Are time related oil changes necessary?

brut33

brut33

Ice Cold in St.Helens
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e.g. If a bike has done 4k over an 18 month period, should it have had an oil change at 12 months,
or just leave it until the recommended mileage (6k) clocks up, no matter how long it takes.
 
You may find those with more knowledge than me will correct this but, I'd change the oil regularly regardless of how few miles have been racked up.
 
The theory is that over time oil gets acidic and can also emulsify with moisture in the crankcase. Probably even more likely to happen on a little used bike as well.

Not saying you should or shouldn't change the oil on 12 months just that is the reason.
 
your warranty will, of course, demand that.

Accordingly I have the fluids changed annually on my GS Adventure (2013). On my K100 and r100r ( both '92 bikes) plus my two c1s (2003) I go strictly on miles.

Actually it's more than warranty, any BMW that has not been serviced per the schedules (annuals + mileage related "inspections") would be excluded from the "approved used" scheme so could make life difficult when trading in.

My GSA will be treated to annuals and mileage related servicing.

(By the way, to prove a point I ran my lawnmower on the same engine oil for over 20 years, with hardly any topping up in that time. It was still running ok when I retired it. I'm a fan of Castrol oils and if BMW think they can tell me to use Shell oils they can go to hell!)
 
I'm no chemist, but I know that by-products of combustion include some nasty stuff such as Sulphur dioxide etc. When coupled with water from condensation within the engine, acids form. Changing the oil removes these, keeping the engine clean and the internal surfaces such as bearings free of pitting.

EDIT.: Marki_GSA beat me to it.
 
brut33 said:
e.g. If a bike has done 4k over an 18 month period, should it have had an oil change at 12 months,
or just leave it until the recommended mileage (6k) clocks up, no matter how long it takes.
Click to expand...

All manufacturers stipulate a mileage or time period which ever comes first. Oil is the cheapest engine maintenance you can do. How a bike is stored, dry heated garage, on the drive in all weathers makes a difference. Condensate in the oil if only used for short trips, so many variables. 18 months can be a long time! All my bikes get a 3,000 mile oil change and a 6,000 filter change.


Edit everyone beat me to it!
 
Unless you're doing high mileage, every 2 years is plenty (from a maintenance point of view).
Some comments on here about warranty and resale you might want to consider but apart from them, 2 years is fine.
 
Cheers all. Your replies have been informative, helpful and very much appreciated..:thumby::thumby::thumby:
 
4k miles of very short stop start riding or where the engine doesn't get up to temperature isn't very good for the engine or it's oil.

But it's your engine and your choice.
 
Lots of opeinions, very little knowledge

I read these comments on oil changes, the type and neccessity thereof.
Opinions, yes, knowledge, no.
In 50 years of mucking about with motorcycle engines, I have only seen one with the possibility of engine damage due to lack of use.
43 years ago, the son of an aquaintance was killed in a road accident in a Landrover.
Son's Honda 50 (C100) was lying in the garage for 2 or 3 years, and he started the engine every week or 2 to check it was still ok.
After 3 years he decided to change the oil, and found more water than oil in the sump.
Bike was still running perfectly.
Another friend bought an MG after the collapse of the manufacturers. 10 months old,
it had 5 miles on it, and Charles (Spit) Hursts (Spit) insisted that to comply with the terms of the extended warranty, it had to have an oil change.
Absolute bullshit. They then "claimed" they changed oil and filter. Knowing their reputation in this direction, if you believe that, you believe anything.
I accept that it is a remote possibilty that oil may degrade in short term low mileage use, but, especially in an aircooled petrol engine, it is most unlikely.
However, such changes do keep dealers in the luxury they are accustomed to.
Myke
 
Steptoe said:
4k miles of very short stop start riding or where the engine doesn't get up to temperature isn't very good for the engine or it's oil.

But it's your engine and your choice.
Click to expand...

I only used 4k as an example, but sometimes its higher or in some cases less.
My trips are never less than an hour on open roads, so the engine gets well up to temp.
I’m recently retired so hopefully it’s going to be more miles per year ..
I use the tin box for shorter trips.

Thanks for the input, and now realise I'm killing my car..:blast
 
Myke Rocks said:
I read these comments on oil changes, the type and neccessity thereof.
Opinions, yes, knowledge, no.
In 50 years of mucking about with motorcycle engines, I have only seen one with the possibility of engine damage due to lack of use.
43 years ago, the son of an aquaintance was killed in a road accident in a Landrover.
Son's Honda 50 (C100) was lying in the garage for 2 or 3 years, and he started the engine every week or 2 to check it was still ok.
After 3 years he decided to change the oil, and found more water than oil in the sump.
Bike was still running perfectly.
Another friend bought an MG after the collapse of the manufacturers. 10 months old,
it had 5 miles on it, and Charles (Spit) Hursts (Spit) insisted that to comply with the terms of the extended warranty, it had to have an oil change.
Absolute bullshit. They then "claimed" they changed oil and filter. Knowing their reputation in this direction, if you believe that, you believe anything.
I accept that it is a remote possibilty that oil may degrade in short term low mileage use, but, especially in an aircooled petrol engine, it is most unlikely.
However, such changes do keep dealers in the luxury they are accustomed to.
Myke
Click to expand...

