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?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 740
From: Pa
How often do you - Change Oil?
Just wondering when everyone does this. I usually change around every 2k, but wondering if U can go longer. Also, I always change oil before winter sets in, though will ride in cold weather.
Finally, reason I ask is I just started using semi-syn Motul.
C U folks at Indy
Finally, reason I ask is I just started using semi-syn Motul.
C U folks at Indy
Last edited by nnjhawk02; Sep 1, 2008 at 07:13 AM.
Idiot
Squid
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 34
From: Kansas City
I like to change my oil before it gets too dark which is usually just under 3k miles. I have noticed that my SH takes longer to darken the oil than either my GSXR1k and 600 and my old GPz550. I guess that's good?
Uhhhhh..huh.huh..Member..
Superstock
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 269
From: Vancouver, WA
I change when my oil when it starts to smell to much like fish. I fried a turkey the other day and it was fine, so I guess I will wait to change it out.
PS- Dont get it over 400 degrees F. It will burn after that and you will have to throw it out.
PS- Dont get it over 400 degrees F. It will burn after that and you will have to throw it out.
Last edited by Springbubba; Sep 1, 2008 at 11:48 AM. Reason: Tip:
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,864
From: Fort Wayne, IN
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.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 140
From: Deltona, FL
I like to change mine around 2500 miles. That is usually when the oil begins to look dark. During the summer months here in Florida I sometimes change before 2k miles just because it's so hot down here and the oil breaks down faster.
RUNLEVELZERO #99
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,219
From: Skokie
Maybe with regular dino oil 3k miles or so is a good number but with any decent synthetic like M1, Redline, Rotella-T, etc 4 to 5k is not too soon. The VTR is a low-stressed relatively low-rpm motor with plenty of oil cpacity (over 4 qts), so with a good filter (I run the Purolator premiun syn media filter) even 5k is not over doing it.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 499
From: Kansas City
Maybe with regular dino oil 3k miles or so is a good number but with any decent synthetic like M1, Redline, Rotella-T, etc 4 to 5k is not too soon. The VTR is a low-stressed relatively low-rpm motor with plenty of oil cpacity (over 4 qts), so with a good filter (I run the Purolator premiun syn media filter) even 5k is not over doing it.
I run synthetic in the Shawk and my VTX, I don't really bother changing until it's past 4000 miles and the oil still looks decent. I always change it before winter storage though, no matter the miles.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 105
From: Elgin, Illinois
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.
Motorcycle engines don't have anywhere near the stresses of a car engine. You may pull higher RPM's with a bike, but that engine is only pulling about 600 lbs. Cars pull thousands of pounds. Honda states you can go 8000 miles before changing your oil, (I don't ever go anywhere near that long). "Car oil" Isn't any better than Motorcycle oil, the only difference is Motorcycle has different fricton modifiers for the wet clutches. I use to work for a major oil company. Changing you oil that often is just major over-kill nothing more.
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,547
From: Way Out West
What???? Motorcycle engines don't have anywhere near the stresses of a car engine. You may pull higher RPM's with a bike, but that engine is only pulling about 600 lbs. Cars pull thousands of pounds. Honda states you can go 8000 miles before changing your oil, (I don't ever go anywhere near that long). "Car oil" Isn't any better than Motorcycle oil, the only difference is Motorcycle has different fricton modifiers for the wet clutches. I use to work for a major oil company. Changing you oil that often is just major over-kill nothing more.
Motorcycle engines don't have anywhere near the stresses of a car engine. You may pull higher RPM's with a bike, but that engine is only pulling about 600 lbs. Cars pull thousands of pounds. Honda states you can go 8000 miles before changing your oil, (I don't ever go anywhere near that long). "Car oil" Isn't any better than Motorcycle oil, the only difference is Motorcycle has different fricton modifiers for the wet clutches. I use to work for a major oil company. Changing you oil that often is just major over-kill nothing more.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.
Last edited by RK1; Sep 1, 2008 at 10:07 PM.
Senior Member
SuperBike
SuperBike
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,031
From: Los Angeles ish
Senior Member
SuperSport
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 530
From: Central Fl.
It's an annual ritual for me, prepping for the start of bike week over at Daytona. I do the engine oil, the clutch & brake fluid and check the state of the coolant. Also included in the ritual is dismounting all the control pivots, cleaning them and applying fresh lube.
A spritz of teflon down the throttle cables makes control suave.
