Winter storage oil change.
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 131
Likes: 1
From: Manitoba Canada
Winter storage oil change.
Hi all.
Winter storage in is approaching and I need some advice.
I will be storing my Heritage in my unheated garage for the winter. I know it is important to get the old oil removed for the winter and I will be changing it for storage.
I am also concerned with condensation forming in the engine as the temperature increases and decreases. This concerns me as well.
This is what I am thinking of doing. Change the oil and filter pre storage using cheap 20-50 recomended for V twins and a cheap black fiter.
Then post storage warming it up and changing it again using Mobil V Twin 20-50 and an HD chrome filter.
I should add this heritage was new july 15 2011. I have had the 1000 mile service done at the dealer ship. They recommended changing to synthetic oil on my second oil change(not sure why). I am thinking it will have about 4000 miles on it by the time it comes to storage time.
The pre storage oil change should only cost about $20(will be doing it myself). Do you guys think I am wasting my time and money doing the cheap pre storage change?
Or do I just do a synthetic change pre storage and not worry about the condensation?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Winter storage in is approaching and I need some advice.
I will be storing my Heritage in my unheated garage for the winter. I know it is important to get the old oil removed for the winter and I will be changing it for storage.
I am also concerned with condensation forming in the engine as the temperature increases and decreases. This concerns me as well.
This is what I am thinking of doing. Change the oil and filter pre storage using cheap 20-50 recomended for V twins and a cheap black fiter.
Then post storage warming it up and changing it again using Mobil V Twin 20-50 and an HD chrome filter.
I should add this heritage was new july 15 2011. I have had the 1000 mile service done at the dealer ship. They recommended changing to synthetic oil on my second oil change(not sure why). I am thinking it will have about 4000 miles on it by the time it comes to storage time.
The pre storage oil change should only cost about $20(will be doing it myself). Do you guys think I am wasting my time and money doing the cheap pre storage change?
Or do I just do a synthetic change pre storage and not worry about the condensation?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
K. For storage I change my oil to rotella synthetic diesel oil 5w-40 simply because it's thinner in the cold(5w) and next spring once I get riding it flows faster to get to critical parts quicker. Ride on it for a couple weeks then change it out for a v-twin specific oil. And condensation is a non issue as long as the temp in your storage room is consistent and doesn't fluctuate rapidly which will cause sweating. For winter I change all fluids,spray fog the intake and this is key.......Do not start til next season. Wear on engines is at start up before the oil has gotten to the moving parts,so if you don't start it it won't wear. And a trickle charger one weekend a month will keep the battery fresh and keep it on some form of stand to prevent tire damage.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,109
Likes: 9
From: Connecticut
Change the oil with the same as what I use normally, I won't ride anyway much less start it under 50 degrees. Jus don't start it like the once a month thing some do as it will just build moisturee in the crankcase as the engine just doesnt run long enough to burn it off
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 444
Likes: 1
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Here are my 2 cents. First, when you ride your oil is getting well over 200 F unless you are running an oil cooler. Even then, there is not going to be much moisture in the oil when you store it. So whether or not you change out in the fall, both would end up with the same moisture (if any) in the spring.
Second, yes the oil will be dirty, but that does not diminish the protective coating the oil provides to the internal parts. Unless you are using fish oil from china, the dirty oil just sitting in the tank the sump are not going to hurt anything.
So, just store the bike with some gar stabilizer and change it in the spring.
Second, yes the oil will be dirty, but that does not diminish the protective coating the oil provides to the internal parts. Unless you are using fish oil from china, the dirty oil just sitting in the tank the sump are not going to hurt anything.
So, just store the bike with some gar stabilizer and change it in the spring.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,473
Likes: 15
From: River City Western Canada
Here are my 2 cents. First, when you ride your oil is getting well over 200 F unless you are running an oil cooler. Even then, there is not going to be much moisture in the oil when you store it. So whether or not you change out in the fall, both would end up with the same moisture (if any) in the spring.
Second, yes the oil will be dirty, but that does not diminish the protective coating the oil provides to the internal parts. Unless you are using fish oil from china, the dirty oil just sitting in the tank the sump are not going to hurt anything.
So, just store the bike with some gar stabilizer and change it in the spring.
Second, yes the oil will be dirty, but that does not diminish the protective coating the oil provides to the internal parts. Unless you are using fish oil from china, the dirty oil just sitting in the tank the sump are not going to hurt anything.
So, just store the bike with some gar stabilizer and change it in the spring.
I disagree with this statement....
I suggest you change before storage. You want clean oil to sit in the crankcase and not oil laden with acidic combustion byproducts.
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