| Author | Message | ||
     Dynasport |
I've got about 2500 miles on my XT. The trip to Homecoming and back is about 2600 miles. Should I go ahead and change the oil before I leave and then do a full 5000 mile service when I get back, or will it be fine to wait for the oil change until I return. I know many change their oil much sooner than Buell recommends, but I have wondered if that wasn't just wasting money and oil. | ||
| Froggy |
You would be just wasting your money. Do it when you get back  | ||
| Nevrenuf |
so you only have 1500 miles since your first 1k service oil change and your running synthetic now. if that's the case than you should be fine. | ||
| Dynasport |
That is what I thought. Thanks. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I know others say it's wasting money,but I never let my bikes get even close to 5000 miles on an oil change. I especially wouldn't on a new engine. Do what you wish, but I'd change it. | ||
| Froggy |
I'll buy your old barley used oil Andy!  | ||
| Ourdee |
Now that we appear to be into opinions; here's mine: First, I wouldn't have went to synth. on the first oil change. Second, I'd change the oil at the 2500 mark (new engine). I'm still on dino oil at 12,500 and doing my 6th oil change prepping for HC. I've got new rubber scuffed in and a new belt and a new battery. Before this gets outta hand: I know some of us BadWebbers get passionate on some topics and threads, we even think that our way is the only way. There are many valid reasons for most positions taken. My reason for this position I take is my personal comfort level. I believe myself to be middle of the road on oil usage. Yes, I'm on dino, not synth. Yes, I change it sooner than it has to be. Those 2 statements throw me to opposing sides of the dotted yellow line, but , different countries drive on different sides of the road. That said, none of this was to belittle anyone, have at it  | ||
| Dynasport |
My understanding is that you change oil for two reasons. First, it can break down and not provide the lubrication capabilities it did when new. The primary reason oil breaks down because of heat. Synthetic oil is more resistant to heat than dino oil, therefore it should last longer before it begins to break down. The second reason we change oil is because it becomes dirty (contaminated) over time. There is no difference between dino and synthetic when it comes to getting dirty. All that to say that the main reason for me to change my oil is that it may be dirty and the contaminants could accelerate engine wear. I hear of some people changing oil at very short intervals. I used to change it on my Harley at 2500 miles. Then I thought about things and thought if the oil needed to be changed every 2500 miles wouldn't Harley recommend that? They recommend every 5000 miles on my bike, so I stopped changing it every 2500 miles and went to 5000 mile intervals. At 45,000 miles I have not had any engine problems at all (OK, now it will probably explode the next time I start it). Anyway, part or me says that changing the oil is not that expensive and I might as well. Another part of me says that it is dealerships and oil companies who want us to change our oil so often and we are often just wasting money. The bottom line, I am really looking forward to homecoming. I won't get to stay as long as I originally planned because work through something at me I have to be back for, but at least I'll be there for a couple of days. | ||
| 12x9sl |
I have to agree with Andy and Ourdee, it doesn't hurt to change it, especially on a new bike. I agree with not using synthetic at first either. On our bikes, I don't use synthetic until they have at least 5,000 miles on them. Any sooner and the engine will just take longer to break in.....imho. I have a 2010 Uly I just got done changing the oil in @1,450 miles. I have to admit I was surprised at how clean the oil was and how little metal shavings were on the magnet. However, the dealership I bought it from could have changed it when they bought it from the Buell factory pool at 747 miles.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldn't put 5000 miles on non synthetic oil in an air cooled high performance motorcycle, especially if any of those miles were break in miles. For full synthetic, after break in, I start looking for a convenient time to change the oil after 3500 miles, and 5000 is my upper bound. | ||
| Coolice |
Oil is cheap, engines are $$$$$ Change it, especially if the bike is stored for a few months. | ||
| Ourdee |
Ah a new twist, I try to change oil before the bike starts doing any winter sitting/waiting, and early in the spring to remove splooge from winter riding. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
hey dan, the wife got herself a mini and they come from the factory with syn and they don't change oil for 15000 miles. and since they have a bumper to bumper warranty including oil changes for 3yrs 36k from the factory, i don't think they would be doing it if they didn't have a pretty good reason why. do they know something we don't??? | ||
| Dynasport |
Yeah, I was thinking the new Harleys come with Syn3, but I am not sure. I am not worried about the Syn vs. dino issue. I know there are many opinions on oil issues. I was just curious to see if there was a consensus. I guess not. Neil, I like those Minis. Too bad you can't go to Homecoming this year. It's going to be a long ride by myself. I am stopping for a couple of days to visit family in Kentucky though, so solo is probably best anyway. Oh, and the bike hasn't been stored. It did sit for two weeks while I was trying to figure out how to wire something, but other than that it gets ridden pretty often. I just haven't been able to take any long rides on it yet. That is about to change though.  |
