Extending Mileage Between Oil Changes
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Extending Mileage Between Oil Changes
We've discussed oil filters plenty of times on here, but I have a new related query. Mrs B and I have had a few European trips and travelled between 2,800/3,000 miles, so I have simply fitted new filter and oil before and after, and ignored the slightly excess mileage.
We are now considering a serious trip, crossing the continent of Europe to Asia, in other words visiting Istanbul and Turkey. This will probably be in 2013 (other bike-related projects permitting!) and we plan to take 4 weeks, but the return mileage is going to be around 4,500 miles.
While it may be possible to get an oil change done in Istanbul (there are two dealers there, the only ones in the whole of Turkey) there are no S&S dealers anywhere in that region. And the last thing I want to be messing about with is arranging an oil change while on holiday.
So what are the prospects of making the return trip on the same oil and filter? We may only do this sort of trip once. There are going to be around 18 days in the saddle of around 250 miles per day, so pretty easy going stuff.
Reading past threads I see that K&N make a long 173C filter, which has extra capacity and presumably could cope with an extended mileage, but will it fit an early Evo, under the rear of the trans?
What do you think chaps? There also has to be some benefit of using synthetic oil (Mobil 1)! Suggestions welcome.
We are now considering a serious trip, crossing the continent of Europe to Asia, in other words visiting Istanbul and Turkey. This will probably be in 2013 (other bike-related projects permitting!) and we plan to take 4 weeks, but the return mileage is going to be around 4,500 miles.
While it may be possible to get an oil change done in Istanbul (there are two dealers there, the only ones in the whole of Turkey) there are no S&S dealers anywhere in that region. And the last thing I want to be messing about with is arranging an oil change while on holiday.
So what are the prospects of making the return trip on the same oil and filter? We may only do this sort of trip once. There are going to be around 18 days in the saddle of around 250 miles per day, so pretty easy going stuff.
Reading past threads I see that K&N make a long 173C filter, which has extra capacity and presumably could cope with an extended mileage, but will it fit an early Evo, under the rear of the trans?
What do you think chaps? There also has to be some benefit of using synthetic oil (Mobil 1)! Suggestions welcome.
2500 mile changes is standard for conventional. Synthetic can go 5000 miles easy. I suggest buying a filter and bringing it with you. Get your oil changed on the road where possible. 5000 miles on mobil 1 is definitely do-able. If you can though I would try to make room for the 3 quarts and filter in your luggage. And change it on your return trip somewhere.
With the heat you will be going thru I would stick with synthetic.
With the heat you will be going thru I would stick with synthetic.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
With two of us looking to travel that far we need all the luggage space we can get, so carrying oil etc is what I am trying to avoid! Also my experience of recent Harley dealers here in the UK is that they don't know anything about Evos and the dealers in Turkey are also quite new, and unlikely to be fluent in either English or Evo! I do normally carry one quart for top-ups.
I had forgotten that standard Evo intervals are 5k miles, as my S&S calls for 2.5k and Mobil 1 synthetic. I am beginning to realise I should just get on and do it!
I had forgotten that standard Evo intervals are 5k miles, as my S&S calls for 2.5k and Mobil 1 synthetic. I am beginning to realise I should just get on and do it!
Last edited by grbrown; Jan 9, 2012 at 12:07 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,468
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From: Bluffton, South Carolina
GR, the longer filter will not work under the tranny, Does your S&S have the holes on the right side of the engine that the filter bracket bolts onto?? If so you can affix the later model filter. We've done this on several bikes in the past. You will have to make up some oil lines, then you can run the extra long filter. Hope this helps.
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Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
If you have been changing your oil at 2500 miles then there will be nothing in there that can harm your engine even if you went to 10,000 miles.....and as for 2500 on Mobil 1.....what kinda recommendation is that!!! Read the Mobil 1 promo blurb (its the best oil ever in some applications) and you will probably wonder if S&S have shares in Mobil 1??
2500 is way over the top conservative, we got guys out here run S&S motors on Spectro 20/50 Dyno oil and change at 10,000....they are fine, no blow ups or anything nasty.
Use synthetic oil and change it when you get back.....its start up/warm up that creates engine wear, not high miles on a tour....dose with Slick 50 if you want an extra back up....and go easy on those Turkish Coffees....pack a portable defibrillator ;-)
2500 is way over the top conservative, we got guys out here run S&S motors on Spectro 20/50 Dyno oil and change at 10,000....they are fine, no blow ups or anything nasty.
Use synthetic oil and change it when you get back.....its start up/warm up that creates engine wear, not high miles on a tour....dose with Slick 50 if you want an extra back up....and go easy on those Turkish Coffees....pack a portable defibrillator ;-)
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Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,205
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From: SE Michigan
My '91 FLHS has the stock HD motor with a top end done, cam, S&S E Carb, etc. The mechanic that did my top end told me to change the oil and filter every 1000 miles. When I do the oil is black as coal and really looks like it needs changed. I think the manual says 3,000 mi. though I don't have it in front of me right now.
Can't imagine going much longer than that as the oil looks so dirty and it is the contaminants that inhibit the oil's ability to lube properly.
Buddy of mine has a 2009 Fat Boy and goes with the Facory interval of 5K miles and uses a synthetic. Wish I could go that long or even half that long but the oil really looks so bad I couldn't run with it in hot weather and feel good about it.
BTW my compression/leak down is good and I'm not burning oil out the tailpipe so the engine seems tight.
Can't imagine going much longer than that as the oil looks so dirty and it is the contaminants that inhibit the oil's ability to lube properly.
Buddy of mine has a 2009 Fat Boy and goes with the Facory interval of 5K miles and uses a synthetic. Wish I could go that long or even half that long but the oil really looks so bad I couldn't run with it in hot weather and feel good about it.
BTW my compression/leak down is good and I'm not burning oil out the tailpipe so the engine seems tight.
