Does oil age...?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 379
Likes: 67
From: Denton tx
Does oil age...?
Just purchased a 2011 Road King Classic with 6400 miles. Previous owner said he put in full synthetic at 4000 miles at the end of last season.
I'm about to head to Colorado with my sons (from the Dallas area), should it be changed or change it when I get back?
Thoughts?
I'm about to head to Colorado with my sons (from the Dallas area), should it be changed or change it when I get back?
Thoughts?
Last edited by Blackjack1; Jul 15, 2018 at 10:32 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,049
Likes: 264
From: Fresno Ca
When riding the oil will breakdown from use. It absorbs gas that gets by the rings and moisture from the air. When parked it can absorb moisture. I personally wouldnt go over a year without an oil change.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,536
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
I would change it for my own piece of mind, gives you a good, certain point of reference.
Or just go with it.
Your call.
All my stuff gets oil changes by mileage or hour meter, but if a year elapses, it gets changed simply for that.
Cheap insurance.
BTW - Original tires?
(You know where this is going)
Or just go with it.
Your call.
All my stuff gets oil changes by mileage or hour meter, but if a year elapses, it gets changed simply for that.
Cheap insurance.
BTW - Original tires?
(You know where this is going)
Last edited by TheGrandPoohBah; Jul 15, 2018 at 10:44 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 546
From: Wayne County, PA
Yes it oxidizes. There is a reason its a certain miles or 6 months for an oil change. I know quite a few people who run oil a few years because it doesnt hit the oil change mileage yet. Not a smart thing to do.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 246
From: Columbia SC
The oil will be fine, the question is how accurate is the previous owner in telling you the mileage that he changed the oil and what year it was?
If he is right, you got 2400 miles on it and you may travel an additional up to 3000 miles = 5400 miles.
What I do not understand is you say he changed the oil at the end of last season and then put 2,400 miles on it. If that is correct your fine but me, I would change it anyway.
The only problem is, assuming he is the original owner is in 6 years the bike traveled 4,000 miles and in the last 6 months it traveled 2,400 miles. Is this the same owner? Or maybe he changed the oil not at the end of last season but the season before it or before that ?
Me? I would just change it, just a tiny expense of owning a bike and takes less then 30 minutes.
If he is right, you got 2400 miles on it and you may travel an additional up to 3000 miles = 5400 miles.
What I do not understand is you say he changed the oil at the end of last season and then put 2,400 miles on it. If that is correct your fine but me, I would change it anyway.
The only problem is, assuming he is the original owner is in 6 years the bike traveled 4,000 miles and in the last 6 months it traveled 2,400 miles. Is this the same owner? Or maybe he changed the oil not at the end of last season but the season before it or before that ?
Me? I would just change it, just a tiny expense of owning a bike and takes less then 30 minutes.
Last edited by alarmdoug; Jul 16, 2018 at 05:37 AM.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 437
From: Mandurah, West Oz
When it gets down to it, an oil change is possibly the cheapest thing you can do on a bike (except air in tyres) - and for peace of mind, go for it!
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 700
Likes: 312
From: southwest Va.
I'd change all the fluids now and start new. Then I'd know exactly what was in each hole, when it was put in and how many miles on it.
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Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 379
Likes: 67
From: Denton tx
I would change it for my own piece of mind, gives you a good, certain point of reference.
Or just go with it.
Your call.
All my stuff gets oil changes by mileage or hour meter, but if a year elapses, it gets changed simply for that.
Cheap insurance.
BTW - Original tires?
(You know where this is going)
Or just go with it.
Your call.
All my stuff gets oil changes by mileage or hour meter, but if a year elapses, it gets changed simply for that.
Cheap insurance.
BTW - Original tires?
(You know where this is going)
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 379
Likes: 67
From: Denton tx
The oil will be fine, the question is how accurate is the previous owner in telling you the mileage that he changed the oil and what year it was?
If he is right, you got 2400 miles on it and you may travel an additional up to 3000 miles = 5400 miles.
What I do not understand is you say he changed the oil at the end of last season and then put 2,400 miles on it. If that is correct your fine but me, I would change it anyway.
The only problem is, assuming he is the original owner is in 6 years the bike traveled 4,000 miles and in the last 6 months it traveled 2,400 miles. Is this the same owner? Or maybe he changed the oil not at the end of last season but the season before it or before that ?
Me? I would just change it, just a tiny expense of owning a bike and takes less then 30 minutes.
If he is right, you got 2400 miles on it and you may travel an additional up to 3000 miles = 5400 miles.
What I do not understand is you say he changed the oil at the end of last season and then put 2,400 miles on it. If that is correct your fine but me, I would change it anyway.
The only problem is, assuming he is the original owner is in 6 years the bike traveled 4,000 miles and in the last 6 months it traveled 2,400 miles. Is this the same owner? Or maybe he changed the oil not at the end of last season but the season before it or before that ?
Me? I would just change it, just a tiny expense of owning a bike and takes less then 30 minutes.