Modern Vespa

On Saturday, I changed the oil on my LT for the first time...and it was a pain in the ass.

First...I was pissed at Piaggio for not including a side stand on their bikes. That may have saved me a big mess and a lot of frustration.

As you may know, the oil drain plug is slightly over the center stand. And so, to prevent a big oil spill, I held the drip pan under the plug as far against the stand that it could go. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to prevent a big mess from happening, as the oil dripped down the center stand and onto the floor.

So, I have a few questions:

1. Why doesn't Piaggio include a side stand on their bikes? Is it a cost issue, or have they ever had a side stand on their bikes?

2. What do you do to prevent a spill from happening when you change the oil?

And 3. Do you need to use 5W-40 on a LEADER engine? I recently just bought Agip 4T Racing Synthetic 5W-40 (as prescribed by Piaggio), but this oil is a bit rare...and expensive...

Yeah, I know that a bottle of Agip costs less than a new engine...but what do I use when I have an oil level problem and I need some engine oil fast?

I have to say - if you'd read every relevant (by title) topic posted in just the last 24 hours you'd have all the answers to your questions. You know, those with 'stand' or 'oil' in the subject...

So for once I'm bloody well not going to hold someone's hand - get reading!

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My salution for not making an oil mess on my
garage floor is to take into your local scooter
repair shop. That is my recomindation.

there are various ways of preventing a mess on the centerstand whilst draining - you can lock the brakes and lean the bike against a wall with the center stand up, or get a mate to hold it at an angle for you, while the oil drains out.

re. topping up - the general mantra is 'better the right amount of the wrong oil than the wrong amount of the right oil'. using a different oil to top up isn't ideal, but it isn't the end of the world either. as long as you change out the oil at regular intervals it's nothing to worry about.