2015 YAMAHA VMAX engine oil

OPERATION AND IMPORTANT RIDING POINTS
5-3
5
NOTICE
ECA10261
Even with the transmission in
the neutral position, do not
coast for lon g period s of time
with the en gine off, an d d o not
tow the motorcycle for lon g d is-
tances. The transmission is
properly lu bricated only when
the en gine is runnin g. Ina de-
quate lu brication may damag e
the transmission.
 Always use the clutch while
chan gin g g ears to avoi d d am-
a g in g the en gine, transmission,
an d d rive train, which are not
d esi gne d to withstan d the
shock of force d shifting .
EAU16811
Tips for re ducin g fuel con-
sumptionFuel consumption depends largely on
your riding style. Consider the follow-
ing tips to reduce fuel consumption:
 Shift up swiftly, and avoid high en-
gine speeds during acceleration.
 Do not rev the engine while shift-
ing down, and avoid high engine
speeds with no load on the en-
gine.
 Turn the engine off instead of let-
ting it idle for an extended length
of time (e.g., in traffic jams, at traf-
fic lights or at railroad crossings).
EAU16842
Engine break-inThere is never a more important period
in the life of your engine than the period
between 0 and 1600 km (1000 mi). For
this reason, you should read the fol-
lowing material carefully.
Since the engine is brand new, do not
put an excessive load on it for the first
1600 km (1000 mi). The various parts in
the engine wear and polish themselves
to the correct operating clearances.
During this period, prolonged full-throt-
tle operation or any condition that
might result in engine overheating
must be avoided.
EAU17124
0–1000 km (0–600 mi)
Avoid prolonged operation above 4800
r/min. NOTICE: After 1000 km (600
mi) of operation, the en gine oil an d
final gear oil must be chan ged , an d
the oil filter cartri dge or element re-
place d.
[ECA10333]
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
6-11
6
TIPIf a torque wrench is not available
when installing a spark plug, a good
estimate of the correct torque is 1/4–
1/2 turn past finger tight. However, the
spark plug should be tightened to the
specified torque as soon as possible.NOTICE
ECA10841
Do not use any tools to remove or in-
stall the spark plug cap, otherwise
the i gnition coil coupler may get
d amag ed . The spark plu g cap may
b e difficult to remove because the
ru bber seal on the en d of the cap fits
ti g htly. To remove the spark plu g
cap, simply twist it b ack and forth
while pullin g it out; to install it, twist
it back an d forth while pushin g it in.
EAU19909
En gine oil an d oil filter car-
tri dgeThe engine oil level should be checked
before each ride. In addition, the oil
must be changed and the oil filter car-
tridge replaced at the intervals speci-
fied in the periodic maintenance and
lubrication chart.
To check the en gine oil level
1. Place the vehicle on a level sur- face and hold it in an upright posi-
tion. A slight tilt to the side can
result in a false reading.
2. Start the engine, warm it up for several minutes, and then turn it
off.
3. Wait a few minutes until the oil set- tles, and then check the oil level
through the check window locat-
ed at the bottom-right side of the
crankcase.TIPThe engine oil should be between the
minimum and maximum level marks.
4. If the engine oil is below the mini-mum level mark, add sufficient oil
of the recommended type to raise
it to the correct level.
To chan ge the en gine oil (with or
without oil filter cartri dge replace-
ment) 1. Place the vehicle on a level sur- face.
2. Start the engine, warm it up for several minutes, and then turn it
off.
3. Place an oil pan under the engine to collect the used oil.
Tightenin g torque:
Spark plug:
13 Nm (1.3 m·kgf, 9.4 ft·lbf)
1. Engine oil level check window
2. Maximum level mark
3. Minimum level mark
23
1
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
6-12
6
4. Remove the engine oil filler cap,
the engine oil drain bolt and its
gasket to drain the oil from the
crankcase.
TIPSkip steps 5–7 if the oil filter cartridge
is not being replaced.5. Remove the oil filter cartridge withan oil filter wrench.TIPAn oil filter wrench is available at a
Yamaha dealer.6. Apply a thin coat of clean engineoil to the O-ring of the new oil filter
cartridge.
TIPMake sure that the O-ring is properly
seated.7. Install the new oil filter cartridgewith an oil filter wrench, and then
tighten it to the specified torque
with a torque wrench.
1. Engine oil filler cap
1. Engine oil drain bolt
2. Gasket
1
2
1
1. Oil filter wrench
2. Oil filter cartridge
1
2
1. O-ring
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
6-13
68. Install the engine oil drain bolt andits new gasket, and then tighten
the bolt to the specified torque.
