Oil Changes

[gpzrider]

OK, How often do you change your oil?

I change mine in the spring when it comes out of storage, mid summer, and at the end of the riding season before it gets put away. Regardless of mileage I give my bike 3 oil changes a year. Just cheap insurance in my book. I'm just curious because I've been looking at alot of used bikes for my nephew and keep seeing ads like this:
1998 Yamakawsuki, Very well taken care of. Only 10,000 miles. Oil changed every 2-3,000 miles.

Now, excuse me, but isn't this the same as saying, "I've owned this for 20 years and only changed the oil 3-5 times"? I fail to see how 1 oil change every 4 to 6 years qualifies as "very well taken care of". To me it says, "this bike has been largely ignored and neglected". I don't put 10,000 miles on a push mower, but I still change the oil a couple of times a summer.

Let me know what you think. Maybe I just needed to rant.

[N3FOLN3FOL]

Typical oil changer here. Every 3k miles and no longer than 6 months in the motor (if not over 3K miles).

[gpzrider]

Well, I did re-read my own thread and would have to make an ammendment to what I said. For the last couple of years, I've had more than one bike. One got ridden a lot and the other less than 2,000 miles. On the one not often ridden I did skip the mid summer oil change taking it down to 2 changes a year on that bike.

[antiq]

Maybe I'm less concerned than others about oil. I'll change it every 2-3000 miles or when it's obviously dirty.

[VulcanRev]

Every 5k = 3x a year.

[4kidsandakaw]

Mid summer then when I store it. Approx. every 1500 miles.

[900classic]

+1^^^ I do the same as 4kids

[A2rider]

OK, question for the oil gurus.

How long does it take oil to degrade before it's no longer usable?

I'm not talking about oil that has been ran in a motor, just sitting there, breaking down?

Does synthetic last longer than regular in open conditions?

The reason I ask this is that when I worked at a fast oil change place, I was told that the oil degrades when exposed to air. Is this true?

[aftermath4788]

I change my oil in my bikes every 2,000 miles, which is about every 3 months, I change my oil in my cars when my change oil light pops on in my pontiac and when vehicle information center in my jeep tells me its time for service. which is every 5k miles on that. But I drive both of them mostly on highways and I end up changing them about once a month. once every one in a half month if I get lucky.

[JTpaintball70]

Oil changes for bike = every 3 k miles
Jeep = 5k miles

[N3FOLN3FOL]

Originally Posted by A2rider

The reason I ask this is that when I worked at a fast oil change place, I was told that the oil degrades when exposed to air. Is this true?

I've never heard of this. One thing I know it is true for brake fluid. I've used an opened oil (quart) container that has been opened for about 4 or 5 months. My assumption is that as long as the oil has not been poured inside the engine, it stays good and ready for use. Actually, I have never seen an expiration date on a quart of oil container.

[NCDave]

Every 2500 miles. that translates to 2 to 3 times a year.

[antiq]

Never saw or heard of oil going bad in a closed container. I think the guy at the oil change place is misinformed.

[aftermath4788]

GM came out with their system on their cars that tells you what percentage of life the oil has. They did that because they say that changing your oil every 3k miles is BS and that we waste alot of oil that way. They claim that oil only goes bad if used. From that, I would say that so long as the oil is circulated through your engine at least once a week, your good for as long as it takes to put 3k or whatever miles on it. We have a brand new 2004 dodge ram 2500 HD at the job that has 1200 miles on it and it was custom built, airbrush paint ($15K) airbag suspension, huge tires and rims, alagator skin seats, etc etc. and it has never had a oil change and the oil is clean and well, looks like its still new. As long as oil doesnt sit in your engine (it will turn to sludge) then you good until you run it out.

[A2rider]

Originally Posted by N3FOLN3FOL

I've never heard of this. One thing I know it is true for brake fluid. I've used an opened oil (quart) container that has been opened for about 4 or 5 months. My assumption is that as long as the oil has not been poured inside the engine, it stays good and ready for use. Actually, I have never seen an expiration date on a quart of oil container.

I understand it staying in the container and being good. But when it gets exposed to air, such as in the engine case, how long does it take it to start breaking down?

Honda's set-up manual states that even if a bike is new, that the oil should be changed if it has set in the case 2 years.

[flanman]

I change mine about every 3K miles. I lucked out and have a dealer withing walking distance of me. They do the change and filter for $20 at lunch for me. Piece of cake, and reasonably priced.

[antiq]

Key word there is "set". Running the engine warms the oil and evaporates any condensation that would foul the oil.

[JTpaintball70]

Originally Posted by antiq

Key word there is "set". Running the engine warms the oil and evaporates any condensation that would foul the oil.

+1. And if the bike has set for two years, you've got a LOT of work ahead of you to get her running again, most likely

[A2rider]

JT, does your shop do a minor overhaul on bikes that have sat on the floor for awhile before sending it out the door?

[Bruce McCrary]

I use a pure synthetic esther based motorcycle specific engine oil. On my street bike I change it and the filter at roughly 5,000 miles as well as after it has sat for the 'winter'. On our dirt/race bikes the oil is changed after every ride.

Bruce