Best to drain when warm. Tilt bike to right 1st, then to left--off sidestand--hold each position for 30 seconds or so. Tilt as far as you can without dumping the bike over. This gets most of the oil out of the nooks and cranny's. I do mine with the oil filter out. (wipe down right side some when done.) I once poured mine back into empty bottles just to check. Got about 2.25 quarts out. I put 2.5 back in. (mine leaks a little on the bottom from hitting a big rock and bashing a hole in bottom of motor)

jellyroll wrote on 10/16/11 at 13:06:15:


Wanna hear how an anal-retentive motorhead makes sure all the old oil is out?,...

Drain it about half an hour after riding it.  This allows all the oil that will drain off those areas of the motor above the oil sump to drain as much as it can.

Undo the drain plug and let it all drain out like drums said, tilting (and rocking) helps some too.  Have a strong friend(s) handy to help with this.

While you are doing this, heat up a quart of oil that is compatible with the oil you intend to use.   Maybe 100 degrees,.. not real hot.  How you heat it is up to you.

Put the drain plug back in.

Pour the heated quart in.  

Crank the motor over for several seconds, with no spark so the motor won't start.  This sends the clean heated oil into the engine.

Drain that oil out.

Put the drain plug back in, and refill with the proper amount of oil.

Believe it or not, there is a guy with an old Yamaha 650 that does this at every oil change down in Warner Robins, GA.  Not only does he do this, he changes his oil more than he needs to,.. every 3,000 I think.  

Overkill, probably, but I'll bet he has some pretty clean oil after every oil change.

Also I agree with arteacher,.. the oil comes gushing out of the drain plug hole on every bike I have every had, including this LS650.

They did have two sizes, but they are all in the same place.

I have been told to remove the oil fill cap prior to removing the drain plug.  This allows the oil to drain better because it makes an upper "air vent" kind of thing.  Don't know if it makes a difference or not but I do it every time and the oil drains with no problem.

Yes Jellyroll, the drainplug is on the LEFT side of the motor, not the right side. (kickstand side) It wouldn't drain much at all if it was on the right side.
I have an '87 and my drainplug is 17mm.

Thanks everyone! It's a bit dark, but I think I've spotted it. Looks like it's hard to get to up there behind the frame tubing. But I'll try to wrench it off and flush the crankcase tomorrow. I'm sure my bike will thank you too.

It's customary to use the sitting-on-the-bike orientation.