Change fluids before or after winter?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2020
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Change fluids before or after winter?
I know this was probably asked before, but....with winter coming in miserable Ohio, my bike will be sitting for about 3-4 months. I am at 9k miles, which means, 10k service will be done at the beginning of next season. Should I leave the current fluids in and let the bike sit during winter or should I do my 10k service now, replace all the fluids and have them sit over the winter? Do you guys replace all your fluids before storage?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Southern Maryland
Storage
We just had that topic of discussion at my dealership, and the GM said to change the oil before storing the bike to get rid of the contaminants in the oil, the water, etc and fill the gas tank to the top and put it on a tender.
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Stellar HDF Member
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That's a good idea. However, I rather do it either before or after because once I put her away, she is sleeping, covered up in a corner.
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Stellar HDF Member
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That is what I was leaning towards.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: Canada Flats
I change all 3 oils in the spring , my bike sits for 5-6 months , never had an issue . In the spring , I take it out for a good run , then drain the oil while it's still hot .
My bike sits in a heated shop , not sure if that makes any difference .
My bike sits in a heated shop , not sure if that makes any difference .
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2020
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From: SE PA
I have a bunch of cars, bikes and equipment and Ive tried both approaches over the years. I now just change the oil in all of them come spring due to personal preference. The key is getting everything to full operating temp prior to storage to burn off the moisture, etc. The second key is letting everything sit until ready to use again. People who fire up their bikes etc. for a few minutes every couple of weeks during the winter are introducing moisture and contaminants into their oil unnecessarily. In a nutshell, I suggest doing whichever approach works best for your schedule or makes you feel better. 3-4 months is really not a long time. If we were talking storage for years, then Id prefer changing the fluids prior to storage.
Last edited by MattLS6; Nov 2, 2022 at 07:03 AM.
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