Modern Vespa

I thought I'd share my experiences on doing my first oil change on the GTS. Hopefully greasy or someone knowledgeable will jump in if I've made any errors. Jess, if you feel this belongs in the tech library feel free to move it.

Basically, here's the drill:

First off, you need to support the bike in some other way than the centerstand. I had a couple of screw eyes already set into a beam from a prior project, so I used some tiedowns and a canyon dancer harness to support the bike. A wheel chock would surely be simpler, but this is what I had.

For tools, I had an oil filter wrench (the old one was on WAY tight), a 'breaker bar' and a torque wrench. You'll also need a 24mm socket, and if you don't remove the exhaust you might need an extension. (It is a little tight in there.)

The first step was loosening the oil filter with the bike cold. This way you can get some grip without worrying about burning yourself on the exhaust. You're not taking it off, just getting it so you can easily remove it when the bike's hot. I did the same thing with the drain plug.

Then I put the drain pan underneath and ran the GTS for a few minutes to warm it up. This makes the oil flow out more easily.

Shut off the bike, unscrew the dipstick and then unscrew the drain plug. You may want to use gloves to prevent burns from the exhaust or contact with hot oil. Pull out the oil screen and check for metal shavings (bad) or other gunk in there. It should be clean.

Once most of the oil has drained out the drainplug, unscrew the oil filter and get the remaining oil out. Once the oil has drained out, smear a bit of oil on the rubber gasket of the new oil filter and screw the new filter back on. Hand-tight is fine (spec is 4-6 Nm or Newton-meters, which is not all that tight).

Replace the oil screen and screw the oil drain plug back on. Torque to 24-30 Nm.

Now slowly fill the bike with new oil - don't overfill. Run it for a couple of minutes and check for leaks. Let the bike cool 10 min. and recheck the oil level; adjust if necessary.

And that's pretty much it.

Very nice.

Gary? Any additional comment?

Wow that's very helpful.

I didn't realize that the GTS exhaust pipe passed in front of the oil filter. There's more room to get at it on a GT.

Unfortunately the pix are out of order. Some were rotated on their side and when I re-did them the order got screwed up.

great report 8)

just out of interest how much oil did you need to refill and how did this quantity compare with how much came out when you drained the old oil

Hmmm. It was a while back but I recall it taking just a bit over a quart. As far as what came out, I really didn't measure it. Just poured it from the drain pan into a larger jug I use for recycling.

i only ask because i've just done an oill and filter change on my GTs and refilled with 1.2L (1200ml)

i poured the old oil into the container the new oil had been in and there was only about 800ml

even i know they'll be some in the old filter but not 400ml !!

I just did my third one and applied the priceless tip of another poster--I think it was in a sidestand thread. This tip will make it unnecessary to raise and secure the scooter off the centerstand. It does require a sidestand, and if it is only for this purpose, you'll love to have one.

Rest the scooter on the sidestand to loosen and remove the drain plug and the oil filter as desribed above, move the pan under, remove plug and filter. Now go to the left side of the scooter and lean it upright and some over to the right. This way, the oil will probably drain more completely, and quicker. No extra support for the scooter needed!

After a minute or two, lean it back on the sidestand, clean up and reinstall drain plug and new filter. Now the scooter can go back on the centerstand for the oil refill and level check.

I also had to find a different way to loosen my oil filter. I had tightened the last one too tight and my big screwdriver wouldn't do the trick anymore--it just carved two nice half rounds into the end. What I found will do the trick is a steel file with a blunt rectangle end. That end fits nicely into the filter like a giant screwdriver, and it is grippy, so it won't slide off. Now take a pair of pliers and torque the file. Amazing, how easy the filter will now come off.

Nice tip! I will have to use the sidestand trick next time!

Looks like I have to do the first service myself and ive gone way over my first 600 miles.

what are the 2 oils I have to buy?

The newer (?) Piaggio oil filters have a 21mm hex head on them in place of the oversized slot... makes tightening and loosengin that filter a lot easier!

Just installed mine today!

I haven't done my oil change yet but I need to this week. Just to warn me: why can't you do this on the center stand? Is it possible to do on the center stand?

The center stand has to be deployed so that it sits in the waste oil pan and the oil does run down it when you take the drain plug out. It is messy but can be done. Take some time and do a dry run and you will get a clearer idea. I was thinking there must be some way to rig a trough of some sort. If you do use the center stand be sure to put lots of old newspapers down or have some floor dry ready.

Dave

Yeah, you might be able to rig something up with a gallon milk jug, like some folks do when draining the hub oil.

do you guys purchase the piaggio filter or the cheaper one? scooterwest carries both. says the cheaper one is just as good. yes?

I got mine from Scooterwest, so I guess it was the cheaper one.

I use the Vespa filter,purchased from the dealer, only to keep money circulating locally.

Dave

I live in a remote part of Australia. So remote that a satellite phone is the only reliable means of communication, broadband is a dream and a Vespa dealer is thousands of miles away. The upside is there is not much traffic, although I did see a dust trail in the distance last week, and the silence (read peace) is as beautiful as the sunrises and sunsets.

But, occasionally I have the opportunity, like some city folks, to feel quite stupid. My current opportunity came about when I decided it was about time I changed the oil on my lovely bright yellow 2007 Vespa 250GTSie. It has done 5500 kilometers (say3500 miles) since new.

