how often to change oil??

[creeture3]

Hi out there, I have two motorcycles, one a 1986 GPz900R, and the other a 2000 ST1100. Over the last year, the GPz covered 1000 kms ( about ) and the ST about 3000.

My question is: should I change the oil?? And, when??? Or should I wait until the usual 5000 kms................

When I do take the bikes out, they do a country run of about 80 k's, although this can be longer at times. ( Let's say that's a minimum ) and usually at 100 kph ish. Living in the country, I don't have any stop/start traffic issues. ( My closest set of traffic lights is 18 kms away )

I use quality oils.

Over to you for suggestions...................

[STeveo]

If you live in a dry atmosphere in country then I would leave until the 5,000Km. If your in a humid coastal area then maybe every twelve months would be better.

[creeture3]

Yeah, a relatively dry  climate. The bikes are garaged all the time. It just seems a long time for the GPz , anything up to 5 years without a change.

Maybe I should get out more...............

[Williamson]

.... I use quality oils ....

Was advised last weekend by a brother-in-law (AKA dick-relation), that he changes oil in HSV Commodore at 5,000km intervals, as the car only does 2,000 to 3,000km per year, the oil gets changed at approx. 24 month intervals.

I indicated that most (all) auto and oil manufacturers suggest 12 month is the maximum, his response was that these days quality synthetic oils are not prone to absorbing moisture and they hold their viscosity better.   The 25 year old HSV has done 250,000km (more km in the old days), and does not use / loose any oil between changes.

Perhaps there is some validity in his reasoning, perhaps not.  Any thoughts?

[alans1100]

Both STs give every 12 months or 12,000 km in the manual so I go with 12,000 km which I would do every 14 months on average. I use Castrol Active 4T on both bikes.

[alans1100]

  The 25 year old HSV has done 250,000km (more km in the old days), and does not use / loose any oil between changes.

Perhaps there is some validity in his reasoning, perhaps not.  Any thoughts?

We've had our 2005 Territory since September 2010 and changed the oil and filter just once and that would be about 4 years ago and we'd average 7,500 km a year; I was only thinking the other day that the transmission could do with a fluid change soon.

[Nigel]

Me , I am a 12 month 10 k person either or . Oil and filter are cheap, better to over service than under...my 2c

And only use ryco filters and Penrite oils, if available. Thats 4c............

[STroppy]

Triumph Trophy SE advise every 16,000 ks or every 12 months.

[West Aussie Glen]

I like round numbers so every 10,000 kms for my vehicles that do a lot of work. Every 2 or 3 years or even more for the other vehicles.
Oils have improved greatly along with engine design. Bypass of the rings used to be the major source of oil contamination.
From an economical point I think it depends on if your are paying for it or doing it yourself. Paying for it 10,000 kms is fine. Doing it yourself 5,000 kms or 12 months if you are into that. As mentioned above dry or humid location is probably worth adding in the equation. The other one is lots of short runs and not getting up to temperature before shutting down.

[Wild Rose]

10,000km or 12 months for me

[creeture3]

O.k., the general opinion seems to be that I can leave it for a while. At the current amount of travel the GPz does, I reckon every 2 years. With the ST, maybe 18 months, or 5000 k's whichever comes first.

Thanks for all the input

[Brock]

I would do it every 12 Mths, oil that isnt being raised to temp very often can create acids that would not be good for the engine.

[ruSTynutz]

Think I would stick to 12 months too...
For the sake of saving maybe $100 a bike, is it worth the risk? 

[Itdepends]

New or old, moisture absolutely gets into your oil but a good run will “boil” it out.

If you’re worried about moisture gettin into anything it’s your brake and clutch fluid.

The answer to your quandry is to ride more ;)

Hopefully your taking them for rides reasonably often as thats the best thing you can do for them.

[STroppy]

My “short” rides are in the order of 900 to 1,000 in a day for an OzSTOC RTE. Most rides are multi day or weeks with day range of 600 to 1,000 ks. So hopefully no nasty residues in the engine oils!