Change fluids before or after winter?
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 71
From: Tennessee
Change fluids before or after winter?
I'm in the mood to swap brands of oils in my RK and am wondering if I should do this now or wait until the bike will be ridden more around March? Bike will be ridden infrequently over the winter.
I'm not overdue for a change, just want to see if a different oil will make any changes. Not mentioning any brands because I don't want to start an oil war!
Is there any drawback to letting fresh oil sit in the bike over the winter?
I'm not overdue for a change, just want to see if a different oil will make any changes. Not mentioning any brands because I don't want to start an oil war!
Is there any drawback to letting fresh oil sit in the bike over the winter?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7,476
Likes: 5
From: Republic of Texas
I change oil over miles and time plus conditions. I have a few favorite oils. I don't care what others use or when they change or don't change. I don't like to leave anything sitting long with old oil. Before I store something it gets new oil. I don't consider a few weeks storage if I am going to use it and get it hot enough to flash water out of the oil in that time period. We ride year around with a few weeks off for weather but I have a couple of boats that could sit for a few months. I either winterize them or put them on a run sequence. I prefer to take the time and run them. I think getting them hot once a month is better than sitting for three months or more. Key to running an engine is getting it hot enough to flash off moisture from the oil. My weather conditions may not be consistent with yours, so someone else might have a better fit for your area. JMO
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,734
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From: Mid Michigan
I like to change the oil before storage. Some by-products of combustion are acidic and I choose not to have them sitting in the crankcase all winter. The condensation will occur whether the oil is new or used.
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Road Captain
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 669
Likes: 71
From: Tennessee
Good points, thanks. I'll probably go ahead and change the fluids. Usually I'm able to ride every 2-3 weeks in the winter when we get warm enough days. Last winter was very mild and I rode on December 31 and January 1.
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