OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

The news and your views about biking

Is changing Oil annually if only doing 500 miles good practice or waste full

Good practice - continue as is
3
38%
Waste Full - change to bi-annual oil and filter change.
5
63%
 
Total votes: 8

User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

Just had the SP go through it annual MOT and realised it only does approx 500 miles a year.

I'm happy to service it annually and enjoy maintaining it in pristine conditions but it occured to me every 500 road miles she gets 50 quids worth of fully synthetic oil and a new filter.

It's a low rev'ing vtwin engine so hardly stressed. Therefire is it over kill to change oil at such low miles based on a time interval ?

Would bi-annual oil changes seem more sensible ?

I can still do all the other annual checks just wondering if I'm being silly throwing 4 litres of full synthetic into the sump every 500 miles. Oil quality degrades with use not time.

For info the bikes a keeper so not bothered about any future owners concerns as it won't be sold.
User avatar
Kwacky
Posts: 38610
Joined: 21 Oct 2013, 21:52
Your Bike: Brutale 800RR, 1000SX Ninja
Location: Brum
Has thanked: 4327 times
Been thanked: 8367 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Kwacky »

You're keeping the bike, you're happy to do the changes and you can afford to do them, so I don't see why you shouldn't do it once a year.

Have you thought about getting a discount and buying a larger container of oil? http://www.aidlubricants.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; are doing a promo on PB Mag forum, offering 15% off with a code. I can PM you the code if you're interested. http://www.aidlubricants.co.uk/shop/q8- ... 40/121.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
C00kiemonster
Posts: 8448
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Location: Not Froggie Land
Has thanked: 4316 times
Been thanked: 1742 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by C00kiemonster »

Personal Choice. Tbh you don't need to change the oil for 2 or 3 years in my opinion, but it's a beautiful thing (which one day you will sell to me for a few quid :)) so treat it!
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by DaytonAndy »

Wasteful for me. As long as you start it every now and again and circulate the oil so it isn't just sitting there for large amounts of time. It's an instant saving of £50 every other year to blow/invest on trinkets!
User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

C00kiemonster wrote:Personal Choice. Tbh you don't need to change the oil for 2 or 3 years in my opinion, but it's a beautiful thing (which one day you will sell to me for a few quid :)) so treat it!
Good news Cookie she sailed through another MOT no issues (y) I'm looking after her well for you ;)

Image
User avatar
C00kiemonster
Posts: 8448
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Location: Not Froggie Land
Has thanked: 4316 times
Been thanked: 1742 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by C00kiemonster »

Blade wrote:
C00kiemonster wrote:Personal Choice. Tbh you don't need to change the oil for 2 or 3 years in my opinion, but it's a beautiful thing (which one day you will sell to me for a few quid :)) so treat it!
Good news Cookie she sailed through another MOT no issues (y) I'm looking after her well for you ;)

Image
Good lad (y) :)
User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

In the spirit of being a good lad I've got another mod to install for you Cookie mate.

She's getting an underslung brembo rear brake. Got the bits just need to do a trial fit and then get a custom hose made up locally. Fingers crossed there are no clearance issues and it's an easy mod.
DaytonAndy
Posts: 1387
Joined: 07 Apr 2014, 16:38
Your Bike: Daytona 675R
Has thanked: 271 times
Been thanked: 388 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by DaytonAndy »

Hurry up and get that 1299 Blade so you can sort it out ready for me in a couple of years ;)
User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

Let me move house first and then if insurance drops with no manchester postcode the 1299 is the very first thing on my to do list :P
User avatar
C00kiemonster
Posts: 8448
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:11
Your Bike: Triumph Street Triple 765 R
Location: Not Froggie Land
Has thanked: 4316 times
Been thanked: 1742 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by C00kiemonster »

Blade wrote:In the spirit of being a good lad I've got another mod to install for you Cookie mate.