Oil?, Hygroscopic, even if it's looking clean, after a year, regardless of the miles, it gets changed out just to get rid of the moisture in it.
A spritz of teflon down the throttle cables makes control suave.
Oil?, Hygroscopic, even if it's looking clean, after a year, regardless of the miles, it gets changed out just to get rid of the moisture in it.
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 9,052
From: Leander TX!!
I like the Canola best, and I do change it after any seafood has been in it...
As for the bike, well, it's cheap enough I change it every 1000 miles...of course I haven't gone that long yet..
New bike bought in Oct... changed at 75 miles, 200 miles, 600 miles, 1000 miles, and 1575 miles...At 2000 I am switching over to synthetic, then I will run 1500 to 2000 between changes...
yes, I am **** like that...
As for the bike, well, it's cheap enough I change it every 1000 miles...of course I haven't gone that long yet..
New bike bought in Oct... changed at 75 miles, 200 miles, 600 miles, 1000 miles, and 1575 miles...At 2000 I am switching over to synthetic, then I will run 1500 to 2000 between changes...
yes, I am **** like that...
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 499
From: Kansas City
so what do you guys do when you go on a long trip over 2000 miles, do you have to stop to change it part way through? seems excessive.
i personally like peanut oil though, tastes great and, if you're lucky, somebody eating with you will get all puffy in the face after eating
i personally like peanut oil though, tastes great and, if you're lucky, somebody eating with you will get all puffy in the face after eating
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,547
From: Way Out West
From the used oil tests I've seen at Bobistheoilguy etc., it seems that a week's worth of 400 mile highway days is a lot easier on oil than a eight or ten weeks worth of local 50 mile days.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 287
From: Brooklyn, CT
I don't put that many miles on, so I change it every couple of years. I know that's bad, but so far everything is fine.
I know it's time to change it when I can feel it shifting hard. Use Spectro 4. That seems to work well.
I know it's time to change it when I can feel it shifting hard. Use Spectro 4. That seems to work well.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 499
From: Kansas City
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,452
From: San Clemente, CA
Last edited by VTRsurfer; Sep 2, 2008 at 02:24 PM. Reason: forgot to post comment.....oldtimers I guess
ATGATT
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 253
From: South of Nashvegas TN
I might get shot for this but I don't change the oil in my toyota truck or honda minivan until 15k miles. I use Amsoil 100% pure synthetic with Amsoil filters and they recommend not changing for 25k, but I can't make it that long. The bike though I change whenever I get that nagging voice in the back of my head telling me its time. Typically 1500miles. I've been using Amsoil for many years and have pulled apart engines using Amsoil and been very surprised how well it does. I haven't gone over to Amsoil in my bike and not sure I will. But I'm also not trying to bring up the oil subject. Just mileage..strictly mileage right.
Moderate-whore
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 9,052
From: Leander TX!!
Yup, every time!
I am talking about my KLR...but if it had been my Hawk, would have been the same thing, only I didn't buy that one new...so couldn't kill it with kindness those first 5k miles...
Filters are not expensive...Even for the Hawk, do the search, find the cross reference thread on filters...One of the best is the Wal-mart filter, supertech...can't remember the number right off...it is like $2 a piece...so change your filter each time, at that price there is no reason not to!
I am talking about my KLR...but if it had been my Hawk, would have been the same thing, only I didn't buy that one new...so couldn't kill it with kindness those first 5k miles...
Filters are not expensive...Even for the Hawk, do the search, find the cross reference thread on filters...One of the best is the Wal-mart filter, supertech...can't remember the number right off...it is like $2 a piece...so change your filter each time, at that price there is no reason not to!
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 358
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.
Post Whore Junior
MotoGP
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,825
From: Triad, NC
Another oil thread?
3-4000 on bike... It's always moving, so it's hard to change it more often..
I ride every day
3000 religiously in my Sierra. It does alot of boat towing.
3-4000 on bike... It's always moving, so it's hard to change it more often..
I ride every day3000 religiously in my Sierra. It does alot of boat towing.
Last edited by Cleveland; Sep 3, 2008 at 12:30 PM.
Junior Member
Squid
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 6
From: Cape Cod
Oil Change
My oil gets changed mid season (in the northeast). That works out to be about 1800 miles or so. It's cheap insurance. It gives me a change to look at the oil to see if anything unorthodox is going on inside the motor.
RUNLEVELZERO #99
SuperBike
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,219
From: Skokie
Ferrari's & Oil, Take the quiz.
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
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.
