2018 YAMAHA YZF-R3 oil

Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-22
6
EAU40262
Checkin g the brake flui d level
Before riding, check that the brake fluid
is above the minimum level mark.
Check the brake fluid level with the top
of the reservoir level. Replenish the
brake fluid if necessary.
Front brake
Rear brake
WARNING
EWA16011
Improper maintenance can result in
loss of brakin g a bility. O bserve
these precautions:  Insufficient brake flui d may al-
low air to enter the brake sys-
tem, re ducing brakin g
performance. 
Clean the filler cap before re-
moving . Use only DOT 4 b rake
flui d from a seale d container.
 Use only the specifie d b rake flu-
i d ; otherwise, the ru bber seals
may deteriorate, causin g leak-
a g e.
 Refill with the same type of
brake flui d. A ddin g a brake flui d
other than DOT 4 may result in a
harmful chemical reaction.
 Be careful that water or dust
d oes not enter the brake flui d
reservoir when refilling . Water
will si gnificantly lower the boil-
in g point of the flui d an d may re-
sult in vapor lock, an d d ir
t may
clo g the ABS hy draulic unit
valves.
NOTICE
ECA17641
Brake flui d may d amage painte d
surfaces or plastic parts. Always
clean up spille d flui d imme diately.
As the brake pads wear, it is normal for
the brake fluid level to gradually go
down. A low brake fluid level may indi-
cate worn brake pads and/or brake
system leakage; therefore, be sure to
check the brake pads for wear and the
brake system for leakage. If the brake
fluid level goes down suddenly, have a
Yamaha dealer check the cause before further riding.
1. Minimum level mark
1. Minimum level mark
Specified b rake flui d:
DOT 4
1
1
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-25
6
EAU23026
Cleanin g an d lu bricatin g the
d rive chain
The drive chain must be cleaned and
lubricated at the intervals specified in
the periodic maintenance and lubrica-
tion chart, otherwise it will quickly wear
out, especially when riding in dusty or
wet areas. Service the drive chain as
follows.
NOTICE
ECA10584
The drive chain must b e lubricated
after washin g the motorcycle, ri din g
in the rain or ri din g in wet areas.
1. Clean the drive chain with kero-
sene and a small soft brush.
NOTICE: To prevent damag ing
the O-ring s, do not clean the
d rive chain with steam cleaners,
hi gh-pressure washers or inap-
propriate solvents.
[ECA11122]
2. Wipe the drive chain dry.
3. Thoroughly lubricate the drive chain with a special O-ring chain
lubricant. NOTICE: Do not use
en gine oil or any other lu bri-
cants for the drive chain, as they
may contain su bstances that
coul d damag e the O-rin gs.
[ECA11112] EAU23098
Checkin
g an d lu bricatin g the
ca bles
The operation of all control cables and
the condition of the cables should be
checked before each ride, and the ca-
bles and cable ends should be lubri-
cated if necessary. If a cable is
damaged or does not move smoothly,
have a Yamaha dealer check or re-
place it. WARNING! Dama ge to the
outer housin g of cab les may result
in internal rustin g an d cause inter-
ference with cab le movement. Re-
place damag ed cab les as soon as
possi ble to prevent unsafe con di-
tions.
[EWA10712]
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Yamaha cable lubricant or other
suitable cable lubricant
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-28
6
EAUM1653
Lub ricatin g the swin garm piv-
ots
The swingarm pivots must be lubricat-
ed by a Yamaha dealer at the intervals
specified in the periodic maintenance
and lubrication chart.
EAU23273
Checkin g the front fork
The 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 surfa- ce 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.
Recommen ded lu bricant:
Lithium-soap-based grease
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Periodic maintenance an d a djustment
6-33
6 3. Turn the key to “ ” and turn on
the electrical circuit in question to
check if the device operates.
4. If the fuse immediately blows again, have a Yamaha dealer
check the electrical system.
EAU39014
Replacin g a hea dlig ht bul b
This model is equipped with halogen
bulb headlights. If a headlight bulb
burns out, replace it as follows.
NOTICE
ECA10651
Take care not to damag e the follow-
in g parts:
 Hea dlig ht bul b
Do not touch the glass part of
the hea dlig ht bul b to keep it free
from oil, otherwise the transpar-
ency of the glass, the luminosity
of the b ulb, an d the bul b life will
b e ad versely affected . Thor-
ou ghly clean off any d irt and fin-
g erprints on the hea dlig ht bul b
usin g a cloth moistene d with al-
cohol or thinner.