9. Refill with the specified amount of the recommended engine oil, and
then install and tighten the oil filler
cap.
TIPBe sure to wipe off spilled oil on any
parts after the engine and exhaust sys-
tem have cooled down.NOTICE
ECA11621
In or der to prevent clutch slip-
pa ge (since the en gine oil also
lu bricates the clutch), do not
mix any chemical additives. Do
not use oils with a diesel speci-
fication of “CD” or oils of a hi gh-
er quality than specifie d. In
a ddition, do not use oils la beled
“ENERGY CONSERVING II” or
hi gher.
 Make sure that no forei gn mate-
rial enters the crankcase.
10. Start the engine, and then let it idle for several minutes while checking
it for oil leakage. If oil is leaking,
immediately turn the engine off
and check for the cause.TIPAfter the engine is started, the engine
oil level warning light should go off if
the oil level is sufficient.NOTICE
ECA10402
If the oil level warnin g lig ht flickers
or remains on even if the oil level is
correct, immed iately turn the en gine
off an d have a Yamaha d ealer check
the vehicle.11. Turn the engine off, wait a few minutes until the oil settles, and
then check the oil level and cor-
rect it if necessary.
1. Torque wrenchTightenin g torque:
Oil filter cartridge: 17 Nm (1.7 m·kgf, 12 ft·lbf)
Ti ghtenin g torque:
Engine oil drain bolt:
43 Nm (4.3 m·kgf, 31 ft·lbf)
1
Recommen ded en gine oil:
See page 8-1.
Oil quantity: Without oil filter cartridge replace-
ment:4.30 L (4.55 US qt, 3.78 Imp.qt)
With oil filter cartridge replacement:
4.70 L (4.97 US qt, 4.14 Imp.qt)
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
6-16
6
7. Check the oil check bolt gasket
and the oil filler bolt gasket for
damage, and replace them if nec-
essary.
8. Refill with the recommended final gear oil until it flows out of the oil
check bolt hole.
9. Install the oil check bolt, the oil fill- er bolt and their gasket, and then
tighten the bolts to the specified
torques. 10. Install the final gear case breather
cap by installing the washer and
bolt, and then tighten the bolt to
the specified torque.
11. Check the final gear case for oil leakage. If oil is leaking, check for
the cause.
EAU20071
CoolantThe coolant level should be checked
before each ride. In addition, the cool-
ant must be changed at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.
EAU46694
To check the coolant level1. Place the vehicle on a level sur- face and hold it in an upright posi-
tion.TIPThe coolant level must be
checked on a cold engine since
the level varies with engine tem-
perature.
 Make sure that the vehicle is posi-
tioned straight up when checking
the coolant level. A slight tilt to the
side can result in a false reading.2. Check the coolant level in the
coolant reservoir.TIPThe coolant should be between the
minimum and maximum level marks.
1. Final gear oil check bolt
2. GasketRecommen ded final gear oil:
Yamaha genuine shaft drive gear oil
SAE 80W-90 API GL-5
Oil quantity:
0.30 L (0.32 US qt, 0.26 Imp.qt)
2
1
Tightenin g torques:
Final gear oil check bolt:
10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
Final gear oil filler bolt:
23 Nm (2.3 m·kgf, 17 ft·lbf)
Ti ghtenin g torque:
Final gear case breather cap bolt: 10 Nm (1.0 m·kgf, 7.2 ft·lbf)
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PERIODIC MAINTENANCE AND ADJUSTMENT
6-30
6
EAU23273
Checking the front forkThe condition and operation of the
front fork must be checked as follows
at the intervals specified in the periodic
maintenance and lubrication chart.
To check the con dition
Check the inner tubes for scratches,
damage and excessive oil leakage.
To check the operation 1. Place the vehicle on a level sur- face and hold it in an upright posi-
tion. WARNING! To avoi d injury,
securely support the vehicle so
there is no dan ger of it fallin g
over.
[EWA10752]
2. While applying the front brake, push down hard on the handle-
bars several times to check if the
front fork compresses and re-
bounds smoothly.
NOTICE
ECA10591
If any damag e is foun d or the front
fork does not operate smoothly,
have a Yamaha d ealer check or re-
pair it.
EAU23284
Checkin g the steerin gWorn or loose steering bearings may
cause danger. Therefore, the operation
of the steering must be checked as fol-
lows at the intervals specified in the
periodic maintenance and lubrication
chart.
1. Place a stand under the engine to raise the front wheel off the
ground. (See page 6-40 for more
information.) WARNING! To
avoi d injury, securely support
the vehicle so there is no dan ger
of it fallin g over.
