When it comes to changing the oil in your CB175 / CL175 / SL175 / CB200 / CL200 it is going to be the first thing to learn and perhaps the most frequent job you do on your vintage Honda motorcycle. Your oil needs to be changed every 1,500 miles (2,400 km) along with what we call the normal service interval which includes the cam chain adjustment, valve adjustment, and ignition timing. On every other oil change or if it's the first oil change since acquiring the motorcycle, it's also important to do a full filter cleanout. You can find our article about that right here:
How to clean out the oil filter on the Honda CB175 / CL175 / SL175 / CB200 / CL200
When draining your oil be sure to have the engine slightly warmed up for the proper drainage. Once drained, take a moment to inspect your drain plug. If the edges are stripped or the threads going out, switch out the drain plug for one of our replacement drain plugs. When you go to reinstall the drain plug, just snug it down. Do not overtighten it.
Replacement Drain Plugs
Standard CB175 / CB200 Drain Plug
The Black Hole CB175 / CB200 Drain Plug
What Type Of Oil Do I Use?
Recommended oil viscosity for general riding and all temperatures is: SAE 10W-40. We recommend adding 2oz. of Zinc ZDDP additive per quart of oil with every oil change.
We've also had success running diesel truck oil at 15W-40 viscosity. Diesel oil has the bonus of extra detergent additives. Synthetic oils are not recommended as they will cause your clutch to slip. As of late 2023, Shell Rotella T4, Chevron Delo 400 and Mobil Delvac 1300 are now a semi-synthetic oil and cause clutch slippage in these engines. Be sure that any oil you are using is still 100% mineral oil.
How Much Oil Do I Use?
CB175 / CL175 / SL175 - 1.5 L (1.6 qt.)
CB200 / CL200 - 1.7 L (1.8 qt.)
*Always check the dipstick for an exact reading. To check the oil level, unscrew the dipstick and wipe it off. set the dipstick back in the engine but do not screw it back in. Remove the dipstick and check the level. If you are nearing the bottom line, add oil until you reach the top line.
When the oil change is completed, move on to the remaining service interval jobs below.
Setting the cam chain tension and valve clearnaces on the CB175 / CL175 / SL175 / CB200 / CL200
Setting the ignition timing on the CB175 / CL175 / SL175 / CB200 / CL200