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Up here in the great white north, where there is snow on the ground for 3-6 months out of the year (because there typically is 1-3 feet of snow on the ground from December through March/April), the bike gets stored in the garage. On my past machines, I would change the oil in the fall so there was nice clean oil on everything and in the crank case for the long storage period.
With the HD, the typical service is 5000 miles for an oil change. The bike has only about 1.5k on this current oil change. For those that park it for the winter, do you change the oil every fall? Should I do all 3 holes? I may just still do it for piece of mind, but hoping for your thoughts as well.
I changed based on age. But I make sure and take it for good rides during cold weather to make sure cook out the moisture. Not as much in the spring cause it will get rode again, but I still think about it then too.
One arguement is crap in the oil will etch the bearings. Maybe. But I got 80k. Though I hope to keep it for years, maybe will hasten the need for a lower end rebuild. But I am not going to worry about it.
I don't let any of my engines go more than a year on oil. Some of the low use engines get a change in the spring, some get it in the fall. I suppose you can't go wrong with fresh oil in the fall.
On my UTV, I only change the filter every other year, FWIW.
Of course there is no way to prove cons and pros of either way. However when it concerns warranty, you probably need to do it. However out of warranty, I have been into enough engines to know it does not matter. Time does not hurt motors or oil. Additives like some diesel and bike oils probably settle out. They do that even in the bottles, so shake them before use.
So a little moisture gets in from temperature rise and fall dropping moisture out of the air. Would do that with new oil. It evaporates off in out leg scortching two cylinders. Modern synthetic oils can easily go 5K even if it takes you 3 years. Filter can probably go 30K.
Know it's a car but I tested a new 2005 CRV changing oil ever year. Sometimes it had 9 K, sometimes as much as 11 K. 5W-20 Mobile 1 middle grade. After the first filter, filter ever two years. Took me almost 10 years before checking valve clearance and replacing plugs for the first time. Timing chain was still dead on. Absolutely no crud in engine.
Exhaust valves were about .001 loose. Intake still dead on. Gave the car to my college student and got RIP a new Subie to test. CRV looks and still runs like new.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 7, 2019 at 11:14 AM.
I too store my 2015 Ultra Limited in my garage all "Q-tipped" cleaned and covered from December 1 till April 1.....since I only put about 4,000 to 5,000 miles a year I have always, on this cycle and previous cycles, changed the oil and filter before I stop riding each Fall. Coincidentally, tomorrow I have an appointment to bring it in for the full 15,000 service. The oil and filter will get changed along with a complete brake fluid change, which is not part of the 15,000 service, it's extra. Brake fluid is subject to a lot of moisture build-up and I have a tester that showed mine definitely needs to be drained and changed.....HD recommends every TWO years if your cycle has ABS to avoid corrosion and malfunctions.
I don't always change oil, for me it's a judgement call. When I'm using Mobil 1 Synthetic and only have 1K miles on it since the last change, I see no reason to change it. I'm pretty sure my bikes will outlast me.
this is all my own opinion: I think if you have low miles on the oil and put the bike away after a good run that brings everything to operating temp. and evaporates the water etc. you should be okay to store. The worst thing you can do is start the engine during the winter and not bring to operating temp. before shut down, just ask anyone who deals with high cost aero engines. Oil and engine metallurgy is pretty advanced stuff these days.
If it makes one feel better change the oil and filter; it's not a vast amount of cash.
I put minimal miles on mine this year, so just going to store it the way it is. Damn, that oils been in the ground for millions of years, whats a few months more. I usually change in fall, but not this year.
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Fall oil changes
