A couple of maintainance questions

Stella, LML, Bajaj and other Indian scooters

Moderator: Modern Buddy Staff

Post Reply
User avatar
Nettar
Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 4:07 pm
Location: State College, PA

A couple of maintainance questions

Post by Nettar »

I vowed to do it and I did.
I changed the oil and cleaned the strainer on my Stella at the 200 (well, really 210) mile mark.
Glad I did too as a considerable amount of metal came out with the oil. Had I run it through a coffee filter and flogged the particularate to a scrap dealer I would probably have covered the cost of the replacement oil.

All of that being said I consulted the owner's manual and purchased the recommended 20W 40 oil (not an easy item to find, by the way) to refill the scooter. Alas, when I was removing the dip stick to refill the scooter with oil I noticed that it says that 20W 50 is the oil to use.

Which is correct?

I also noticed that the recommended service intervals in the owner's manual are in kilometers, not miles. So does the Stella need its first service at 375 to 480 miles or 500 to 750 miles?

Inquiring, and somewhat confused minds want to know.
Robbie
Member
Posts: 536
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:46 am
Location: Desplaines Il.

Post by Robbie »

At how many kilos does the manual call for the oil change at?

Rob
User avatar
Nettar
Member
Posts: 53
Joined: Thu May 03, 2012 4:07 pm
Location: State College, PA

Post by Nettar »

Manual says first service (includes oil change) is 500 to 750 KM.
Robbie
Member
Posts: 536
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:46 am
Location: Desplaines Il.

Post by Robbie »

Nettar wrote:Manual says first service (includes oil change) is 500 to 750 KM.
Wow....
1000 KM is 600 miles, so they are calling for a first service at 300 to 450ish miles.

Based on other manufacturers, that is rather compressed but since you indicate there was already debris being caught in the strainer, LML likely knows this engine design will shed some metal early in the break in period.

I suspect you are seeing metal from the trans since the 4T shares its crankcase oil with the trans, like most current motorcycles.
Most likely, normal shedding till the trans gets settled in.
The debris should become less and less with each oil change.

As far as the oil specification....I have run across this owners manual not agreeing with the service manual or the engine itself on LML products.
I'd be inclined to use what the dipstick calls for but I wouldn't fret about the specification you are currently using.

Rob
Post Reply