Oil change frequency

I have been changing my oil every season in the spring but this yr so far have not done so yet.I looked at the manual and it recommends between 6k miles and last yr I rode 3k miles however I stored the bike outside in the winter and perhaps accumulated some moisture in the oil.
Now I am wondering If I am wasting money and oil changing too soon?

What do you guys think?

 

Oil is the lifeblood of the motorcycle. It can never ever be too clean.

I change mine every few thousand kilometers. It's quick, easy, cheap and makes a huge difference in the life of an engine. Frankly, one $30 oil change per year is a pretty small operational cost.

 

Yep, what Wilson said. I know we all look to watch what we're spending, but this is a small price to pay.

 

I do it once a year in the spring. I don't always put enough miles on during a season to "require" it once a year per the manual. But as mentioned above, it's cheap and easy to accomplish. Why not? I haven't done mine yet this year. But it'll get done soon!

 

ill have to learn to do my own, $100 to get it done at the shop. that my friends is not gonna happen.

 

Yikes! That much? I'll say this - I seldom do any work on my bike, car, boat, etc. I'm not very good with it. But even I can change the oil on my bike. On a scale of one to 10, with 1 being lubing the chain, I'd put an oil change at about 1.5.

 

I think if you check the manual again, you will likely find somehting like "every 6,000 miles or X months". Meaning they are recommending you change the oil at either the mileage or month interval, whichever comes first.

 

Interesting my VFR mostly clocks up country miles with the odd city commute, is always garaged and change my VFRs oil / filter every 6000kms / 3750 miles, which usually works out to be around 6 to 7 months.

 

I usually change it in the fall, before storing. Then the oil is clean, with no buildup of toxins, or at least less of them, sitting in the oil all winter long. I used to change it again before riding again, but that is getting to be expensive. And at a 3K miles interval as well. When i used to put more than that on in a season....

 

3-5k depending on oil or 6months. I wouldn't go past a year though. There is a build up of acidic bits in oil left over from combustion that is not good for various engine parts. I run 5k or 6mo which ever comes first. I do it myself.

Changing it yourself can save you and it gives you a chance to be familiar with your bike.

There are plenty of oils to choose from not to mention filters. Pick one and get started.

 

If you want to make it easy as far as getting oil and a filter goes, I use a mazda miata filter and shell rotella T6 synthetic oil(the blue bottle, not the white one) and she runs like a top.

 

1 st off thank you all for your feedback.
Changing the oil in the fall makes sense before storing.I will change it this week.Last yr I put Honda motorcycle oil (my dealer has limited choices) and OEM filter.To be honest bike didn't feel better as though nothing was changed.
Perhaps I should put synetic this time. I got 5gen and I get stack in traffic in hot weather a lot here in Boston area and I guess synthetic could help a little.

Is your bike 5gen? No problems using car oil?

 

Get the oem filter and use the oem oil if you must. You do have a choice. Rotella T6 syn is available at Walart and other bike oils are available at part stores. If they dont have on shelf many have it in the rear or will bring it in for you no extra charge.

At the risk of starting another friggin oil thread, shell rotella T6 is good and available. Mobil one 4T or castol 4T or you can pickup up at your loclal shop. Some shops carry motul as well. Either way, you need to make the choice. The oem filter is good, it is just twice the price of some auto filters hat fit the VFR.


Car oil is not the issue. 10w-40 is not likely to be API energy conserving. Any API enery conserving is not good for your bike. There are some oils in the 10w-40 range that have better additive packages for motorcyles than others. All will work some will break down sooner than others. The oils listed above are all good choices. The one thing about oil is that oil opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

Basically a quality oil, good filter, decent change interval and you are good.

 

good to hear lol. i have the day off tomorrow ill look into it. will i find how to do that in my manual or just search the web?

 

I change mine myself every 3500-5000 miles. It just depends on when the bike tells me it is ready to change it. I can feel the difference in the shifting of the bike when the oil starts to get dirty. Shifts aren't nearly as smooth, there are a few more missed shifts, etc. If I was using conventional oils I would certainly be changing it between 2k-3k miles.

 

My bike is a 5th gen, and I've been running rotella for the 5,000 miles I've had it. I was turned on to the rotella by a friend of mine who has been riding for about 30 years, and runs it in his ST1300, his dirtbikes, and his RX-7. I've been running it in my RX-7 and my last two motorcycles and I like the way the clutch feels and the bike runs like a top.

 

Oh, forgot to add. You noted that changing the oil with the OEM stuff didn't seem to make it feel any better. The OEM honda GN4 oil is not synthetic, I looked at it at the dealer once.

 

Pretty much all said. Learn to do this yourself. If I can so can you. Don't over torque the drain plug......fucking expensive to fix if you strip it.

Anyways, normally I get about a month and half out of an oil change. I am totally convinced, had I not been diligent on oil changes, with all the miles I rack up, I would be looking a serious trouble by now. Since August 06, I have racked up 124,000 km on mine and it still runs well. Oils changes. The cheapest maintenance you will ever do to an engine, no matter what kind of engine.