To change the oil or not?
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 109
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From: Bay Village
To change the oil or not?
What would you guys do?? I changed my Deluxe's and my wife's Fat Boy oil about mid summer when they were due per miles. Now that I am getting them ready for winter storage, should they be changed again or wait?? I know its good practice to change it before storage, seems soon though. They don't need to be changed because of miles yet.
Thanks for your advice.
Thanks for your advice.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,239
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From: west Michigan
If it's black, I'd change it and run the new oil until it's due for a change. If it's still brown and relatively clean, I'd leave it in and run it until it's due.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 117
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From: Knoxville
This. I would never let used, acidic oil sit in my bike over a storage period. Oil is cheap. What would it hurt to change it early?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Older oil has acids that build up in it. For regular riding, not so bad...as it doesn't get a chance to "sit" long term on surfaces and eat away. But for storage....it has a chance to sit on surfaces and eat away. Best to change before "storage".
If you don't keep your bikes for long periods of time and go for high mileage...who cares. If you're someone who holds onto the bike forever...and you can see it going for many miles over many years with you...then you should care.
Fairly cheap and quick and easy to change the oil in a Harley.
If you don't keep your bikes for long periods of time and go for high mileage...who cares. If you're someone who holds onto the bike forever...and you can see it going for many miles over many years with you...then you should care.
Fairly cheap and quick and easy to change the oil in a Harley.
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
From: Bay Village
Ok, thanks everyone. I know its not good to let used oil sit in them during storage thats why I was wondering what to do this year. On years they aren't due for changing, I will right before storage for sure.