Does it really need a service every 6k?

[longdog]

Just a thought regarding oil change mileage/time. Is it not correct that an engine that is used “properly”, ie run at operating temperature over say, 12000 miles a year on a regular, daily basis likely to be healthier than one which has a low, say 2000 miles annual mileage as it is more likely that condensation etc is more likely to occur in the low mileage engine?

If this were to be the case, then BMWs 6000 mile service intervals begin to make sense if they have used that figure as the point when oil starts to degrade?

Just a thought and open for discussion.

 

[Davey B]

Funny you should say that, i have actually done oil analysis in the past. Probably cheaper just to get the bike serviced.

Cheaper still to just do an oil and filter change yourself ?

 

[Hann]

Just a thought regarding oil change mileage/time. Is it not correct that an engine that is used “properly”, ie run at operating temperature over say, 12000 miles a year on a regular, daily basis likely to be healthier than one which has a low, say 2000 miles annual mileage as it is more likely that condensation etc is more likely to occur in the low mileage engine?

I would say that the most influential factor is not the total mileage per year but the conditions in which that bike has been ridden.
A 2,000 miles per year bike that has a hundred short trips where the engine has not reached full operating temps for long enough (to `burn off` any undesirable elements in the oil) is going to be less healthy than a bike which has done two 1000-mile trips...
It`s all pretty acedemic, anyway. Any `problems` will take several years of this kind of useage to develop - probably after you`ve got rid of the bike and have moved on to the next one so it`ll be owners down the line which may experience any symptoms of a tired engine...

There`s a guy at work who uses his Ford Fiesta car to travel less than a mile to work each day so that`s 10 journeys per week under a mile in length.
Now that`s gonna feck his motor in the long term....
It`s a mile and a half for me and i ride a bicycle.