I assiduously read many of the helpful posts and lay myself down beside the bike and checked out where the oil filter and drain were. I checked my tools. Yes, I had what I needed. After all, I service my own V8 Land Rover Discovery and my lovely olde Kawasaki 1500 twin so all should be in order. But it isn't.

Call me rather silly, but I cannot see where I have to pour the new oil in.
The oil filler. Is the bush getting to me? Perhaps a man can only take so much beer and fresh air.

Can anybody point me to it please? (I'll still feel silly but at least the Vespa will have fresh oil and there's always more booze to salve my diminishing pride.) Thank you in advance.

Hi - welcome to MV!

The fill-hole is where the dip-stick screws in - but beware, you do need a funnel, as the very outmost bit (transmission case) is not part of the sump, which starts just inside, but with a gap.

Just to add to that, it's on the opposite side of the engine from the drain and the filter.

Thank you jmc, for your welcome and helpful advice.

And thank you also Jess for your helpful advice.

I shall now advance up on the little yellow girl full of confidence.

I might even play "Ride of the Valkyries" up full blast as I do. That will show her who's boss.

As I lay beside the scooter again this morning, just the dogs and I, I asked myself what is it the Italians gave us apart from Vespa. Well, I suppose there was The Catholic Church, Michaelangelo, Gina Lollibridga, Ferrari, indoor toilets, wonderful art works, enduring architecture, pizza, spaghetti, gelatti, and Ducatis and Moto Guzzis. (Hardly worth mentioning really!)

Thank you again men.

Harris Quelhurst.

Hello again fellow riders,

The handbook for the 250 GTSie refers to Motul T4.

Does anybody have any experience with other oils?

I don't see why I need to give my dough to those Euro Continental types who can't even speak the Queen's bloody English when I can probably get an equivalent here (once I identify it.)

Thanks again.

Harris Quelhurst.

PS Love to you European Vespa riders.

Any modern standard 5W-40 fully synthetic oil will be just fine.

Thanks again Jim.

I bought this Vespa 6 years ago and have put very few kilometres on it for its age compared to some I've seen on the Modern Vespa Forum.

While riding it the other day I noticed a slight front wheel wobble. It was unladen, except for my weight, and a nice smooth road so I assumed a check on the trye pressures was in order. The pressures were fine.

I'd say that the tyres are going or have gone hard. Even though the tyres look to be in excellent conditon they are close to being completely unserviceable.

This is not a new phenomenon to me, but I'd like to know whether others whose travel miles are shared among several vehicles have experienced this too.

Last year I rode a BMW R1200CL from Sydney to Brisbane. Even though they looked beautiful, its tyres had gone off and the only way I could control it through sweeping lefthand highway turns at 100kph (60 miles per hour) was to ride it speedway style through the turns. (Yes, bike leaned over into the turn but bars twisted AWAY from the direction of turn by say, 15 degrees.) Righthand sweepers required a different even scarier technique. I fully expected to lose it at any time, and become a statistic but like many others, I loved the thrill. It wasn't until I dismounted 12 hours later that I realised I was a nervous wreck and far too old for that kind of shenanigans. My knees still knock when I think of it. It would be very much worse on a Vespa I imagine.

Has anybody else experienced this phenomenon ? Gulp, don't tell me I'm the only one. I always knew I was special but not THAT special!) Big smile.

Harris.

Thanks for the post !!!

Hi Dave,

I think that might have been an interesting story and I'd like to know more please.

Very modern American idiom makes me feel inadequate because I don't understand it very well, and I felt this way when I read your post. It sounded lke a helluva story but I wasn't sure that I understood it correctly. (I am trying hard though. I am assiduously working my way through the whole boxed set of "The West Wing" and find lots of the references and one-liners escape me. I get the all of the insults though.

Were you saying that a military bomber did some acrobatics or a UFO buzzed you? Clearly they were checking out your 300. Also, what are Birkenstocks? Do I understand it that you were out in the middle of nowhere with a box of Krispy Kreme's? (Krispy Kremes I also get.) Who are the chosen people. And can I be one please and will I need to wear a tie?

Kind wishes Dave. ..Harris.

Another good tip is to pour a little oil into the new oil filter before fitting.

As the filter behind the sump drain plug is dead cheap, I replace it with a new one rather than cleaning.

I refill with oil using a large syringe (ditto with transmission oil) - less chance of spillage and easy to measure.

To remove a stubborn oil filter you can always punch it through (in one side and out the other) and lever using a screwdriver...

Best,

Mark

re putting on the new filter. This is my first scooter...however on motorcycles and cars in addition to putting a little oil on the gasket I also filled the filter with oil and then put it on the motorcycle, so there was oil at the initial startup. I am not saying it is supposed to be done this way. I do not want anyone doing something i say when i am not a professional ( not that being a professional means everything is correct) I just was taught that way was the way....please check to see if it is advantageous. thank you, ride safe
P.S. great how to...i will print it out...thanks again

I may be wrong, but I think the oil flow system goes like this - sump to pump to bearings to filter to sump.

So filling the filter is not really necessary, but if it gives peace of mind.

thanks for the info. i never knew the sequence. Years ago i saw the mechanics do it. so i copied it when i started to do my own.
thanks again
take care and ride safe....allen. aka gadget

i printed out michaels instructions for the 1st oil change and air filter cleaning on my gts, worked great, and saved alotta $$$.
i've changed my own oil ever since.