Oil Longevity

[noeleo]

Hey, folks. I don't want to start an oil war here. I just would like some input as to your oil change INTERVALS. How often do you change your oil? Do you just go by days, weeks, months or do you go by miles. If by miles, 1000, 3000, 5000? I red somewhere that mother Honda says 8500 miles, but that seems excessive to me. I have put 6464 miles on mine since purchase and have changed it three times. I know there is probably such a thing as too much worry, but I would rather change it more often than to ruin a perfectly good engine by running too long with broken down oil.

In case you are wondering, this machine has 66464 miles as of this writing and has been run with Honda 10W-40 since new with a spin-on filter conversion at last change. Really liked the difference in filters as the one I use has a check valve and the engine no longer starts and runs two or three seconds before the oil light goes out.

Thanks in advance for the input. Also, thanks to the site host and administrators.

[virgilmobile]

Oil and a new filter are cheaper than a motor any day.
The only reason to replace it anyway,is because heat and use breaks the molecular chain thus reducing the lubricating ability,and it collects crud.Thus the recommendation of replacing it every 8k miles or every 3 months.Depending on driving conditions.

[Viking]

My maintenance guide says every 6400 Kms which is 4000 miles approximately. I think that is a tad ridiculous. As I intend to switch to full synthetic, I think I will do it once at 6400 then switch at 12,800. Thereafter I will change it once a year or depending on how it looks and feels, just as I do with my cars and trucks. As the previous poster indicated, oil and filters are cheaper than engines.

Viking

[trike lady]

I change the Wings oil every 2500 miles or less, especially with stop and go riding in Ormond Beach, which can be abusive. I sometimes wonder why people are having transmission problems with their Wing, could it be because they don't change the oil more often or they are using the wrong type? Machinery of any type lasts longer when it is maintained correctly.

[WingAdmin]

Oil in motorcycles does not last nearly as long as it does in cars, mainly because of the wet clutch and transmission. We tend to think of motor oil as "dirty" and in need of a change when it looks black, because it has lots of carbon deposits suspended in it. A motorcycle may well wear the oil out before a lot of deposits have been suspended in it, so it "looks" clean - even though its lubricating qualities have been significantly degraded.

Unlike a car, the engine oil in a motorcycle also lubricates the wet clutch as well as the transmission. The way these things operate tends to shear the molecule chains that give the oil its lubricating qualities - but the physical appearance of the oil is unchanged. That's why motorcycle oil change periods are so much shorter than they are in a car.

Synthetic oil is more resistant to this shearing, and will last a bit longer, but still nowhere near as long as it will in a car.

Have a read through All About Motor Oil, it's a really well-written article.

[noeleo]

Well, there's a wealth of information posted, but I only saw a couple of real answers to my original post.

My question was what are YOUR intervals for changing your oil.

I didn't mention that for the past 32+ years, I served the motoring public as an automotive technician.
The last fifteen of these as a ASE Master Certified technician. I know what you are thinking-whoopie doo.
I do, however feel that my experience has gained me in the knowledge that oil is the life blood and by changing
oil and filter religiously, I have 530000 miles on my Chevrolet pickup with no major expenses. Yes I said
five hundred thirty thousand. This, in no shape or fashion, states I am expert.

That said, I realize what goes on about oil breaking down due to contaminants. There are many factors relating to
this, and I was asking only for your opinions of the interval. I guess I will just stick to my 2000-2500 interval that I
seem to have fallen into.

I was just worried, with the current economy, that I may be changing too soon. At around $32 per oil change
(that's 6.79/qt X4 + 4.00 for the filter {36 carry the three aww what the heck}) it cuts into the fuel savings.
Since I have only ridden ~6400 miles in 9 months, figuring 160 gallons of gas at average 3.89/gallon
that would be 622.40 for gas plus the services (3X32) 96.00, WOW I have spent over $700. But then you consider if I
were to have driven my Jeep those same 6400 miles, I would have spent $1915.00 for gas alone.

OOPS, my wife says I'm rambling again. Point of story, I guess I should not worry about spending a little extra to
service the GoldWing. Didn't realize I saved that much...

Thanks for reading, and keep your replies coming.

[lbman]

Hi
Oil is one of those things beaten up on many sites.
As far as I can see Manufacturers specs are for the birds. IMHO
I have always changed my oil at 2-2500 Miles. on any, new to me rig. of any kind. . If I can tell the difference after oil change. I figure oil has run too long. If no difference I will go 500 or a thousand miles more next time.
this test, to Me, is a good judge to any thing I drive.
I personally Use Castro , Para synthetic motor oil with T-4 Rating In my 82 wing
My commute to work is 24 miles. I know its are getting warmed up good and drying condensate out of motor as well as exhaust system.
My 82 1100i wing has seen a lot of car oil ran through it. I believe the clutch issues it has , i.e. squalling and complaining on take off is due to wrong oil for application! for the 68,000 miles it had on it before I became the new proud owner. I just am hitting the 74,000 mile mark and I have changed oil 3 times. I can tell the difference in the way bike runs , as well as clutch is a little more quiet.
but i will take out clutch and rebuild it next winter. I also plan on doing a compression test before that to see how valves and rings are and deal with that if need be.
I have seen a lot of folks running car oil in bikes.both water cooled and air cooled engines and swear by it.... more power too you I say. i have always ran the proper oil designed for application of engine.. i do like to run car oil in cars though
LB IMHO

[TheArtist]

I read somewhere not to use synthenic, being to slippery for the wet clutch. The manual says every 7500 miles, and then says the mechanics say 3000 miles. I just changed my oil and put in Rotella, I read somewhere to use it. If I find it I will put a link.

[TheArtist]

http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=21297

[dingdong]

I change my oil at 3000 miles or less, in my bikes and cages, depending on driving conditions. Time hasn't entered into the picture because neither bike sits long enough. You can reduce your expense by going to an automotive oil. I have used Castrol GTX in all of my bikes since the 1970s. Nothing says you "have" to use Honda oil. Either way the expense isn't a consideration for me. I just don't see the need to pay Honda for their over priced oil. It hasn't been proven to me that Honda oil is any better than any automotive oil. The owners manual doesn't even say to use Honda oil. Here in Oklahoma, I use 10/40 in the winter and 20/50 in the summer. Both bikes run quieter and shift smoother with the 20/50.

[MikeB]

Since everyone has their own opinion on how frequently the oil should be changed, there is really no point in saying what our preference is. You will change your oil at the interval that you feel comfortable with regardless of what our preference is.

Just do what you think is right and it will keep you happy.

[lbman]

Any oil that is rated for a wet clutch.. 4T Rating..
.lol
folks will do what they want for sure
just as the long as Rider don't get Lubed Up and drive.
LB

[sk8ter]

I have used Shell Rotella 5W40 synthetic in my 06 GL1800 since new. I change the oil every 8000 miles or as close to that figure as possible. It is JASO certified for use in motorcycles.