She's getting an underslung brembo rear brake. Got the bits just need to do a trial fit and then get a custom hose made up locally. Fingers crossed there are no clearance issues and it's an easy mod.
Sweet.. I had one on the red daytona that Kwacky fitted. They look good and are supposed to have braking benefits?
User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

Could be some clearance issues as I know for a fact they won't fit with an OEM wheel so hopefully they might with after market Dymag's.

Fingers crossed it's a straight forward fit.
User avatar
rocket
Posts: 2453
Joined: 21 May 2014, 20:12
Your Bike: zx10rrrrrrr
Has thanked: 639 times
Been thanked: 751 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by rocket »

If it were me i would not bother unless the oil has been contaminated.
"80mph" sorry officer I possibly could not have done that I'm no Valentino Rossi.
User avatar
D41
Posts: 12958
Joined: 22 Sep 2014, 11:36
Your Bike: Triumph Daytona 650.
Has thanked: 4298 times
Been thanked: 1132 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by D41 »

Well...you don't ride the bike and you change the oil.

If you DID ride the bike you'd still be changing the oil, right??

Either way, the end result is the same.
User avatar
Deegee
Posts: 4206
Joined: 02 Apr 2014, 11:20
Your Bike: Daytona 675 & Tiger 900
Location: Côte d'Essex
Has thanked: 1046 times
Been thanked: 967 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Deegee »

Pointless unless the bike doesn't get properly hot when it does get used, if it gets hot you're driving out the moisture, and other than oil getting degraded through engine use its one of the only ways oil can get degraded.
User avatar
kiwikrasher
Posts: 8876
Joined: 17 Mar 2014, 04:32
Your Bike: ‘16 Thruxton R. '10 Multistrada 1200 S.
Location: Kurrajong Heights, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 4597 times
Been thanked: 4674 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by kiwikrasher »

Blade wrote:Let me move house first and then if insurance drops with no manchester postcode the 1299 is the very first thing on my to do list :P
Now the real reason for changing houses is evident!!
Happiness is not a destination. It is a way of life.
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15501
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4178 times
Been thanked: 4132 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by duke63 »

Change it once a year regardless. Left over winter with no movement some condensation inside is inevitable. For the sake of £50, its silly not to change it IMHO.
User avatar
Blade
Posts: 18772
Joined: 14 Mar 2014, 18:43
Your Bike: Kawasaki ZX10R
Location: North West
Has thanked: 3134 times
Been thanked: 3767 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Blade »

That condensation will form regardless of whether the oil is changed or not though Duke.

Also I'm not 100% convinced of the impact. A Motorcycle Mechanic told me any condensation formed over winter would be extremely small and would boil of and evaporate in minutes of the engine being started and brought up to operating temperature. He didn't see it as an issue in his opinion.

As my garage is heated and has an insulated door it is unlikely any condensation would form tbh.

Thanks for the suggestion though.
User avatar
Monty
Posts: 6711
Joined: 12 Mar 2014, 07:59
Your Bike: KTM 690 SMC R
Location: Peak District
Has thanked: 2118 times
Been thanked: 2443 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Monty »

You've got a heated garage and moving house. What more can you possibly want?
Monty™© MCMLXXII
User avatar
duke63
Posts: 15501
Joined: 22 Oct 2013, 07:34
Your Bike: Ducati 748/853 & Triumph Street Triple 765RS
Location: Staffordshire
Has thanked: 4178 times
Been thanked: 4132 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by duke63 »

Monty wrote:You've got a heated garage and moving house. What more can you possibly want?
A Panigale :D
User avatar
Cav
Posts: 7960
Joined: 27 Oct 2015, 12:00
Your Bike: 2009 ZX6R
Has thanked: 1047 times
Been thanked: 2206 times

Re: OIL CHANGE FREQUENCY

Post by Cav »

Keep it as is.. oil degrades over time and especially going through cold winters etc it's likely to have degraded within a year.

Maybe change the oil you're using to bring the cost down though. I used Rock Oil Guardian Semi-synthetic on the road and that was more than adequate plus half the cost of the Castrol Power 1 Racing I use now
Post Reply