Best time to change oil

[hoosier]

If it is getting close to time for an oil change, is it better to change it prior to putting it away for the winter or wait and change it in the spring before you start riding again?

[joebogey]

I'd change in the spring.
That way you get rid of the condensation that's built up over the winter.

[TucsonDon]

Originally Posted by joebogey

I'd change in the spring.
That way you get rid of the condensation that's built up over the winter.

Is there any concern about letting old oil that may be acidic sit in the engine all winter? My first gut reaction is to put some fresh oil in it in the fall. But here in AZ the concept of wintering the bike is foreign, so I've not given it much thought.

[07VT750C2]

We offer a summer storage service at the dealer where I work. A lot of people leave town because it's too hot and store their bikes. When the bikes go in, they get fresh oil and fuel stabilizer. When they come out, they get a carb cleaning, fresh fuel, and another oil change. If you do your oil changes yourself, it couldnt cost much to change it.

[Daver84]

Always store the bike with fresh oil in it. There will be little condensation in the crankcase if, I say if you resist the temptation to run the engine for short periods through the winter. The small amount of condensation that forms naturally will be boiled off by that first hour long + ride in the spring.

[Wassup]

I try to change mine in the morning, before it gets too hot to be working on it in the garage.


I agree on the double oil change. Store the bike with fresh oil, and put new stuff in when Spring arrives. Cheap protection I think.

[callmeal]

Originally Posted by TucsonDon

Is there any concern about letting old oil that may be acidic sit in the engine all winter?

I don’t think a person needs to worry about acidity with modern fuels. The sulfur that made most of the acid in oil is gone.
In 1995, low sulfur fuels became mandatory, diesel had to be less than 500 ppm and gasoline had to be less than 400 ppm.
In 2005, ultra low sulfur fuels became mandatory, diesel must be less than 15 ppm and gasoline less than 30 ppm.

Back in the old days when everyone was worried about acidity, diesel fuel was often 10,000 ppm. Tractor oil change intervals were usually every 100 hours. Now oil change intervals are often 200 to 300 hours.

I currently have 19 engines to change oil in. I don’t change oil in any of them for storage; I just go by engine hours or miles. Several of the engines are over 20 years old and it has not hurt them yet.
Al

[Daver84]

Originally Posted by callmeal

I don’t think a person needs to worry about acidity with modern fuels. The sulfur that made most of the acid in oil is gone.
In 1995, low sulfur fuels became mandatory, diesel had to be less than 500 ppm and gasoline had to be less than 400 ppm.
In 2005, ultra low sulfur fuels became mandatory, diesel must be less than 15 ppm and gasoline less than 30 ppm.

Back in the old days when everyone was worried about acidity, diesel fuel was often 10,000 ppm. Tractor oil change intervals were usually every 100 hours. Now oil change intervals are often 200 to 300 hours.

I currently have 19 engines to change oil in. I don’t change oil in any of them for storage; I just go by engine hours or miles. Several of the engines are over 20 years old and it has not hurt them yet.
Al

I completely agree with not being concerned with the acid produced from sulphur and water. My only concern is not letting whatever is suspended in the old oil settle out over 2 - 4 months or more of storage.

[callmeal]

Insolubles in the oil should not be a problem if you are changing the oil regularly. But insolubles could be a problem if you have re-jetted and are running too rich.
Al

Insolubles may be forming because your oil use interval is too long for the condition of the engine. Your oil filter may be inferior. It is possible the oil filter bypass valve has relived if the filter is becoming restricted. The filter system bypass may also open upon unusually cold starts when the oil is too thick to pass through the filter media. Once the bypass relieves, the filter is effectively out of the system.
http://www.blackstone-labs.com/what_are_insolubles.html

[dmccurdy5]

Oil is not THAT expensive and you're not using much, so I'd recommend changing it in fall AND spring. You don't need a new filter in the spring if you change it in the fall. Works for me.

Cheers, D-Mac