2024 Honda NX500 (CB500XA) Oil and Filter Change - Page 2

Also applicable to the Honda CBR500RA and CB500FA and possibly other Honda 500 models

Road and Trail guide

Clean around the engine oil drain bolt, oil filler cap and oil filter. If there is dirt on other parts above the oil filler cap, clean those areas too.

Run the bike for a few minutes or so to warm the oil and resuspend any sediment, then turn it off. Be careful not to touch the exhaust when it's hot.

Spread newspaper or cardboard under the bike.

Put on a pair of disposable gloves (used engine oil is toxic, so try to avoid skin contact).

Loosen the engine oil drain bolt (underside of engine) with a 12 mm socket and a ratchet or flex-bar. Place a drain pan or pail underneath the drain bolt to catch the used oil.

Remove the engine oil drain bolt and let the oil drain into the pan or pail. When you're unscrewing the drain bolt by hand, put a bit of inwards pressure on it. When you feel that it's completely unscrewed, quickly pull it away to try to avoid too much oil spilling onto your gloved hand. It’s easy to drop the oil drain bolt when removing it. Sometimes the sealing washer lightly sticks to the engine case; be sure you remove the sealing washer with the drain bolt; you can use a small flat-bladed screwdriver to loosen the washer after unscrewing the drain bolt a bit. When the oil has almost stopped draining, tip the bike from side to side a bit to drain any remaining oil.

Remove the oil filler cap. Ensure that the O-ring is in good condition, otherwise you'll need to replace it. Clean the O-ring and the seating surface (underside) of the cap. Clean around the opening of the oil filler hole, but be careful not to let dirt fall into the opening.

If you're going to change the oil filter too, you can proceed with that now, or you can reinstall the oil drain bolt (with sealing washer) first if it looks like the oil has finished draining. Instructions follow.

Clean the oil drain bolt (and the sealing washer if reusing it). If using a magnetic drain plug, be sure to clean off the magnet. Clean off the seating surface around the oil drain hole. The service manuals state to use a new sealing washer. I've reused some flat aluminum sealing washers over the years (after inspecting them to verify that they were still in good condition) without any issues. I always use a torque wrench when tightening a engine oil drain bolt. You'll have to make your own decision about reusing the sealing washer. Some sources state to always use a new sealing washer. If in doubt, or to play it safe, use a new one. If you buy OEM sealing washers individually from a dealer, it will likely cost you quite a bit more than buying them in larger quantities from another source. I chose to replace the sealing washer because it looked a little bit deformed.

Reinstall the oil drain bolt with a sealing washer. Insert the drain bolt and tighten by hand (it should thread-in easily). Use an accurate torque wrench to tighten it to a maximum torque of 30 N.m (22 lbf.ft).

Use a piece of aluminum foil over the exhaust pipes (headers) below the oil filter to keep engine oil off them when removing the oil filter. Place a drain pan below the oil filter.

Remove the old oil filter with an oil filter socket and a ratchet or flex-bar.

Clean the oil filter sealing surface of the engine. Remove the old oil filter O-ring if it's stuck to the engine.

If you have not already done so, reinstall the oil drain bolt (see above).

I always use OEM (Honda) oil filters. I pour oil into the new oil filter (about 3/4 full) before installing it. This is to reduce the amount of time to build up oil pressure when starting up the engine. Even if you do not pour oil into the oil filter, smear a bit of engine oil onto the rubber seal (O-ring) of the new oil filter. Install the oil filter by hand and tighten it. Some sources say you just need to tighten spin-on oil filters hand-tight, but I choose to follow the service manual instructions and tighten it with a torque wrench.

If you haven't already cleaned the oil filler opening, do so now.

Pour the recommended amount and type of new motorcycle engine oil into the oil filler hole (you may want to use a clean funnel), and watch the level in the oil level window (sight glass) as you do so. For the oil level in the sight glass to be accurate, the bike must be completely upright (vertical) and on level ground (wheel bottoms at the same height). You can have someone hold the bike vertical, use a bike stand, centre-stand, or repeatedly add some oil and then stand the bike up and check the level. You can also place a wood block under the side stand so the bike is almost vertical and then add oil until it maybe reaches the low-level mark (depends on how close to vertical the bike is) and then stand the bike up to verify the oil level. The level in the sight glass should be between the upper and lower marks and close to or at the upper mark. Do not overfill. If you do overfill, carefully drain some oil out through the oil drain hole.

A too high oil level may affect the overall engine performance and actuation of the clutch (according to the Honda Common Service Manual). Also, if the oil level is too high the oil can become aerated (air bubbles in it) which could diminish the effectiveness of the engine lubrication system. If the oil level is too low, premature engine wear and overheating may result.

Reinstall the oil filler cap (apply oil to the O-ring).

Do the oil level check below as well as check for leaks.

Oil Level Check

With the motorcycle resting on the side stand on level ground, start the engine and let it idle for about 3 minutes and then turn it off. Wait for about 3 minutes. With the bike held upright (vertical) on level (horizontal) ground, check the oil level window. The oil level should be between the upper and lower marks. If the oil level is low, remove the oil filler cap and add oil up to the upper oil level mark. Do not overfill. Reinstall the oil filler cap if removed.

Clean up. Dispose of the used engine oil and oil filters in a responsible way (recycling depot or some automotive service centres).

All done!