 Hea dlig ht lens
Do not affix any type of tinted
film or stickers to the head light
lens.
Do not use a hea dlig ht bul b of a
watta ge hi gher than specifie d.
1. Remove the headlight bulb cover
by turning it counterclockwise.
Specifie d fuses:
Main fuse: 30.0 A
Headlight fuse:
15.0 A
Signaling system fuse: 7.5 A
Ignition fuse: 15.0 A
Radiator fan motor fuse:
7.5 A
ABS motor fuse: 30.0 A
ABS solenoid fuse: 15.0 A
ABS control unit fuse:
7.5 A
Backup fuse: 7.5 A
1. Do not touch the glass part of the bulb.
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-1
7
EAU37834
Matte color caution
NOTICE
ECA15193
Some mo dels are equipped with
matte colore d finishe d parts. Be
sure to consult a Yamaha dealer for
a d vice on what pro ducts to use be-
fore cleanin g the vehicle. Usin g a
b rush, harsh chemical prod ucts or
cleanin g compoun ds when cleanin g
these parts will scratch or damag e
their surface. Wax also shoul d not
b e applied to any matte colored fin-
ishe d parts.
EAU54661
Care
While 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 outlet 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, sprock-
ets, the drive chain 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 spoke d
wheels. If such pro ducts are
use d on har d-to-remove dirt, do
not leave the cleaner on the af-
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-3
7 2. Apply a corrosion protection spray
on all metal, including chrome-
and nickel-plated, surfaces to pre-
vent corrosion.
Cleaning the windshield
Avoid using any alkaline or strong acid
cleaner, gasoline, brake fluid, or any
other solvent. Clean the windshield
with a cloth or sponge dampened with
a mild detergent, and then wash it off
thoroughly with water. For additional
cleaning, use Yamaha Windshield
Cleaner or another high-quality wind-
shield cleaner. Some cleaning com-
pounds for plastics may leave
scratches on the windshield. Before
using such cleaners, test an area of the
windshield which does not affect your
visibility and which cannot be easily
recognized.
After cleanin g
1. Dry the motorcycle with a chamois or an absorbing cloth.
2. Immediately dry the drive chain and lubricate it to prevent it from
rusting.
3. Use a chrome polish to shine chrome, aluminum and stainless-
steel parts, including the exhaust
system. (Even the thermally in-
duced discoloring of stainless-
steel exhaust systems can be re-
moved through polishing.)
4. To prevent corrosion, it is recom- mended to apply a corrosion pro-
tection spray on all metal,
including chrome- and nickel-plat-
ed, surfaces.
5. Use spray oil as a universal clean- er to remove any remaining dirt. 6. Touch up minor paint damage
caused by stones, etc.
7. Wax all painted surfaces.
8. Let the motorcycle dry completely before storing or covering it.WARNING
EWA11132
Contaminants on the brakes or tires
can cause loss of control.  Make sure that there is no oil or
wax on the brakes or tires.
 If necessary, clean the brake
d iscs an d b rake linin gs with a
re gular brake disc cleaner or
acetone, an d wash the tires with
warm water an d a mil d d eter-
g ent. Before ri din g at hi gher
speed s, test the motorcycle’s
b rakin g performance an d cor-
nering b ehavior.
NOTICE
ECA10801
 Apply spray oil an d wax spar-
in gly an d make sure to wipe off
any excess.
 Never apply oil or wax to any
rubber an d plastic parts, but
treat them with a suitab le care
prod uct.
 Avoi d using abrasive polishin g
compoun ds as they will wear
away the paint.
TIP
 Consult a Yamaha dealer for ad-
vice on what products to use.
 Washing, rainy weather or humid
climates can cause the headlight
lens to fog. Turning the headlight
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-4
7
on for a short period of time will
help remove the moisture from the
lens.
EAU26183
Stora
ge
Short-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 (b ecause
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 pla-
ce the spark plugs on the cylin-
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Motorcycle care and stora ge
7-5
7 der head so that the electrodes
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 dam-
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 outlet with a plastic bag to prevent moisture
from entering it.
7. Remove the battery and fully char- ge it. Store it in a cool, dry place
and charge it once a month. Do
not store the battery in an exces-
sively 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
6-30.
TIP
Make any necessary repairs before
storing the motorcycle.
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