Oil Change - Before winter or after?

black_CG2

black_CG2

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I am currently at 680 kms and the first oil change is due at 1000 km. I know racking up 320 km is not a big deal but the problem is I am still recovering from my leg injury. By the time I am ok, we will have snow on the ground.

That being said can I change my oil in March/April of next year? Would my bike be okay for these 4/5 months? Obviously I will put fuel stabilizer in it, full tank of gas and put her up on stands.
 
It's not going to do a lot of harm to leave it.But for peace of mind and convenience,change it.You will get answers going both ways,but it's your ride.
 
Oil's relatively cheap (compared to repairs) plus it's easier and more convenient to change the oil outside when there's no snow, bitter wind or crappy -XX degree temps around.

I'll be doing mine in the next week or so for the same reason.
 
I change the oil & filter of my track bike before putting away for the winter, then again after 2 track days in the spring. After that, every 4th track day.
 
finish the break in next spring. nothing will be harmed. if you're paranoid change it.
 
I always change it before. The benefits of doing it now:

- Crankcase sits with clean, rather than used oil all winter.
- That much quicker to get out and ride in spring.

The cons:

- Can't think of any (work required is the same, whether you do it now or then).
 
restart thread >>>>> regarding fuel: I read on the internet that storing with no ethanol gas (Shell premium) is a good thing to do + stabilizer of course.
 
I always use stabilizer and last year for the first time I used Shell premium for my last fill up. I've never had any issues with regular gas, but it costs me just a few extra bucks to buy the Shell stuff.
 
I've done break in of my first bike this summer.

Its actually recommended to change oil more frequently during the break-in period. I changed oil twice b4 1000Km and again at 1500KMs and 2500KMs. Only use conventional oil for untill 3500KMs then switch to Synthetic.
 
This question was asked in the 250 group...not sure why you keep asking it over an over again (I'm pretty sure you're the same person). You'll just get a head count of who does it before winter and who does it after...I do mine before as I don't want old oil to sit in the bike all winter.

Lots of good answers above but it's your ride, so do what you think is best.
 
mine might be a unique experience but the first year on my 11' 250R, i left it sitting over the winter with fresh oil, Petro Canada 87 octane + fuel stabilizer; i had trouble starting it in the spring and had to get the carbs completely cleaned; bike was also stored inside my house.

2nd year, i didn't change the oil but i left it with Shell's allegedly ethanol free V-Power 91 Octane + fuel stabilizer, and it was perfect start in the spring; bike was stored in the garage.

doing frequent oil changes does not hurt, a lot of these bikes are built quite bulletproof; there are some crazies that change the oil in the fall, and again in the spring... don't ask why
 
i haven't changed my oil since july. i'm not changing oil until i have funny shifts or it burns off extremely fast. 15,000 km oil changes for me.
 
I strain my oil through cheesecloth and then put it back in my bike. Is this okay??


Sent from my rebooted Motorola 550 flip-phone circa 1997
 
Well I used to change the oil before winter storage then I talked to an old school rider and he convinced me to change it in the spring instead. My bike is stored in a unit with no heat. He and others have since said the same thing. Over the course of the winter we have freeze thaw periods this creates condensation on the inside of the motor. during the thaw cycles this condensation collects and at times will run down and sit on the oil. Your not going to get anything substantial, (like a litre), but you are going to have water sitting on your oil. When you start it up in the spring what happens to that water? It becomes mixed with the oil. So the bike gets fresh oil in the spring before it is started and run.
 
hedo2002 said:
Well I used to change the oil before winter storage then I talked to an old school rider and he convinced me to change it in the spring instead. My bike is stored in a unit with no heat. He and others have since said the same thing. Over the course of the winter we have freeze thaw periods this creates condensation on the inside of the motor. during the thaw cycles this condensation collects and at times will run down and sit on the oil. Your not going to get anything substantial, (like a litre), but you are going to have water sitting on your oil. When you start it up in the spring what happens to that water? It becomes mixed with the oil. So the bike gets fresh oil in the spring before it is started and run.
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in the spring i will beat the bike up the bike for an hour to suspend all the crap that settled to the bottom of the pan. then drain it hot.
 
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