Service Interval

[phroenips]

I'm new to these boards, but haven't seen this anywhere...what are your thoughts on the North American manuals specifying 4,000 mile service intervals with the rest of the world at 10,000 km (about 6200 miles)?

That's an extra 2,000 miles we could (should?) be getting between services...less time doing maintenance = more time riding!

 

[r1byker]

I split the difference and do it at 5,000. It's easier to remember that way.

 

[weekend rider]

That is why we live in America, the right to make choices :scooter:

 

[FJRGuy]

Reminds me of a funny story! Kid at "Mr Lube" was explaining to me why I should change my oil every 5000 km (~3000 miles). Apparently oil filters only last this long. At 5000 kms a bypass valve opens and your oil is no longer being filtered!

I bit my tongue and left without laughing in his face.

 

[Bungie]

Reminds me of a funny story! Kid at "Mr Lube" was explaining to me why I should change my oil every 5000 km (~3000 miles). Apparently oil filters only last this long. At 5000 kms a bypass valve opens and your oil is no longer being filtered!
I bit my tongue and left without laughing in his face.

Oil filters do contain a bypass valve in case the filter becomes to restricted to flow enough oil (or when the temps drop enough that the oil cannot be filtered). Whether it happens at the interval he specifies or not is another matter entirely.

 

[timk]

I still do mine at 3k, but engines today are much cleaner. Still, the clutch sharing the oil is my main reason. Hell,my Saturn ONSTAR sends me a readout on the type of driving I do, last I saw on the computer, I could go 9700.

 

[Ignacio]

So, me going 13,000 miles in the last Iron Butt Rally without changing oil or the 11,000 in the one before must be a bad thing then? I bet my engine won't last a mile over 250K.

 

[RadioHowie]

So, me going 13,000 miles in the last Iron Butt Rally without changing oil or the 11,000 in the one before must be a bad thing then? I bet my engine won't last a mile over 250K.

Show-off!

 

[FJRGuy]

Oil filters do contain a bypass valve in case the filter becomes to restricted to flow enough oil (or when the temps drop enough that the oil cannot be filtered). Whether it happens at the interval he specifies or not is another matter entirely.

Of course they have relief (by-pass) valves, more like a burst valve actually, activated by the oil pressure drop across the filter exceeding some threshold (both filter restriction and oil viscosity being factors in pressure drop.) What is laughable is that this employee, presumably taught this by the company, claims that the relief is triggered by mileage and that it occurs at 5000km. When questioned how it knows when you've traveled 5000 km, his response was that he did not know but thatis when it opens. :blink:

 

[FJRGuy]

So, me going 13,000 miles in the last Iron Butt Rally without changing oil or the 11,000 in the one before must be a bad thing then? I bet my engine won't last a mile over 250K.

Exactly! Out of curiosity, are you running dino or synth when you do that?

Oh oh, may be getting into NEPRT territory here!

 

[Ignacio]

Exactly! Out of curiosity, are you running dino or synth when you do that?

I'd certainly rather have used the 5K service interval here, but when you have limited time on the clock you make choices and run the regular Rotella T Skooter likes from Wally World. We threw in some zinc additive stuff he had too. You figure the oil essentially gets to operating temperature and doesn't change much during the 11 days.....I shut off the bike and let her cool down maybe 9 or 10 times.

Most people worry too much about changing oil IMO and like the 5K interval because I actually do it.

 

[huron52]

I tend to use 5,000kms as a general rule of thumb to change the oil. But if I am going somewhere, as in a rally, and that time factor enters into it. I would go past that mark and change it when I can.

Some damage to the engine? maybe and then maybe not.

 

[phroenips]

Reminds me of a funny story! Kid at "Mr Lube" was explaining to me why I should change my oil every 5000 km (~3000 miles). Apparently oil filters only last this long. At 5000 kms a bypass valve opens and your oil is no longer being filtered!
I bit my tongue and left without laughing in his face.

Of course they keep pushing that myth...if people stop bringing their vehicles in so often, they lose money.

 

[Mcgyver74]

I do mine at 5k but I run full synthetic, I also use high end oil (agip)and Yamma Oil filters

Yes, I know that is very much a waste of money, and very much not necessary, but it makes ME feel better and makes me feel like I'm pampering my baby

 

[r1byker]

I do mine at 5k but I run full synthetic, I also use high end oil (agip)and Yamma Oil filtersYes, I know that is very much a waste of money, and very much not necessary, but it makes ME feel better and makes me feel like I'm pampering my baby

Hear, hear for pampering!

 

[HaulinAshe]

I change oil, filter, diff lube, and tires every 4,000 miles. I wish I could go longer on tires too, but that doesn't work out either.



Just did the latest one this past Sunday. 92,000 is an odd increment of 4,000. If I suddenly decide to switch to 5,000, wonder if the tires would cooperate?



To the original point of this thread... There have been times when 3,000 miles was not enough, and times when 4,000 was obviously too often. It depends a lot on how hard she's been ridden. I don't like the way most oils look and smell when they go much beyond 4,000 miles. If that same motor was in a race bike we'd never let it go 80 hours (4,000 / 50) between oil changes. So I'm mostly okay with the 4,000 and not at all okay with 6,000.

Just my opinion, but you did ask!

 

[El Cajone]

That is why we live in America, the right to make choices :scooter:

Hey, they gave us that in Canada just last year. You guys have had it all along and didn't let us know?

 

[Steve Hunt]

Or you could go the scientific route and end the speculation, guesses and "feelings" and send a sample to an oil lab. Blackstone labs will do it for like $20 plus $10 if you want the test to see if your additive package is depleted or not at the interval you are changing the oil at. Of course they may ask you why you are using diesel engine oil in your motorcycle rather than the recommended oil of the correct API rating.

 

[meosborn]

That is why we live in America, the right to make choices :scooter:

Hey, they gave us that in Canada just last year. You guys have had it all along and didn't let us know?

That was just because the Olympics were coming. They'll take it back in a couple of months.