Oil filters other than Yamaha

[Mooseman]

Sometimes, expert engineers get overridden by the bean counters. Maybe this is the case here. On some models, to change the oil filter, you have to separate the front end (according to the manual). Can you imagine the labour costs of that? Just for an oil change? So, to keep customers happy (and buying Yamahas), they say you don't have to change the oil filter for 20000Km. It's called risk management. By then, it's long out of warranty and likely not even getting serviced at the dealer anymore. If it does blow up due to a clogged filter, it will likely happen out of warranty.

Just think about this for a moment... Our sleds hold only about 2.5~3L of oil and spin regularly north of 10K rpm. How much oil do you think passed through that tiny filter in 20000Km and the dirt it has trapped? To me, a filter change is cheap insurance. My truck holds 7L, has a bigger filter, rarely spins faster than 5K rpm and usually lasts between 7-9K km by the oil monitor and, the manual says, change the filter with the oil.

And by not changing that filter, you always keep about a third of a liter of that dirty oil, including those nasty acids and stuff people are so afraid of. It may be diluted in clean oil, but it's still dirty. Are we that cheap that we can't change the filter?

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Sometimes, expert engineers get overridden by the bean counters. Maybe this is the case here. On some models, to change the oil filter, you have to separate the front end (according to the manual). Can you imagine the labour costs of that? Just for an oil change? So, to keep customers happy (and buying Yamahas), they say you don't have to change the oil filter for 20000Km. It's called risk management. By then, it's long out of warranty and likely not even getting serviced at the dealer anymore. If it does blow up due to a clogged filter, it will likely happen out of warranty. ....................

Good point.

 

[Teamblue4]

I buy 2 Yamalube oil change kits every year at Haydays, they always throw in a couple t shirt's, ink pens and of course some stickers. on average 3000 miles per year.

 

[09nytro]

I always change my filter ....I use oem because its just easy ...walk into dealer and there it is and oil ...one stop shop...may pay alittle moe but I could care less. Better than driving all over to fined everything

 

[Irv]

Yamaha and every other OEM do not make lubricants, they contract with oil companies for a generic product packaged under their label with a fancy name that cannot be cross referenced to anything when in fact they are common lubes. They sell lubricants to make more money and that is the only reason they sell oils.

With significant dollars at stake, it's not hard to understand why the OEM and the dealer want you to think the OEM is the only oil that is safe to use. The OEM's/Dealers want a monopoly on the products you use such as oil and filters and the owners manuals and warranties are written to affect that end.

 

[fastdave]

I'm sure when this happens, you'll just run to the dealer and buy another Yamaha. Sorry but I don't buy that Yamaha doesn't care if your Yamaha sled engine blows up after the warranty's up. Part of their 4 stroke sales pitch to justify their higher list prices are quality and longevity. My son has a BMW car that requires the oil changed every 16k. You get free maintenance for 5 years when you buy the car. More than half of their sales are leases. Do you think BMW would want these so called poorly maintained cars back after 2 or 3 years (actually BMW's the one who's doing the poor maintenance)? Of course they want them back, so they dealers can resell them to customers that keep them for 200k+ miles.

Sometimes, expert engineers get overridden by the bean counters. Maybe this is the case here. On some models, to change the oil filter, you have to separate the front end (according to the manual). Can you imagine the labour costs of that? Just for an oil change? So, to keep customers happy (and buying Yamahas), they say you don't have to change the oil filter for 20000Km. It's called risk management. By then, it's long out of warranty and likely not even getting serviced at the dealer anymore. If it does blow up due to a clogged filter, it will likely happen out of warranty.

Just think about this for a moment... Our sleds hold only about 2.5~3L of oil and spin regularly north of 10K rpm. How much oil do you think passed through that tiny filter in 20000Km and the dirt it has trapped? To me, a filter change is cheap insurance. My truck holds 7L, has a bigger filter, rarely spins faster than 5K rpm and usually lasts between 7-9K km by the oil monitor and, the manual says, change the filter with the oil.

And by not changing that filter, you always keep about a third of a liter of that dirty oil, including those nasty acids and stuff people are so afraid of. It may be diluted in clean oil, but it's still dirty. Are we that cheap that we can't change the filter?

 

[hamrtyme]

I buy 2 Yamalube oil change kits every year at Haydays, they always throw in a couple t shirt's, ink pens and of course some stickers. on average 3000 miles per year.

we should try to get a group of yamaha guys together at Haydays for a few jugs of beer!!!!!

 

[Mooseman]

Wow. That was but we needed to chill a bit

 

[vector06]

I have the filter changed on both sleds every season when I have them serviced. Cheap insurance. We spend around $4-500.00 at the dealership getting them serviced. Everything is looked over and replaced if needed. I am not going to lose any sleep over $25.00. How many people change the oil in their car but not the filter? None that I know of..

 

[BombaPolaYama]

I have the filter changed on both sleds every season when I have them serviced. Cheap insurance. We spend around $4-500.00 at the dealership getting them serviced. Everything is looked over and replaced if needed. I am not going to lose any sleep over $25.00. How many people change the oil in their car but not the filter? None that I know of..

Hopefully you have a good dealer and get value for your money! What I found is that they don't always check things over as expected and gives a false sense of safety. People around here always use "dealer serviced" as an advertising ply when selling stuff!

 

[vector06]

So far so good. Been going there for five years now and have had no break downs. I also look them over often just to be sure but have not turned a wrench on the sleds yet other then carbides and add-ons.

 

[dilligaf]

I go with what the OEM specifies. Spent alot of money on these sleds, I'm not to worried about spending $10 or so more in maintenance to know I have the right stuff. I think if we were truly dollar savvy, we would have bought a 500 fan cooled sled.

 

[Irv]

I go with what the OEM specifies. Spent alot of money on these sleds, I'm not to worried about spending $10 or so more in maintenance to know I have the right stuff. I think if we were truly dollar savvy, we would have bought a 500 fan cooled sled.

And there is nothing wrong with that if that is what makes you comfortable.

Myself, like I mentioned earlier, it cost me over $90 dollars CDN. ($92.67 actually) for Yamaha oil and a filter!

Currently I can do the same oil change with a KNOWN quality oil and a KNOWN quality filter for $40.00 bucks.

I don't know about you or others on here, but keeping $52.67 in my pockets is a lot more important than putting $52.67 in Yamaha's pockets

 

[Metallicat]

The local Yamaha dealer here sells Vesrah oil filters for the Yammi snowmobiles. They look exactly like OEM. The latest filter I purchased is an Amsoil one which our local performance / parts shop sells as the high end replacement filter. I am using that along with Amsoil 0w40 oil.

 

[cat hunter]

I go with what the OEM specifies. Spent alot of money on these sleds, I'm not to worried about spending $10 or so more in maintenance to know I have the right stuff. I think if we were truly dollar savvy, we would have bought a 500 fan cooled sled.

And there is nothing wrong with that if that is what makes you comfortable.

Myself, like I mentioned earlier, it cost me over $90 dollars CDN. ($92.67 actually) for Yamaha oil and a filter!

Currently I can do the same oil change with a KNOWN quality oil and a KNOWN quality filter for $40.00 bucks.

I don't know about you or others on here, but keeping $52.67 in my pockets is a lot more important than putting $52.67 in Yamaha's pockets

Well said Irv !!!