Change fluids before 1000 miles?
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Panama City, FL
Change fluids before 1000 miles?
I'm still overseas and get home to ride my 2010 Road King ever 5-6 months. I am going home in September and hopfully go to Thunder Beach in Panama City. My bike only has 462 miles on it and it mostly sits.
Should I go ahead and replace the fluids since it sits most of the time even though it isn't "broken in"?
Thoughts?
Should I go ahead and replace the fluids since it sits most of the time even though it isn't "broken in"?
Thoughts?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
for each new harley i've owned, i've ridden it around 500 miles, then dumped the oil, trans and primary oil. reason being, there are tiny particles, known also as s.m.a.w. basically it's just the small machined waste that's not flushed out when the motor is built at the factory. it's the stuff that you'll see on the tip of your magnetic drain plugs. that stuff, the majority of it gets caught in your oil filter, for the motor oil. the trans and primary depend on it being removed when you do your three hole oil change. the engine, trans, and primary. after that oil change, just make sure you check your tire pressure, and enjoy your time at the thunder beach thing in panama city. you can begin regular oil change intervals after that initial 500 mile oil change. by the way, you have a great looking roadking there. as far as the oil, that's my suggestion anyway. some others may not agree, but it's worked quite well for me through the years.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 25,310
Likes: 2,446
From: Eastern NE
Also, when the bike sits, you could have acid & moisture build-up from being stagnant. I'd change it before taking the trip, just to ensure there's fresh fluids...how did you break it in? If you did the 30/60/30 x10 - fluid change is right after running this cycle. Anyway, if it was my bike, 5-6 month sitting - I'd swap fluids.
Have fun & be safe over there in Qatar - I was at As Sayliyah from 2003-04. Went to Udeid for meetings & rec...
Have fun & be safe over there in Qatar - I was at As Sayliyah from 2003-04. Went to Udeid for meetings & rec...
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Panama City, FL
Good Advice
for each new harley i've owned, i've ridden it around 500 miles, then dumped the oil, trans and primary oil. reason being, there are tiny particles, known also as s.m.a.w. basically it's just the small machined waste that's not flushed out when the motor is built at the factory. it's the stuff that you'll see on the tip of your magnetic drain plugs. that stuff, the majority of it gets caught in your oil filter, for the motor oil. the trans and primary depend on it being removed when you do your three hole oil change. the engine, trans, and primary. after that oil change, just make sure you check your tire pressure, and enjoy your time at the thunder beach thing in panama city. you can begin regular oil change intervals after that initial 500 mile oil change. by the way, you have a great looking roadking there. as far as the oil, that's my suggestion anyway. some others may not agree, but it's worked quite well for me through the years.
Thanks...
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Panama City, FL
As Sayliyah
Also, when the bike sits, you could have acid & moisture build-up from being stagnant. I'd change it before taking the trip, just to ensure there's fresh fluids...how did you break it in? If you did the 30/60/30 x10 - fluid change is right after running this cycle. Anyway, if it was my bike, 5-6 month sitting - I'd swap fluids.
Have fun & be safe over there in Qatar - I was at As Sayliyah from 2003-04. Went to Udeid for meetings & rec...
Have fun & be safe over there in Qatar - I was at As Sayliyah from 2003-04. Went to Udeid for meetings & rec...
Cheers.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 510
Likes: 12
From: Arizona
I'm still overseas and get home to ride my 2010 Road King ever 5-6 months. I am going home in September and hopfully go to Thunder Beach in Panama City. My bike only has 462 miles on it and it mostly sits.
Should I go ahead and replace the fluids since it sits most of the time even though it isn't "broken in"?
Thoughts?
Should I go ahead and replace the fluids since it sits most of the time even though it isn't "broken in"?
Thoughts?
No.
If you could look at the surface of the piston rings that makes contact with the cylinder wall and at the cylinder wall itself under a microscope, you would see many ragged edges on both sides, microscopic peaks and valleys, if you will.
The oil in your bike right now has streaks of tiny metal shavings. Some of these will fill those peaks and valleys and ragged edges and produce a much smoother cylinder wall and piston ring sealing surface. It will still have microscopic ragged edges, but on an even smaller scale. At this stage is when the piston rings produce their best seal with the cylinder wall. Compression will be at its best, and blow-by will be minimal.
If you dump the oil too soon, the metal shavings go out before their time, and the motor nevers achieves peak compression and power, and can have more blow by. You can mask this by hot rodding it, but it can wear out before its time. Let the heat and compression do their job with the streaks in the oil, and dump it at the manufacturers recommendation.
Just sayin'
Regards,
P.S I was stationed 14 months in As Sayliyah, and used to live in the Al-Messilah complex. Probably one of the best kept secrets around.
Last edited by TooEasy; Aug 18, 2010 at 07:39 AM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 715
Likes: 1
for each new harley i've owned, i've ridden it around 500 miles, then dumped the oil, trans and primary oil. reason being, there are tiny particles, known also as s.m.a.w. basically it's just the small machined waste that's not flushed out when the motor is built at the factory. it's the stuff that you'll see on the tip of your magnetic drain plugs. that stuff, the majority of it gets caught in your oil filter, for the motor oil. the trans and primary depend on it being removed when you do your three hole oil change. the engine, trans, and primary. after that oil change, just make sure you check your tire pressure, and enjoy your time at the thunder beach thing in panama city. you can begin regular oil change intervals after that initial 500 mile oil change. by the way, you have a great looking roadking there. as far as the oil, that's my suggestion anyway. some others may not agree, but it's worked quite well for me through the years.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
It is ok to change your fluids at any time. In your case I would actually change them before you put the bike up for a while. Storing or letting a bike sit with old/used oil is potentially more harmful because of the possible contaminants from combustion and condensation. If you put fresh engine oil in before storage, it will be good to go when you get back.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 0
From: Western Wisconsin
Some guys change fluids once a year, some twice and others more.
So I would think no matter how "few" miles you put on, changing fluids twice/yr would not be out of line.
So...change the fluids.
Run the motor, spray Fogging Oil into the intake until you get white exhaust.
This way you'll have protection from the intake all the way to your exhaust tip.
Hook up a battery tender.
She will make you happy the next time you start her.
So I would think no matter how "few" miles you put on, changing fluids twice/yr would not be out of line.
So...change the fluids.
Run the motor, spray Fogging Oil into the intake until you get white exhaust.
This way you'll have protection from the intake all the way to your exhaust tip.
Hook up a battery tender.
She will make you happy the next time you start her.