Change the fluids spring or fall?
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Change the fluids spring or fall?
Hi all, I'm new here (relatively), Just wondering when is the right time of year to do the fluids. I live in the Northeast and I only get 8-9 months of riding and I just can't get over 2-3 K miles per year so it's a once a year task. I moved up to a Road King Classic this year from a Sportster - Whant a difference. Anyway I use to do my fluids in the spring after getting the bike out and going through it and getting in a quick blast (as soon as the salt/sand is gone). Now I'm wondering if I should do it in the late summer/fall when I'm doing a lot more riding (and it's warmer) or still in the spring after the bike sits for a while. I'm sure everyone's got an opinion - all good.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,890
Likes: 73
From: MA
I do it in the fall when I am putting it away. I change out the primary and tranny once a year. Oil gets changed every 5K and filter every2.5K. I average 10K miles a year. Then it sits all winter with clean fluids and is ready to go in the spring.
Last edited by soos; Aug 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
Do it both.....because of the colder temps in the late fall, the oil you have in there could start getting contaminated with condensation moisture. The shorter rides you may take in the late fall may not get the engine temp hot enough to burn off the condensate. So if I was you I would at least drop all the fluids in the spring......then at the end of the Summer change the oil/filter again. Get what you can out of it over the winter, and then in the spring start out fresh with another fluid change.
I like to change the oil/filter every 2500 miles...even though I am running Red-Line fully synthetic engine oil (I also use Red-Line products in the trans & primary). I only drop the tranny and primary oils every 5K miles, or about once a year....whatever comes first.
I like to hold onto my bikes for quite a while, so its cheep insurance.
I like to change the oil/filter every 2500 miles...even though I am running Red-Line fully synthetic engine oil (I also use Red-Line products in the trans & primary). I only drop the tranny and primary oils every 5K miles, or about once a year....whatever comes first.
I like to hold onto my bikes for quite a while, so its cheep insurance.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
You only need to change it in the fall and ride in the spring. If your bike is garage kept and you don't go starting it up durring the winter months, little to no condensation will collect inside a cold engine. Where condensation comes from is a warm engine that cools down in cold temps. This is another reason to leave the bike sit all winter, never start it up and leave it idle. One, the bike will not charge a battery at idle speeds and then condensation forms after you shut down. This can lead to costly repairs, how do I know?? I used to do that and I bought new fuel tank, exhaust, got a valve job with new rings and a few other repairs.
Just change in the fall, then when you take that first ride in the spring, what little water may be in there will turn to steam and be vented nicely away.
Just change in the fall, then when you take that first ride in the spring, what little water may be in there will turn to steam and be vented nicely away.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 578
Likes: 1
From: 60631
I do it at the end of the season so I'm ready for the next one. I always use AMSOIL!
Hi all, I'm new here (relatively), Just wondering when is the right time of year to do the fluids. I live in the Northeast and I only get 8-9 months of riding and I just can't get over 2-3 K miles per year so it's a once a year task. I moved up to a Road King Classic this year from a Sportster - Whant a difference. Anyway I use to do my fluids in the spring after getting the bike out and going through it and getting in a quick blast (as soon as the salt/sand is gone). Now I'm wondering if I should do it in the late summer/fall when I'm doing a lot more riding (and it's warmer) or still in the spring after the bike sits for a while. I'm sure everyone's got an opinion - all good.
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Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: May 2008
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Do it both.....because of the colder temps in the late fall, the oil you have in there could start getting contaminated with condensation moisture. The shorter rides you may take in the late fall may not get the engine temp hot enough to burn off the condensate. So if I was you I would at least drop all the fluids in the spring......then at the end of the Summer change the oil/filter again. Get what you can out of it over the winter, and then in the spring start out fresh with another fluid change.
I like to change the oil/filter every 2500 miles...even though I am running Red-Line fully synthetic engine oil (I also use Red-Line products in the trans & primary). I only drop the tranny and primary oils every 5K miles, or about once a year....whatever comes first.
I like to hold onto my bikes for quite a while, so its cheep insurance.
I like to change the oil/filter every 2500 miles...even though I am running Red-Line fully synthetic engine oil (I also use Red-Line products in the trans & primary). I only drop the tranny and primary oils every 5K miles, or about once a year....whatever comes first.
I like to hold onto my bikes for quite a while, so its cheep insurance.
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