Why would you need a dealer to change oil and filter? The question was about oil changes not servicing. Steptoe's reply was correct IMHO
 
the company I work for have in the last couple of years moved over to 2 year servicing, and we have not had an engine failure due to extended oil changes but our vehicles will only cover a maximum of 30,000 miles in that time! the new ford customs are on a 30,000 mile first service !! Given that.
manufactures do quote time or distance which ever sooner.
my preference is service annually regardless of miles
 
facom said:
the company I work for have in the last couple of years moved over to 2 year servicing, and we have not had an engine failure due to extended oil changes but our vehicles will only cover a maximum of 30,000 miles in that time! the new ford customs are on a 30,000 mile first service !! Given that.
manufactures do quote time or distance which ever sooner.
my preference is service annually regardless of miles
Click to expand...


Manufactures service intervals are set as much by the marketing department as by engineers. Yes engine oils have improved dramatically as have manufacturing techniques but the thrust of the change to longer intervals is about the perceived cost of maintenance. What the big volume buyers (fleet owners, hire companies etc) want is minimal costs during their, usually relativity brief, ownership. All manufacturers have taken a blue pencil to their servicing schedules parring them down so that the first owner has reduced costs. When you see that something as vital as checking brakes has been removed from the service schedule it is fairly obvious that this not about best practice but is simply a cost cutting exercise.

If you buy new and don't change the engine oil for 30,000 miles of short journey use you are unlikely to suffer any consequences. The poor sod who buys the car 3rd or 4th hand might have a different experience. Anyone who, like myself, has worked at servicing vehicles will tell you oil changes where the contents of the sump were thin and watery. Water is a by product of the combustion process, it gets in the oil, it corrodes exhaust systems from the inside out, it's not a good thing! It the vehicle is used on short runs the system cannot get up to high enough temperatures to burn off this water. This is the main reason that shorter intervals were recommended for low mileage use.

As Steptoe said it's your choice but please don't use the fact that your new bike/car ran for 25,000 miles without an oil changes as proof of anything. Problems caused by lack of maintenance or neglect often don't show up until much later.

John
 
The Grey One said:
Manufactures service intervals are set as much by the marketing department as by engineers. Yes engine oils have improved dramatically as have manufacturing techniques but the thrust of the change to longer intervals is about the perceived cost of maintenance. What the big volume buyers (fleet owners, hire companies etc) want is minimal costs during their, usually relativity brief, ownership. All manufacturers have taken a blue pencil to their servicing schedules parring them down so that the first owner has reduced costs. When you see that something as vital as checking brakes has been removed from the service schedule it is fairly obvious that this not about best practice but is simply a cost cutting exercise.

If you buy new and don't change the engine oil for 30,000 miles of short journey use you are unlikely to suffer any consequences. The poor sod who buys the car 3rd or 4th hand might have a different experience. Anyone who, like myself, has worked at servicing vehicles will tell you oil changes where the contents of the sump were thin and watery. Water is a by product of the combustion process, it gets in the oil, it corrodes exhaust systems from the inside out, it's not a good thing! It the vehicle is used on short runs the system cannot get up to high enough temperatures to burn off this water. This is the main reason that shorter intervals were recommended for low mileage use.

As Steptoe said it's your choice but please don't use the fact that your new bike/car ran for 25,000 miles without an oil changes as proof of anything. Problems caused by lack of maintenance or neglect often don't show up until much later.

John
Click to expand...
Yes: I bought a Smart forfour diesel with 80,000 miles on it freshly serviced. Service light came on another 18,000 miles later. It now has 160,000 miles on it, goes like new and uses no oil. I wonder how much better it would be if I changed the oil every 6,000 miles?
Myke
 
Myke Rocks said:
Yes: I bought a Smart forfour diesel with 80,000 miles on it freshly serviced. Service light came on another 18,000 miles later. It now has 160,000 miles on it, goes like new and uses no oil. I wonder how much better it would be if I changed the oil every 6,000 miles?
Myke
Click to expand...

We'll never know
 
oil

If you had £10k worth of motorcycle sat in the garage is it such a big deal to spend £40 on oil and filter once a year. surely it would give peace of mind.
the other option is buy a fekin 2 stroke.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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