Engine Oil change frequency
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 486
Likes: 11
From: PA
Engine Oil change frequency
Hey everyone,
For engine protection and longevity are you changing your oil every so many miles or once per year regardless of miles? I understand some replace it before winter storage and some do it in Spring. I've been trying to do it once per year - when I am able to get to it, but I've only put on about 300 miles since the last change ~ about a year ago. My work and health have limited my riding time.
FWIW: the HD manuals state to change engine oil and filter every 5,000 miles; in the past I've noticed my oil is pretty dark after a thousand miles, so am not sure that the manual is a good source?
For engine protection and longevity are you changing your oil every so many miles or once per year regardless of miles? I understand some replace it before winter storage and some do it in Spring. I've been trying to do it once per year - when I am able to get to it, but I've only put on about 300 miles since the last change ~ about a year ago. My work and health have limited my riding time.
FWIW: the HD manuals state to change engine oil and filter every 5,000 miles; in the past I've noticed my oil is pretty dark after a thousand miles, so am not sure that the manual is a good source?
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 809
Likes: 362
From: NW Indiana
The oil looks dirty because it is doing it's job. I do all my own service, and I follow the Harley service manual's recommendations. I also have an environmentally controlled location to store my bikes in, so I don't have to worry about the effects of temperature changes during the (gag) winter months.
However, if you are only putting on 300 miles a year, I would not wait 16.6 years to change the oil again!!
However, if you are only putting on 300 miles a year, I would not wait 16.6 years to change the oil again!!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
I follow the guidelines in the manual. Change oil and filter every 5K or yearly- but I usually put on more miles than that in a year.
Right before we left for our trip out west, I changed oil and filter. Put 4500 miles on the bike on that trip over a two week run. Now I'm at the 5K mark and will change oil and filter this weekend, and that will carry me to the end of our riding season.
Some recommend changing right before seasonal storage (for those of us who live in the snow belt) and don't disagree with that, but If my oil only has a couple thousand miles on it a year end, I'm not dumping it.
Not ideal, I know, but I've been doing this for decades without any apparent problems.
Right before we left for our trip out west, I changed oil and filter. Put 4500 miles on the bike on that trip over a two week run. Now I'm at the 5K mark and will change oil and filter this weekend, and that will carry me to the end of our riding season.
Some recommend changing right before seasonal storage (for those of us who live in the snow belt) and don't disagree with that, but If my oil only has a couple thousand miles on it a year end, I'm not dumping it.
Not ideal, I know, but I've been doing this for decades without any apparent problems.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 791
Likes: 221
From: sf bay area ca
I change mine every 5,000 and I've got 180,000 miles on bike never bin in side motor except to change cam chain tensioners. with 300 miles on yours I would leave it a lone. wasting your money.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 590
Likes: 201
From: Southern Ontario
For someone like the OP, with such low mileage, once a year is a great practice. I use Syn3 and change it every 5,000 miles. If I change the oil in October/November, and don't ride much, then I won't do another oil change before storing it for winter because the oil is new enough. If I'm 2,000+ miles on that new oil, then I would change it again before winter.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 798
Likes: 168
From: Tryon, NC Cape Vincent NY
For all of those riders that change the oil before storage, make sure you restart the bike and run it for 20 min or so.
If you don't do this, only the oil pan gets the benefit of the new oil.
You have to pump the oil into the lifters.
Ken
If you don't do this, only the oil pan gets the benefit of the new oil.
You have to pump the oil into the lifters.
Ken