View Poll Results: How often U change oil?
1000 to 2000
26
13.83%
2000 to 3000
76
40.43%
3000 to 4000
62
32.98%
Over 4k
24
12.77%
Voters: 188. You may not vote on this poll
How often do you - Change Oil?
09-03-2008, 05:52 PM
#31
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Superstock
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Best dissertation on oil, especially 0 weight. Take the quiz.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=136052
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=136052
09-03-2008, 06:13 PM
#32
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My tranny usually lets me know when it's time for a change. The shifting gets a little notchy/sloppy. Usually around 1500-2000. This Mobil1 V-twin doesn't seem to stretch the interval like I hoped it would. I have some M1 racing 4T to try next.
03-07-2009, 05:01 PM
#34
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Mine gets changed between 1000-1500. It would be a strict 1000 miles if I didn't ride it every day. Anything over 2000 miles is asking for trouble regardless of the oil you are running. These aren't car engines, the oil lubricates the gearbox area too. Also consider the speed of the rotating components. Combine that with the fact that motorcycle oils are not as 'good' as car oils (big topic there, but it comes down to the wet clutch mostly) it all adds up to a lot more wear and tear on the oil.
When buying a motorcycle I always ask about oil changes. When the guy is really proud of the fact that he changes them "every 3000, just like my car", I literally walk away.
When buying a motorcycle I always ask about oil changes. When the guy is really proud of the fact that he changes them "every 3000, just like my car", I literally walk away.
Also known as **** to some of us.
03-09-2009, 01:21 PM
#36
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The problem with lighter viscosity oils in motorcycle applications is that pretty much everything under 40W is Energy Conserving, and has wear-reducing additives which *may* allow a wet clutch to slip under load. With regards to an engine whose oil only lubricates the motor, not the tranny, and not one with a wet clutch, I fully agree with most, if not all, of the topics mentioned in the article linked above.
03-10-2009, 10:22 PM
#37
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It isn't about stress on the engine. The oil in cars serves one purpose, lube the engine. In bikes with shared sump, the oil runs through the clutch and transmission as well as the engine.
Bike transmissions beat the **** out of oil. Dino 10w40 oil can become 10w20something within a thousand miles. The additives may last as long as they would in a car but the upper viscosity usually doesn't.
I don't know how much difference it makes. I don't know why Honda engineers reccommend 8k change intervals. I just know oil loses viscosity in shared sump bikes in a fraction of the time it does in a car.
http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm
Motorcycle Oils vs. Automotive Oils
scroll down and look at the retained viscosities.
I wouldn't go over 2k miles on my bike's oil without a UOA to back it up.
Bike transmissions beat the **** out of oil. Dino 10w40 oil can become 10w20something within a thousand miles. The additives may last as long as they would in a car but the upper viscosity usually doesn't.
I don't know how much difference it makes. I don't know why Honda engineers reccommend 8k change intervals. I just know oil loses viscosity in shared sump bikes in a fraction of the time it does in a car.
http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm
Motorcycle Oils vs. Automotive Oils
scroll down and look at the retained viscosities.
I wouldn't go over 2k miles on my bike's oil without a UOA to back it up.
03-10-2009, 10:23 PM
#38
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Oil does not mix with gas as the engine runs.
The chemical changes that occur to motor oil that cause it to become corrosive are caused by the heat the oil is subjected to.
Synthetic oils properties are not subject to the same process.
03-10-2009, 11:07 PM
#40
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I don't think they're stupid. I don't think they're infallible either. If you want to do 8k mile OCIs it's OK with me. Just remember, if that results in an out of warranty oil related failure, Honda engineers won't buy you a new motor.
And if your Honda engineer designed and specified CCTs fail, you're on your own as well.
And if your Honda engineer designed and specified CCTs fail, you're on your own as well.
03-11-2009, 08:23 PM
#41
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I don't think they're stupid. I don't think they're infallible either. If you want to do 8k mile OCIs it's OK with me. Just remember, if that results in an out of warranty oil related failure, Honda engineers won't buy you a new motor.
And if your Honda engineer designed and specified CCTs fail, you're on your own as well.
And if your Honda engineer designed and specified CCTs fail, you're on your own as well.
03-11-2009, 08:39 PM
#42
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The real reason I change my oil about every 2k miles or a little before is 'cause that's when I start feeling a difference in the shifts up through the gears.
I do know that by 1000 miles most 10w40 has turned into 10w twenty-something. I guess the manufacturers know that too and allow for it.
Still, I can change oil at 2k miles for $10 and get smoother shifts. It's worth it to me.
03-11-2009, 09:51 PM
#45
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03-11-2009, 10:07 PM
#46
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As for change intervals...back in the late '80s, Ford recommended 10,000 mile intervals on the Escort...and you know how many Escorts are still on the road. The car manufacturers currently list long intervals (5,000 to 7,500) to make it seem inexpensive to maintain the vehicle, but they also list in the owner's manual to change oil at 3,000 under severe use...which is every vehicle driven in Southern California or any urban area.
03-11-2009, 11:34 PM
#47
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I think it's smarter to pick a decent, affordable oil of the proper spec and viscosity and change it every 2k miles than it is to search for the ONE PERFECT VTR MOTOR OIL and run it thousands more miles.
My current favorite based on research, VOAs and UOAs is Super Tech 15w40 which the Walmart in Valencia still sells for $1.48 per quart.
Last edited by RK1; 03-11-2009 at 11:43 PM.
03-12-2009, 10:28 AM
#49
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I switched to AMSOIL and a K&N oil filter at the last oil change. I plan to change every 5k.
