I have a 02 Vstar 1100 and need to change oil. How much oil does it take and does it matter what kind to use. Can you use car oil or does it have to motorcycle type oil. What is best to use and what grade of oil.  

You can use automotive oil in bikes, with one caveat. Many multigrade oils today have friction modifiers, to improve gas milage, but they also cause the clutch to slip on a motorcycle. This isn't a factor on cars, because the clutch doesn't have oil on it, but motorcycles use oil bath clutches.

If the circular symbol that has the weight and spec (SL,SM or whatever) also says GAS CONSERVING, then do not use it in a motorcycle.

Some people claim that deisel engine automotive oils have better chemistry for long term use in motorcycle engines, than gasoline engine automotive oils. Personally, every oil related motorcycle engine failure I've heard of, was from running the wrong weight of oil, rather than the wrong brand or chemistry of oil.

regards,
Joe  

Its going to take a little over 3 quarts if you change out the oil filter (which you should anyway).  I would recommend buying oil that is motorcycle specific, better yet synthetic motorcycle oil.  Looking at the Yamaha manual the grades would be either 10w-30 or 20w-40 depending on the temperature range the bike will be used in.  As for brands can't say much there other than I"ve used Amzoil synthetic on my 2003 1100 without any issues.  Count on that oil change being at least an hour due to all the stuff to do to get at the filter.  You can buy a relocation kit that runs $200 or so to make it easier but to me it ain't worth it if I"m changing the oil twice a year.  

I cant find anything in my owners manual that tells me how to change the oil filter on a 05 yamaha 1100 silverado. Does anyone have any detailed instructions  

Buy the Clymer Yamaha manual and that will have a step by step on how to do the job.  I picked up that manual and used it for my 1100.  Other option is to see if anyone has posted the steps on the Internet, but its always great to have the manual as a reference for a whole bunch of things.  

try this:

  http://www.northernstarsrider.ca/techtip-1100changeoil.html  

I just changed my oil on my 07 Vstar 1100.  The very next day I was driving down the freeway at about 70 mph and my oil light came on.  Any ideas what could be going on?  

HI; you need more oil  just a little bit. The oil sender is bad. Check the wiring to the oil sender.) IF none of the above work un plug the battery for about 10 sec. This may deleat the low oil code. HOPE this helps you....scruffy  

It's worse than that.  Today I checked the oil window and it was empty so I put more in.  A total of 4 qts.  I turned it on for a minute and checked the oil and no oil was showing up in the window.  So I took off the cover of the air filter and there I saw some oil.  Anyone know what's going on?  And how to fix it?  Thanks