[EWA10752]
2. Hold the lower ends of the front
fork legs and try to move them for-
ward and backward. If any free
play can be felt, have a Yamaha
dealer check or repair the steer-
ing.
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MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE7-1
7
EAU37834
Matte color cautionNOTICE
ECA15193
Some models are equipped with
matte colored finished parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
a d vice on what prod ucts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical pro ducts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applie d to any matte colored fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU46411
CareWhile the open design of a motorcycle
reveals the attractiveness of the tech-
nology, it also makes it more vulnera-
ble. Rust and corrosion can develop
even if high-quality components are
used. A rusty exhaust pipe may go un-
noticed on a car, however, it detracts
from the overall appearance of a mo-
torcycle. Frequent and proper care
does not only comply with the terms of
the warranty, but it will also keep your
motorcycle looking good, extend its
life and optimize its performance.
Before cleanin g
1. Cover the muffler outlets with a plastic bag after the engine has
cooled down.
2. Make sure that all caps and cov- ers as well as all electrical cou-
plers and connectors, including
the spark plug caps, are tightly in-
stalled.
3. Remove extremely stubborn dirt, like oil burnt onto the crankcase,
with a degreasing agent and a
brush, but never apply such prod- ucts onto seals, gaskets and
wheel axles. Always rinse the dirt
and degreaser off with water.
Cleanin g
NOTICE
ECA10773
Avoi d usin g stron g aci dic wheel
cleaners, especially on spoked
wheels. If such pro ducts are
use d on har d-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
fected area any lon ger than in-
structed . Also, thorou ghly rinse
the area off with water, immed i-
ately dry it, an d then apply a cor-
rosion protection spray.
 Improper cleanin g can d amage
plastic parts (such as cowlin gs,
panels, win dshiel ds, hea dlig ht
lenses, meter lenses, etc.) an d
the mufflers. Use only a soft,
clean cloth or spon ge with wa-
ter to clean plastic. However, if
the plastic parts cannot be thor-
ou ghly cleaned with water, di-
lute d mil d d eter gent with water
may be used . Be sure to rinse
U2CEE0E0.book Page 1 Wednesday, August 27, 2014 11:11 AM

MOTORCYCLE CARE AND STORAGE
7-4
7
EAU26244
StorageShort-term
Always store your motorcycle in a cool,
dry place and, if necessary, protect it
against dust with a porous cover. Be
sure the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem are cool before covering the mo-
torcycle.NOTICE
ECA10811
 Storin g the motorcycle in a
poorly ventilate d room or cover-
in g it with a tarp, while it is still
wet, will allow water an d humi d-
ity to seep in an d cause rust.
 To prevent corrosion, avoi d
d amp cellars, sta bles ( because
of the presence of ammonia)
an d areas where stron g chemi-
cals are stored .Long-term
Before storing your motorcycle for sev-
eral months: 1. Follow all the instructions in the “Care” section of this chapter. 2. Fill up the fuel tank and add fuel
stabilizer (if available) to prevent
the fuel tank from rusting and the
fuel from deteriorating.
3. Perform the following steps to protect the cylinders, piston rings,
etc. from corrosion.a. Remove the spark plug caps and spark plugs.
b. Pour a teaspoonful of engine oil into each spark plug bore.
c. Install the spark plug caps onto the spark plugs, and then
place the spark plugs on the
cylinder head so that the elec-
trodes are grounded. (This will
limit sparking during the next
step.)
d. Turn the engine over several times with the starter. (This will
coat the cylinder walls with oil.)
WARNING! To prevent d am-
a g e or injury from sparkin g,
make sure to groun d the
spark plu g electro des while
turnin g the en gine over.
[EWA10952]
e. Remove the spark plug caps
from the spark plugs, and then
install the spark plugs and the
spark plug caps.
4. Lubricate all control cables and the pivoting points of all levers and
pedals as well as of the side-
stand/centerstand.
5. Check and, if necessary, correct the tire air pressure, and then lift
the motorcycle so that both of its
wheels are off the ground. Alterna-
tively, turn the wheels a little every
month in order to prevent the tires
from becoming degraded in one
spot.
6. Cover the muffler outlets with plastic bags to prevent moisture
from entering them.
7. Remove the battery and fully charge it. Store it in a cool, dry
place and charge it once a month.
Do not store the battery in an ex-
cessively cold or warm place [less
than 0 °C (30 °F) or more than 30
°C (90 °F)]. For more information
on storing the battery, see page
6-31.
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