My commuter seems to like the change to synthetic. It definitely runs cooler.
At the next oil change, I'm going to try the ice coolant additive as well....before summer arrives.
If you're changing your oil before it gets dirty...that's just dumb....not to mention a waste of money....and oil. Unless you are taking weekend track days, then I could understand.
That's like topping off your tank every time you pass a gas station..."just because"
My commuter seems to like the change to synthetic. It definitely runs cooler.
At the next oil change, I'm going to try the ice coolant additive as well....before summer arrives.
If you're changing your oil before it gets dirty...that's just dumb....not to mention a waste of money....and oil. Unless you are taking weekend track days, then I could understand.
That's like topping off your tank every time you pass a gas station..."just because"
03-13-2009, 04:40 AM
#50
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Wow
My post back from the dead
I switched to semi-syn last year, noticed a little bit of a difference in shifting. With that said I change every 2 to 3 k -
She runs like a beauty
03-22-2009, 10:51 PM
#51
jet wrench
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mobil 1 full synth. 0w40
pure0ne oil filter
6k - 8k oil changes on the bike
8k - 10k in the car
actually could go longer if i would change the oil filter at 4k miles like they recomend and just top off the oil.
also synth has a break in period where it actually is causing a bit more ware then dyno juice would, so if yur running synth and changing oil every 2k miles not only are u wasting money, your doing more harm then good.
and get a good oil filter on the bike, that oil does a lot more then in a car so you want a GOOD filter to keep it clean.
pure0ne oil filter
6k - 8k oil changes on the bike
8k - 10k in the car
actually could go longer if i would change the oil filter at 4k miles like they recomend and just top off the oil.
also synth has a break in period where it actually is causing a bit more ware then dyno juice would, so if yur running synth and changing oil every 2k miles not only are u wasting money, your doing more harm then good.
and get a good oil filter on the bike, that oil does a lot more then in a car so you want a GOOD filter to keep it clean.
I've worked on heavy equipment, where they tested running a good syn oil a full season with a HIGH filtration system, it was like a stack of 6-8 toilet paper rolls in a tall can, all we changed were filters for the season and personally tested the oil (analysis) each time for contaminants. Long term outcome, I cannot attest for, but... oil was always clean.
Anybody stating a $10 oil change on a SHawk, is running recycled oil and NOT changing the filter!
I run Mobil 1 4t (10w40) oil and the "short" Mobil 1 filter for 3-4000mi. I don't analyze it, but it isn't dirty when it comes out. It still costs me $50 for an oil change...
Works out to twice a season and any more is TOTALLY RIDICULOUS!
You should see the metal floating around in the corporate jets I work on, little to no combustion contaminants, but flat out metal... They recommend the same, filters about four times to a single oil change. They run a shared sump for the gear box as well as engine (turbine and fan bearings). A combustion engine WILL create a certain amount of corrosive contaminants which will affect an engine as it sits, but c'mon, it ain't that critical!
LB
03-23-2009, 04:53 AM
#52
Senior Member
Superstock
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 267
i'm With Scoutpilot. Love Amsoil, Good Stuff, i change it once a year with a new filter, before i store it i dont put on more than 1,500mi in a riding season tho. got other toys to play with, as for my car i run amsoil as well and thats 5,000 on the dot with a new filter (i run the Amsoil Ea0 oil filters as well)
03-23-2009, 06:34 PM
#54
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The thing is, this is 2009.
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
Wasteful beyond belief. And helping to ruin our planet.
The 3,000 mile oil change interval is from the SIXTIES!!!! And recommended by the OIL COMPANIES!!
That's for cars of course, but still.......................... wasting perfectly good, irreplaceable oil is not just wasteful. It's selfish. If you think beyond "my bike".
JMO
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
Wasteful beyond belief. And helping to ruin our planet.
The 3,000 mile oil change interval is from the SIXTIES!!!! And recommended by the OIL COMPANIES!!
That's for cars of course, but still.......................... wasting perfectly good, irreplaceable oil is not just wasteful. It's selfish. If you think beyond "my bike".
JMO
Last edited by MLB; 03-23-2009 at 06:43 PM.
03-23-2009, 07:19 PM
#55
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Clemente, CA
Posts: 3,451
The thing is, this is 2009.
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
03-23-2009, 08:40 PM
#57
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Way Out West
Posts: 2,547
The thing is, this is 2009.
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
Wasteful beyond belief. And helping to ruin our planet.
The 3,000 mile oil change interval is from the SIXTIES!!!! And recommended by the OIL COMPANIES!!
That's for cars of course, but still.......................... wasting perfectly good, irreplaceable oil is not just wasteful. It's selfish. If you think beyond "my bike".
JMO
And it's not just about what makes you feel like you are taking care of your bike.
There are OTHER considerations now that should be considered.
As in: This country dumps 180 MILLION!!! of gallons of used motor oil every year. Only 20 million gallons are recycled. Much of it goes down sewers, but even if you are a good citizen and recycle it, most of it is simply burned as fuel for power plants and such.
Wasteful beyond belief. And helping to ruin our planet.
The 3,000 mile oil change interval is from the SIXTIES!!!! And recommended by the OIL COMPANIES!!
That's for cars of course, but still.......................... wasting perfectly good, irreplaceable oil is not just wasteful. It's selfish. If you think beyond "my bike".
JMO
03-23-2009, 09:10 PM
#58
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Join Date: May 2008
Location: San Clemente, CA
Posts: 3,451
03-23-2009, 09:17 PM
#60
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