Page 1 of 3
How often do you change the oil.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:21 pm
by zenman
I thought every 3000 miles. like a car. My rider friend says every 10000 to 15000 miles. Also, if I change it myself, do I have to use motorcycle oil or can I use regular car oil?
I bought 3 quarts of motorcycle oil for my GZ250 and a filter, and the total was $35. I can get it done for me for $50.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:43 pm
by niterider
For my vulcan the manuel says every 6,000 miles.
And it calls for SAE 10W40 or 10W50 cold weather
And SAE 20W40 or 20W50 for warm weather.
As for miles I usually go 1,500 to 2,000. And use the 20W50 year round.
BTW I use castrol gtx.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 4:44 pm
by Skier
There's plenty of threads about this. Check the search function.
I don't like faking it, so I get my oil analyzed at every oil change. It's the only way to be truly sure how your oil is doing.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:48 pm
by Gadjet
I change my oil every 3000 miles (5000km) and I only use bike specific oil or Shell Rotella T.
Do not use car oil in your bike - you'll wreck your clutch
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:06 pm
by Skier
Gadjet wrote:Do not use car oil in your bike - you'll wreck your clutch
Not true.
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:57 pm
by Wrider
Skier wrote:Gadjet wrote:Do not use car oil in your bike - you'll wreck your clutch
Not true.
Only true in a way... If you use car oil with a detergent it'll let it foam up easier, and also because of the modern anti-friction additives, it can make your clutch plates slip. The anti-friction additive gets into the friction material and even after you change your oil again it'll make your clutch slip.
Wrider
Oh, and about your friend's 10-15K mi between changes...
Honestly if he's doing that he's hurting his motor quite a bit.
Oil
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:49 am
by BikerEd
The guy that changes his oil every 10-15 K Mi. must change his bikes every year. That will kill an engine. My oil gets changed at 3000 Klm.- 1800 Mi. Had a 750 Honda for 6 years,never took oil. Used synthetic oil in my Yamaha 1100 once , clutch slipped like h#&*. Ok when i went back to Bike Oil.
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:54 am
by -Curly-
My owners manual says every 4,000 miles and filter every 8,000 miles. I just change them both every spring.
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 3:57 am
by slimcolo
Harley manual for my old FLH says 1000 miles my BMW says 4000
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:12 am
by jimyed
Skier wrote:Gadjet wrote:Do not use car oil in your bike - you'll wreck your clutch
Not true.
Could you expand on that? Everything I've raed suggests that the friction modifiers in modern car oils are bad for bike clutchs (Ok may not wreck them but are not good).
I change my oils every 5000KM or so. I use Semi Synthetic Motorcycle oil.
I change the Filter every time. And i do it myself.