Maximum time between oil changes?

[Steve Carlton]

A friend of mine has a '02 Japanese sportbike with 2,800 miles on it. Probably been 1.5 years since the oil was last changed at 750 miles. My understanding, at least with cars, is 5-6 months is an optimum maximum time for the same (dino) oil to stay in the engine. I would assume the same would apply here, but want the feedback/abuse...

[repoe3]

change the dang oil, mang.

repoe3

[SergioK]

I guess it all depends on how long you plan to keep the bike. But yeah, changing the oil every 3-6 months is typically a good thing.

[1100s nut]

Change every 18 months if not many miles. 6000 on our bikes or 3000 on jap. bikes. We throw away so much good oil in this country because of so much bu11 **** bad info. I have a 1993 volvo with 515,000 miles on it and I change oil at 15,000 miles. I will provide pics and a oil analysis from from titan labs if anyone wants to dispute. I change the oil from my 850 bmw(V-12, 2 gallons) every 18 months(about 1500 miles) and I put it in my S-80 volvo for 15,000 miles. I don`t do this for the money as much as for the evironment.
Lane

[Moybin]

Saturn has upped their oil change interval to 5000 miles. I put about 5k miles a year on my S. I use synthetic, going to 5W40 rotella next. I change oil every fall, so that I get the combustion acids out of the crankcase for the long winter sleep.

It is my (personal) belief that the oil change intervals are rooted in the 1950's and 60's when oil was less than it is now, and filters were little more than toilet paper-in-a-can. Ring end clearances are tighter than ever before, bores are harder, valves and guides tougher, seals better. Oil sees greater heat and loading these days, but that's what it is formulated to handle.

[roger albert]

> 6000 on our bikes or 3000

I agree with the sentiment of that post, but certainly not the numbers. Our bikes our aircooled, where all of the performance oriented japanese bikes are liquid cooled. The lower temps on the H2O motors would if anything give them a longer interval, even with that nasty clutch dust.

[Steve Carlton]

Not sensing a consensus here yet. My understanding was the water byproduct from combustion contaminates the oil and forms acids. Therefore, the oil should be changed based on a maximum amount of time as well as mileage. My understanding is 5-6 months is best, once a year is okay, and longer than that ain't so hot. Plus, as Roger said, there's clutch residue in there, too. Not sure if this bike has synthetic oil in it or not, but I tend to doubt it.

[Chris Geuting]

The petroleum industry has us so buffaloed...Of course you don't damage your engine if you change the oil every 3-6 month or miles but you damage your wallet and non renewable ressources.In europe where people actually use their vehicles and drive them much harder the oil change intervals are in the 15K change interval and the manufacturers would not say so if the had to pay big warranty bills otherwise...
Chris

[steve abella]

Originally posted by roger albert
> 6000 on our bikes or 3000

I agree with the sentiment of that post, but certainly not the numbers. Our bikes our aircooled, where all of the performance orIEnted japanese bikes are liquid cooled. The lower temps on the H2O motors would if anything give them a longer interval, even with that nasty clutch dust.

aren't all bikes air cooled as the final step and ours Oil cooled IE oil head

[Steve Carlton]

I'm asking how long time-wise can the oil be considered good on a liquid-cooled, Japanese engine that gets less than 1,000 miles per year.

[bikerfish1100]

i'd figure once yearly, given your friend's usage. do it in the fall before the winter sleep- get those corrosive contaminants out.

[SergioK]

Tell ya what Steve, I'll run some analyses on my oil since I just changed it a couple months ago. Let's see what the folks at Blackstone Labs say.