oil changes

[Pat C]

When do you guys change your oil, do you go by the recommended manual schedule or sooner? Do you use Yama lube or do you use syntheic?

 

[Bounce]

Depends. Local commuting? 3k miles. Long trips with lots of run time and not much stop time? 4k miles.

Mobile 1 15w50

 

[kenporider]

Pat,

Every 3k or so is good. Check out the FAQ section and fjrtech.com for answers to most of your maintainance questions. Yamma Lube is a bit over priced, if you like synthetics use them otherwise use what makes you happy provided it doesn't have any added detergents and garbage like that. I still stick with motorcycle specific oil, others do not.

I really hate to see a local get beat up, so as a FYI NEVER post an oil question on a Friday...you'll see...

 

[Geezer]

Oooh, an oil thread. :huh:

I change my oil evert 5k miles, or sooner if I'm leaving for a long trip and know I won't be back before the 5K mark. It just makes things easier to remember for me, when the odometer shows an increment of 5K, then change it. I have changed it along the way once or twice, just stop at Walmart and buy oil, filter, and a cheap drain pan, park in the shade and get 'er done. They even take the old oil.

I use Rotella dinosaur oil, not synthetic, but you will find oil preference is more of a religious discussion than a technical one. There just isn't that much difference in motor oils these days as long as you use the right grade and close to the right viscosity.

 

[beemerdons]

Oooh, an oil thread. :huh:

I change my oil evert 5k miles, or sooner if I'm leaving for a long trip and know I won't be back before the 5K mark. It just makes things easier to remember for me, when the odometer shows an increment of 5K, then change it. I have changed it along the way once or twice, just stop at Walmart and buy oil, filter, and a cheap drain pan, park in the shade and get 'er done. They even take the old oil.

I use Rotella dinosaur oil, not synthetic, but you will find oil preference is more of a religious discussion than a technical one. There just isn't that much difference in motor oils these days as long as you use the right grade and close to the right viscosity.

+1, Gunny! Do it exactly like Greg, must be an old guys thing. Pat C, for the most complete FJR Oil information I suggest you PM ShinyPartsUp; he's our Resident FJR Forum Oil Expert!

 

[bramfrank]

Choose any oil that has the specified weight and appropriate service rating and change it more often than recommended if you are in a severe operating environment.

When I'm not travelling it is every 3000 miles and I use motorcycle specific oil from Castrol - same price as any quality dyno, but has appropriate levels of zinc and phosphorous needed by the cams. I use the OEM oil filter because it has a finer filtration point and traps more particulates - they show up on ebay for about $5 from time to time and that's when I buy them.

When on the road I start with fresh and if it goes to 6K, so be it.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

~3K for me. I just put in Shell Rotella and the Walmart Filter.

 

[RadioHowie]

The "ideal" mileage is 3750mi. Then you can't be accused of being either too "anal" about too frequent oil changes, or of "abusing" your motor.

 

[beemerdons]

The "ideal" mileage is 3750mi. Then you can't be accused of being either too "anal" about too frequent oil changes, or of "abusing" your motor.

Ha, ha! RadioHowie is an Anal Abuser, I always suspected it! Thank Goodness it's Friday!!!

 

[sergeantnic]

+1 for RotellaT from wally world

+1 for 3,000 miles

+1 for another oil thread!!

 

[TCMike]

Ah, what the heck, as long as we are on the subject....What the hell is in Royal Purple that makes it so spensive??? :blink: It can't possibly be that good, or everyone would be at the bank taking out loans for their oil changes

 

[BwanaDik]

50/50 Amsoil/Royal Purple changed every 3456.7 miles. If I'm getting close, I bring a drain pan along on the trip so I can change it on the side of the road. :yahoo:

 

[blkredlinedrvr]

I split the difference between the Euro and US schedules. For somereason they have 4k changes in the US manual and if you covert the Euro schedule to miles they have something like 6200 miles oil change intervals so I just do mine at 5k miles, oil and filter. Shell Rotella Synthetic and a Supertec oil filter.

 

[Blind Squirrel]

The "ideal" mileage is 3750mi. Then you can't be accused of being either too "anal" about too frequent oil changes, or of "abusing" your motor.

Okay, 3750 is the ideal milage. What is the ideal brand, weight, and type (regular, semi- for full synth)?

 

[phroenips]

The "ideal" mileage is 3750mi. Then you can't be accused of being either too "anal" about too frequent oil changes, or of "abusing" your motor.

Okay, 3750 is the ideal milage. What is the ideal brand, weight, and type (regular, semi- for full synth)?

No no no, you can go exactly 3847 miles between oil changes, but not a mile more!!! :jester:

In one of the threads around here, someone recommended getting your oil tested. I've been using https://www.blackstone-labs.com/. Good customer service and pretty reasonable prices. Basically, you can request to get a free test kit mailed to you, you take an oil sample (they have instructions on their website for getting an ideal sample), mail it in, and they tell you how your oil and engine is doing. For an extra $10 (I think), add on the "TBN" test to measure how much life the oil has left. Also, in their FAQ, they address the dino vs synthetic question.

I've sent in two samples so far, the first was essentially a baseline, and they had me do the 4,000 mile oil change until my second. I've since gotten my second report back, and based on the tests, they said I'm safe to go up to 6,000. We'll see what happens with the third sample.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I can't believe I missed this one.

I do it every 5K, easy to remember... I think...

 

[UHOH]

~3K for me. I just put in Shell Rotella and the Walmart Filter.

same for me, 15w-40 flavor

 

[RinconVTR]

The "ideal" mileage is 3750mi. Then you can't be accused of being either too "anal" about too frequent oil changes, or of "abusing" your motor.

Okay, 3750 is the ideal milage. What is the ideal brand, weight, and type (regular, semi- for full synth)?

No no no, you can go exactly 3847 miles between oil changes, but not a mile more!!! :jester:

In one of the threads around here, someone recommended getting your oil tested. I've been using https://www.blackstone-labs.com/. Good customer service and pretty reasonable prices. Basically, you can request to get a free test kit mailed to you, you take an oil sample (they have instructions on their website for getting an ideal sample), mail it in, and they tell you how your oil and engine is doing. For an extra $10 (I think), add on the "TBN" test to measure how much life the oil has left. Also, in their FAQ, they address the dino vs synthetic question.

I've sent in two samples so far, the first was essentially a baseline, and they had me do the 4,000 mile oil change until my second. I've since gotten my second report back, and based on the tests, they said I'm safe to go up to 6,000. We'll see what happens with the third sample.

Have you posted your reports anywhere?

 

[HaulinAshe]

Oil, filter, and tires, every 4,000 miles. Sometimes more often if I'm having a lot of fun.