Today I have a Vespa GTS 300 Super in the shop for an oil change. Regular oil changes are the best thing you can do for your Vespa, it's quickest, "easiest", most affordable way to ensure you get high mileage out of your scooter.
Here's a list of the items I use in order to get the job done efficiently.
Motorcycle Lift***
Drain Pan, 24mm Offset Wrench, Channel Lock Pliers, Needle Nose Pliers, Latex Gloves, Hammer, Rags, Measuring Cup, Funnel, Brake Clean, 5mm Allen Wrench. Compressed Air. You will also need a Vespa Oil Filter #82635R and up to 1300cc of 5w40 FULL SYNTHETIC Motor Oil.
***I understand that 99.999% of you reading this won't have access to a motorcycle lift, so you'll want to enlist the help of a friend to hold the bike steady as oil changes are best done with the scooter OFF the center-stand. If you don't have any helpful friends, you can do the oil change with the scooter on the center-stand, but it gets very, very messy. Also, you'll notice in the pics I removed the exhaust, this is not necessary. I removed the exhaust only to take clearer photos.
OK, let's get started. Ride your scooter around for 5 to 10 minutes to get the oil nice and hot. Hot oil will pour out faster, carrying more contaminants out with it in the draining process.
Once you have your scooter on the lift or have employed the use of a good friend, get your latex gloves on and place the drain pan under the scooter, with your channel lock pliers grip the old filter and rotate COUNTER CLOCKWISE. Once you've got the filter loose, you can remove it by hand. A small amount of oil will dribble out.
Next, take your 24mm wrench and remove the drain plug using the same COUNTER CLOCKWISE rotation. If the drain plug won't budge, you can use your hammer to gently tap up on the underside of the 24mm wrench to help it come loose. Once it's loose, you can remove it by hand. Before you completely remove the drain plug, get your needle nose pliers at the ready to remove the oil pick up screen.
Once the drain plug is off, quickly remove the oil pick up screen, allow the oil to drain out. Let the oil drain for 5 minutes or however long it takes for the oil to stop dripping out.
It's not unusual for the oil pick up screen to look like this. Totally normal. If it's the first oil change at 625 miles you may also find some metal swarf. What you DON'T want to see are pieces of hard plastic or metal flakes. If you find either and your Vespa is still covered by your factory warranty, be sure to save what you've found and take pictures to document it. Then, stop in to your local Vespa dealer to let them know about it. Use aerosol BRAKE CLEAN to clean the oil pick up screen, blow it dry with compressed air and dip the O-Ring fitted on the end in clean oil. Replace the oil pick up screen and give it a wiggle to make sure if fits completely into it's recess. NEXT, wipe the drain plug clean, along with the mating surface on the block and re-fit the oil drain plug. Get it finger tight then SNUG it with the 24mm wrench. ***KEEP in ind the block is ALUMINUM, DON'T go crazy getting it SUPER TIGHT*** If you strip the threads = $$$$$$ Got it?
Next, take your Genuine Vespa Oil Filter, coat the filter base gasket with clean oil and fit it to the block. Make sure you wipe the O-ring mating surface on the block with a rag to get it clean!
Get the oil filter hand tight then get it snug. I like to use a 5mm allen wrench as shown in the photo to get the filter tight.
Use ONLY 5w40 FULL SYNTHETIC OIL in your Vespa.
Use 1100cc for 150 & 200 motors, 1300cc for the 300 motors.
Once you've filled the crankcase with the correct amount of oil, take the funnel and "empty" oil bottle and place in your measuring cup. You'll be amazed at how much oil clings to the inside of the bottle/funnel. Be sure to add this to the engine.
All that's left to do now is the clean up, spray the underside of the motor with Brake Clean to remove any oil left from draining, then blow with compressed air or wipe with a rag. Make sure the dipstick is tight, start the scooter and let it idle. Make sure the RED low oil pressure light on the dash goes off. After running the bike for a minute or two. Switch it off and check for leaks. Wait a few minutes then check to see how the oil level reads on the dipstick. REMEMBER! You have to completely thread the dipstick all the way home to get an accurate reading. Don't just dab it! Have a quick peek underneath to check for leaks. All good? Now, go for a ride!
