| Author | Message | |||
     Ulyganfreedom |
A somewhat embarrassing question to ask, but how often do ya'll change your oil? The manual shows to do it every 5k. I just want to take care of her. Thanks | |||
| Dr_greg |
I do 3K miles usually, but this is dangerously close to politics and religion... I change the Mobil-1 Delvac oil in my diesel car every 10K miles. | |||
| Ulyganfreedom |
Thanks Doc. I'll make sure to say 3 "hail mary"s and 4 "pledge allegiances" before and after, and "Om" periodically during every oil change... all while the front wheel is pointed toward Rome. Word | |||
| Rwven |
Once a year, whether it needs it or not....  | |||
| Chrisrogers3 |
I change mine every Spring (just something about the hard winters here in WI that I dont like using the old oil) and then every 3 to 4 thousand after that (using Mobil 1 syn). Yeah I know I could stretch it out farther, but with the motorcycle I am a little fussier. The truck on the other hand usually every 6 thousand on conventional oil. As Doc was saying everyone will have their own answer and opinion. I think you would be safe running it out to 5000, but thats coming from a guy that changes oil more often than that. | |||
| Darthane |
Heh...like Greg said, you'll get a million answers. Recommended interval for mine (2003 XB9R) is 2500 for the engine and 5000 for the primary, I do both at 2500. Same for the Blast, although that gets ridden so little most years that I just change it every spring. The enwer models upped the interval to 5K/10K, I think? I might still do it more often...'cheap insurance' is the term.  | |||
| New12r |
Every 1500 miles with syn 3 and Formula +. I beat the snot out of it so I feel that changing the metal flakes keeps her alive. | |||
| Jcbikes |
Every 1500 miles too! Both engine and primary. Clean is good. | |||
| Sleez |
3000 miles or 12mos...period! | |||
| Xbimmer |
M1 V-Twin 20w-50 in the tank most of the year, this winter tried M1 15w-50 car oil. Engine did start easier in freezing conditions in the mountains and idled easier until warmup on cold mornings, but seemed to get dirtier faster than the M1 V-Twin. 5k miles between changes, always with the factory filter too. Beware of the Torque Specs for the drain bolts!!! With thread sealant and o-ring sealing you don't need to wrench them down as per the Shop Manual! I find it curious that the online Owner's Manuals on Buell's site show the same spec as my '06 Shop Manual and Owner's Manual, but the '07 version shows a reduced torque spec. They can and will strip with the higher spec! Just snug the drain bolts, if you're concerned apply a dab of hi-temp silicone against a couple of hexes to the swingarm/primary case. Learned that trick a long time ago with VW Type IV engines. I use Formula+ now in the primary/trans, changed with the engine oil @ 5k. Syn3 and M1 in the past just didn't feel happy, Syn3 especially left more crap on the magnet. | |||
| Jammin_joules |
IMHO: On big-twin Harley's touting 4+ quarts of oil with stock compression and normal riding (occasional two person, normal speeds and few long rides in southern Arizona) 5,000 mile intervals with good oil & filters really is adequate. We have seen bikes with this duration log 70,000 miles or more trouble free miles. Primaries get clutch and chain grime so 5K is wise. Gearcases can really go extended service with new fluids, so 10k is a wise use of our earths natural resources. But the Thunderstorm engine is a high compression, higher revving, 2.4quart capacity small oil filters - I feel it is prudent to change oil & filter every 2,500 to 3,000 miles. I also use a synthetic. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't like it. ~jammer PS. Owns two Harley's I put over 70,000 trouble free miles on. | |||
| Aeholton |
Every 2 - 2.5k on the engine with whatever 20W-50W synthetic is on sale at the time. I change primary with Formula+ at every other change of engine oil. | |||
| Smpl5 |
I found this article an interesting read (from the XL Forum). http://www.sportster.org/tech/OilandtheHarleyDavid sonMotorcycle.pdf Page 24 and 25 the article discusses the frequency of oil changes, which begins with the following: "Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips." Food for thought! | |||
| Tsorl76 |
Is Mobil 1 synth 20W50 okay for the primary ? On their website they claim it can be done but I wasn't sure if it was right for the Uly. | |||
| Treadmarks |
Every two months (2000-2500 miles) weather it needs it or not. Both holes 20w50 amsoil and K&N 177 filter. | |||
| 05mxdiesel |
Here is a copy of my UOA with Amsoil 20w50 and a pure one filer at 4052 miles over last summer. I change the primary at the same time as well. Will probably stick to atleast 3-4k on oil changes.
