Spring Maintenance

[Mogan]

My "other" bike has been sleeping quietly all winter while I've been riding the FJR. A buddy told me that I should not start my sleeping bike until AFTER I change the oil. I already changed it as part of my winterizing routine. He said moisture can accumulate in the oil over the winter and it's best to change the oil again to flush out any moisture.

Is this true? Never heard that before...

 

[John_Dumke]

I'm no expert on oil. But I do remember reading something regarding condensation in the oil. And for this reason when you run a vehicle, it is a good idea to get the engine hot enough to burn off any condensation. So for this reason, I might agree with him. But for me I would probably just fire it up and take it for a ride long enough to heat the oil. This will certainly evaporate any water. My 2 cents.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Well I've read articles in the past and they all (according to my memory) suggest changing oil before and after storage for several months, among other suggestions.

When I lived in New England I paid attention more. But for the price of some oil and a crush washer, it is cheap insurance. Probably don't even need to change the filter if it went on with the pre-storage change of oil, and the little bit of oil left in the filter won't bother anything, IMHO. Then I'd do as John D says and give her a good run.

Or be a cheap bastage and lazy like I was, and take yer chances.

Just my $.02

 

[05fjrman]

I don't bother with my bike. I just make sure that I change the oil before storage. That's my $.02. Hey with all our $.02 we should be able to buy a cup of coffee, right?

 

[boogahboogah]

I wouldn't worry about it, but that's just me, IMHO, etc. I ride the FJR at least once every coupla weeks in the winter so I have no worries about oil 'condensation'. Truthfully, that sounds like crap to me. Any water that's happened to accumulate in the oil is gonna evaporate with the first 15-20 minutes of the first ride of the season. If you changed the oil at the end of Fall, then I can see no reason to change it again, might be a story dreamed up by oil marketing folks, along the lines of 'Lather, rinse, repeat' from the shampoo world.

I'd be much more worried about varnish & water in the gas... Just my .02

 

[squeezer]

There's a great write-up on winterizing your bike here. According to this bit, the reason you should change your oil before riding again isn't condensation, but because the oil left there all winter is likely to soak up combustion by-products. I don't know enough to confirm or deny that.

 

[jestal]

If you changed the oil when you put it in storage and didn't start it all winter then the oil is fine. Start it and run it to the normal oil change interval.

Oil is not going to pick up significant amounts of moisture just sitting in the crankcase all winter.

Everytime you start a cold engine a great deal of water, raw fuel and combustion byproducts are forced past the rings and into the oil. That is why there is a PCV system on the engine and why you want to warm the oil up thoroughtly each time you start the engine.....to boil out moisture and contaminantes.

The miniscule amount of moisture the oil might pick up from atmospheric humidity sitting in storage is totally insignificant to the amount of water/fuel/byproducts it is going to accumulate from just that one first cold start in the spring. Start it and run it. If your buddy was worried about the amount of moisture from condensation in storage he would become apoplectic over the amount generated by the engine actually starting and running.

I actually had a "knowlegable" mechanic explain to me to just park my equipment for the winter without an oil change but to be SURE and change the oil in the spring before starting to get rid of "all that condensation" that would accumulate during storage. I always wonder where these people get their information or logic. What about all those contaminants in the dirty oil I stored it with.....duh..... And if I let it sit there for two or three years will the crankcase overflow with "all that condensation".....duh.....