Changing Oil Cold
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Ohio
Changing Oil Cold
My bike is sitting in the garage and it's about 30 degrees outside. I need to change the oil because Winter caught up with me last year before I could get it changed. Can I go ahead and change the oil cold? Just pull the drain plug and let it drain for a couple days? Or wait to warm it up when the weather breaks? I read somewhere that cold oil changes are actually better, especially after sitting all winter, because all the oil is drained to the bottom and all the contaminants are down in the bottom end too. Starting the bike will just redistribute them into the top of the engine. What are your thoughts? Can I just go ahead and drain it cold? Just getting sick of winter, and I want to tinker with my bike. I can let it sit for 2 or 3 days and drain so all the oil should drain by that time. Thoughts?.
Last edited by hd4evr2008; Mar 14, 2023 at 08:57 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 7,323
Likes: 11,760
From: Omaha,NE
My bike is sitting in the garage and it's about 30 degrees outside. I need to change the oil because Winter caught up with me last year before I could get it changed. Can I go ahead and change the oil cold? Just pull the drain plug and let it drain for a couple days? Or wait to warm it up when the weather breaks? I read somewhere that cold oil changes are actually better, especially after sitting all winter, because all the oil is drained to the bottom and all the contaminants are down in the bottom end too. Starting the bike will just redistribute them into the top of the engine. What are your thoughts? Can I just go ahead and drain it cold? Just getting sick of winter, and I want to tinker with my bike. I can let it sit for 2 or 3 days and drain so all the oil should drain by that time. Thoughts?.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,181
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From: Indianapolis
All the oil that was going to drain down to the pan is already there. Change it cold, it'll be fine. It'll be a little thicker than hot, so it will take longer to drain. Pull the plug and leave it for a couple hours to drip.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,104
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From: Ramseur NC
Really? So it was shut off cold? Or was it that once the oil was cold, it climbed back up into the engine on it's own to cling?
All the oil that was going to drain down to the pan is already there. Change it cold, it'll be fine. It'll be a little thicker than hot, so it will take longer to drain. Pull the plug and leave it for a couple hours to drip.
All the oil that was going to drain down to the pan is already there. Change it cold, it'll be fine. It'll be a little thicker than hot, so it will take longer to drain. Pull the plug and leave it for a couple hours to drip.
A lot of people look for a problem that isn't there.
Last edited by Rogue1; Mar 14, 2023 at 09:25 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
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From: State of Confusion
stop to consider why every manufacturer of ICE engines recommend checking and changing oil after it has reached normal operating temperatures..this thread can be closed now 
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