen's O-ring and replace it with a new one. Screw the oil filter screen into place with the 19 mm socket. Tighten the oil drain plug to 15 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.
Step 6
Unscrew the oil filter from the right rear of the motor with a cap wrench. Discard the old filter.
Step 7
Coat the new oil filter's sealing gasket with SAE 10W40 API SF motor oil then screw the filter onto the motor by hand. Tighten the oil filter to 13 foot-pounds with the torque wrench.
Step 8
Fill the motor with up to 3 quarts of SAE 10W40 API SF motor oil with a funnel inserted into the oil filler neck on the left side of the motor. Screw the oil filler cap into place.
Step 9
Start the Mean Streak's motor and inspect the oil drain plug, oil screen and oil filter for leaks. Tighten the affected part to stop any oil leaks if any then turn off the motor.
References
- "The Professional Motorcycle Repair Program"; Professional Career Development Institute; 1995
- "Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Mean Streak Motorcycle Service Manual"; Kawasaki Heavy Industries; 2003
Tips
- For best results, change your Mean Streak's oil and filter every 7,500 miles. At a minimum, change the oil once a year.
Things You'll Need
- Motorcycle stand
- 17 mm socket
- Socket wrench
- Shop rags
- Brake cleaner spray
- Oil screen O-ring (Kawasaki Part #92055-1358)
- Torque wrench
- Cap wrench
- Oil filter (Kawasaki Part #99999-0032)
- Three quarts of SAE 10W40 API SE motor oil
- Funnel
Writer Bio
An avid motorcyclist, Chris Gilliland has immersed himself into the two-wheeled world while balancing work life and raising three daughters. When he is not managing the parts department of a local, multi-line motorcycle dealership, Gilliland can often be found riding, writing or working on his motorcycle blog, Wingman's Garage.
