Doing Your Own Oil Change While Touring
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 279
Likes: 11
From:
Its a auto parts store, not a service bay. Cars or bikes , I never understood the rebuilds in the auto parts stores parking lots. Honestly if i owned the place it wouldnt happen. I can see wipers, a bulb or a emergency , but to pop a drain plug a routine oil change is just as bad as trying to change main bearings in their lot. Its unreal. What pi$$es me off is to be inside ready to check out and the counter person has to go out and help with the tools while you sit and wait. I usually just drop the stuff and go somewhere else. Does Dennies give a discount also if you take them your own eggs?
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
I have never done it, but if I was the business owner I wouldn't care. It is more their problem.
I have changed a starter in the parking lot of kmart and a gas station.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
I can't imagine living with this much OCD.
Sure, it's doable, but why?
Wrenching on the ground, outdoors, on a perfectly good machine, just because of bad timing on my part, with people strolling by...not so much.
Maybe this is fun in NM, but we have things like bad weather and garages here in the Midwest. And, making sure you're ready for a long trip means prepping the bike before you go, not creating extra risk on the road for no good reason.
All the best,
Shane
Sure, it's doable, but why?
Wrenching on the ground, outdoors, on a perfectly good machine, just because of bad timing on my part, with people strolling by...not so much.
Maybe this is fun in NM, but we have things like bad weather and garages here in the Midwest. And, making sure you're ready for a long trip means prepping the bike before you go, not creating extra risk on the road for no good reason.
All the best,
Shane
OCD, maybe so, but these things run very hot which is extremely hard on oil, even really good oil, and I make it a point to take care of my "perfectly good machine", just like I do the rest of my stuff. If you don't do long enough rides for this to be a problem then you needn't worry about your intervals or where or when you do a service.
Bill
Last edited by billnourse; Jun 26, 2016 at 09:24 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,013
Likes: 144
From: Albuquerque New Mexico
Has anybody here sent there oil in for oil analysis? I sent mine into Blackstone labs with 6800 miles on it (same oil that went through Death Valley in July at 117 deg), with 105,000 on the motor at the time, oil was still in good shape and I could even extend the change interval beyond that. 118,000 now and still tight and doesn't use oil.
My 09 came with a much more comprehensive tool kit in a rolled pouch with 36mm axle wrench and spark plug socket, much nicer than the multitool, I still supplemented it with quite a few more items including the tire plug kit which I used once in 118k, on a buddys bike. that one use made it worth it to carry around unused all those miles.
Unless you actually get an analysis your guessing your oil is shot with less miles. I still typically change it at approx 5k but if I have 1k on the oil and going on a planned 6k road trip, I won't change it til I get home... pretty simple
My 09 came with a much more comprehensive tool kit in a rolled pouch with 36mm axle wrench and spark plug socket, much nicer than the multitool, I still supplemented it with quite a few more items including the tire plug kit which I used once in 118k, on a buddys bike. that one use made it worth it to carry around unused all those miles.
Unless you actually get an analysis your guessing your oil is shot with less miles. I still typically change it at approx 5k but if I have 1k on the oil and going on a planned 6k road trip, I won't change it til I get home... pretty simple
Last edited by bmaier; Jun 26, 2016 at 12:59 PM.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 7,406
Likes: 834
From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs
I suspect are oil can go alot longer then we let it. Some people it makes them feel good changing oil, like they are wrenching.
I know someone with a light truck, over 300k, standard oil, and 5k oil changes. Adult driven, lots of highway miles.
Also we are really only guessing when it comes to longevity of engines. So many factor. I laught when I guy praises something. Unless you got a ton of miles on it, it really doesn't mean much. Maybe racing, butsome of those guys tear engine done perodically.
I bet you could go 36k on your oil and not know it. Might effect the life down the road.
Driving habits probably effect it more, and maintenance over the life of the vehicle, rather then one oil change. But like everyone else I am speaking out of my bowels, with no proof.
I know someone with a light truck, over 300k, standard oil, and 5k oil changes. Adult driven, lots of highway miles.
Also we are really only guessing when it comes to longevity of engines. So many factor. I laught when I guy praises something. Unless you got a ton of miles on it, it really doesn't mean much. Maybe racing, butsome of those guys tear engine done perodically.
I bet you could go 36k on your oil and not know it. Might effect the life down the road.
Driving habits probably effect it more, and maintenance over the life of the vehicle, rather then one oil change. But like everyone else I am speaking out of my bowels, with no proof.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 610
Likes: 62
From: White Bear Lake, MN
How do I prep for a long trip when a lot of the trips I take go well past any reasonable oil change schedule. I have ridden many miles in the Midwest in the bad weather you are talking about and if I can't change it myself because of weather I will get a shop to do it just like I did in Nashville one year. I prefer to do it myself.
OCD, maybe so, but these things run very hot which is extremely hard on oil, even really good oil, and I make it a point to take care of my "perfectly good machine", just like I do the rest of my stuff. If you don't do long enough rides for this to be a problem then you needn't worry about your intervals or where or when you do a service.
Bill
OCD, maybe so, but these things run very hot which is extremely hard on oil, even really good oil, and I make it a point to take care of my "perfectly good machine", just like I do the rest of my stuff. If you don't do long enough rides for this to be a problem then you needn't worry about your intervals or where or when you do a service.
Bill
The way I read it made it seem like you do this on a regular basis, exactly when the odometer sets off an alarm for you. Other response posts seem to have interpreted it the same as I did.
Good on you if your regular rides take you on so many miles that a before-trip oil change won't last...and yes, doing it yourself is also my preference, wherever that may be.
All the best,
Shane
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
How do I prep for a long trip when a lot of the trips I take go well past any reasonable oil change schedule. I have ridden many miles in the Midwest in the bad weather you are talking about and if I can't change it myself because of weather I will get a shop to do it just like I did in Nashville one year. I prefer to do it myself.
OCD, maybe so, but these things run very hot which is extremely hard on oil, even really good oil, and I make it a point to take care of my "perfectly good machine", just like I do the rest of my stuff. If you don't do long enough rides for this to be a problem then you needn't worry about your intervals or where or when you do a service.
Bill
Bill
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,998
Likes: 655
From: bklyn,ny
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,733
Likes: 9,241
From: Snow Hill, NC
Bill, how do you prep? That is dead simple, you service it yourself when you get back home. While you are travelling big distances, rather than short local trips, your engine is spending far more time at optimum runnning conditions. FFS stop making a mountain out of a molehill!
You really are spouting nonsense about oil. Your bike is intended to be ridden through the Arctic and deserts. YOU may not like the heat, but your bike will be fine. Stop fretting about something unnecessarily. Along with every other modern vehicle Harley has exhaustively tested our bikes to far worst extremes than most of us will ever ride them.
You really are spouting nonsense about oil. Your bike is intended to be ridden through the Arctic and deserts. YOU may not like the heat, but your bike will be fine. Stop fretting about something unnecessarily. Along with every other modern vehicle Harley has exhaustively tested our bikes to far worst extremes than most of us will ever ride them.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 7,934
Likes: 43
From: Bloomfield, NM
A guy comes to the forum with a question about changing his oil on the road, and you all degrade it to a bashing contest against me because it's what I do, and I gave him an answer about my procedures.
Change your oil when you want to or don't change it at all, I really don't care but try to stay on topic. Sheez.
Bill
Change your oil when you want to or don't change it at all, I really don't care but try to stay on topic. Sheez.
Bill