| |||
| Blake |
"Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips." Be very careful! Oil can and does increase in viscosity with age, but not always. This is more true for conventional oils than high quality synthetics. The oil can also lose shear strength. My point being: That statement is very dangerous if taken to heart at face value. (Message edited by blake on April 10, 2008) | |||
| Chas1969 |
UKBEG seems to favor oil change q 2.5-3K miles on their bikes. Also the service manuel goes with 2.5K for bikes that run at speed alot ... As I recall more than 60mph or more 'often'. | |||
| Blake |
Over 60 mph? Then anytime you use 5th gear? That seems ridiculous to me. As I recall, the owner's manual recommended oil change interval for the Buell air cooled engines has always been 5,000 miles with the following caveat: If you operate your motorcycle under adverse conditions (severe cold, extreme heat, very dusty environment, very bad roads, through standing water, etc.), you should perform the regular maintenance intervals more frequently to ensure the safe operation of your motorcycle. | |||
| Panhead_dan |
I change lubes and filters at 2500 in all my air cooled engines. 58 bikes so far, no problems. | |||
| Chas1969 |
In the 2006 Service Manuel section 3.8, Lubrication System, page 3-71: "if riding habits include severe dust conditions, operation at temp. above 80 F, extensive idling, speeds in excess 65mph and/or 2 up riding or simular loads the oil should be changed at 2500 mile intervals." With the cold weather lubrication recommendations, these describe about 80% of my riding time ... maybe more. I think for most people this is the same. So 2.5-3K oil change is not that bad. Chas | |||
| Blake |
That over 65 mph part sounds like an archaic remnant from days long past. With synthetic oil, I have absolutely no worries going to 5K miles or more between oil changes. In cold weather with too many short rides I'd change it at 3K miles. | |||
| Msparks |
"Here is a copy of my UOA with Amsoil 20w50 and a pure one filer at 4052 miles over last summer. I change the primary at the same time as well. Will probably stick to atleast 3-4k on oil changes." Wow Silicon 52 looks really high. Do you have an air filter leak? Or maybe using a K&N? My BMW analysis was about 10ppm silicon | |||
| 05mxdiesel |
No air filter leak and stock air filter. Silicon is used in engine sealants and while the engine is breaking in, can show high silicon numbers. I will be pulling another sample soon to check thing out. | |||
| Msparks |
opps forgot it was still new. Your right silicon can be "leaching" from seals and such since it's new. I should got an analysis on mine. Might do that. | |||
| Teeps |
Every 2500 miles. | |||
| Chadhargis |
I have a pretty good memory as it's sort of required for my job. So I change the oil if I can't remember the last time I changed it. LOL!  Since I typically only put about 6000 to 7000 miles on my Uly a year (I have become mostly a certified, bonafied track addict and spend lots of time on my Gixxer 600 there), I typically change the oil at the beginning of the season (March or April), and again somtime in the summer (August so so). Oil has additives to control the acids produced by the combustion process. Even if the oil is technically still good, the additive package might not be, so getting that old oil out is never a bad idea. Oil not only lubricates, it also cools and cleans our engines. It's sort of like toilet water. How many times do you pee in your toilet before you flush it? Now, how many times COULD you pee in if before you flushed it? I venture to guess that we all flush after one use. Better to change it too frequently and waste $30 of oil and filter than not enough. It's cheap insurance. | |||
| Charlie_zulu |
Every 6000 miles. Change the filter @ 3000 mi running synthetic oil. | |||
| Xbimmer |
My current schedule is every 5k, tank and trans. M1 V-Twin 20/50 or M1 15/50 (cold weather) in the tank. Formula+ in the case. At 46k I still won't add close to a quart between changes, and I run far above 65mph and/or two-up the majority of the time. This is the most oil-conservative engine I've ever owned. The 15/50 does seem to get dirtier faster though, just my completely un-scientific observation and nose-test. | |||
| Darthane |
ROFL...Chad, the toilet analogy is great. | |||
| Chadhargis |
Our engines are a lot like toilets. The oil has a lot of waste in it. It's nasty stuff for sure. | |||
| Johnboy777 |
Hmmm... I think I need to FLUSH more! . | |||
| Tpehak |
5000-6000 miles engine oil. 10000-11000 miles primary oil. |
XB12x uoa