when to change oil?

[multiplicity]

My log book says that my next (second) service is at 6000 miles. Should I have changed my oil before this (not counting the 600 mile service which I've already had done). If I wait for the 6000 miles, what are the bad points of keeping the same oil all that time?

Cheers

 

[SovietRobot]

It really depends. Modern synthetic can go thousands of miles without breaking down.
If you're on the first 3000 or so miles of the engine, it's smart to change the oil more often, as the oil gets contaminated during engine break in.

If you're using regular dino oil, I'd change it every 3000 or so.
If you're using good synthetic, you can easily go 6000, but you might want to change the filter in between.

 

[FuriousGeorge]

My 2008 manual says to change the oil every 4000 miles and the filter at 8000 miles. I wouldn't think there would be a difference between the UK and the US, but I don't know. With how cheap oil and filters are I'll probably do both every 3-4k.

 

[Jedi]

My 2008 UK manual says first change at 600 miles, then change at 6,000 miles and every 6,000 miles after that. And the dealer we purchased the bike from changes the filter at every oil change.

 

[FuriousGeorge]

That's really strange. My 2008 US manual has the first change at 600 miles, then at 4000 miles (7000 km) and every 4000 after that. It calls for the first filter change at 600 miles then 8000 miles (13000 km) and every 8000 after that.

I wonder why they are so different? I suspect both of them are pretty safe, but since my bike gets used for a lot of short trips to work in cold weather where it never really gets up to full temperature I'm going to keep changing mine on a shorter schedule.

 

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

Oil is cheap, filters are cheap. I would change it when you are comfortable with it. BUT, I wouldn't wait 6K to do it. Oil/filters are too cheap to put it off. Unless, of course, you have a but ton of money for rebuilds.......GRUMPY

 

[steveindenmark]

Oil is cheap, filters are cheap. I would change it when you are comfortable with it. BUT, I wouldn't wait 6K to do it. Oil/filters are too cheap to put it off. Unless, of course, you have a but ton of money for rebuilds.......GRUMPY

I agree with you.

I change the filter and oil at least once a year regardless of how many miles I have done. It is a 10 minute minor operation and it is cheap.

Then when it is put away for winter the oil and filter is changed again. So that is at least twice a year I change the oil and filter.

Steve

 

[Serraph]

I change my oil filter every time I change the oil since it's only an extra $2-3.

My oil changes so far have been at 100, 600, and 4000 miles. I'll be changing both at 8000 miles and every 4000 after that.