I run Mobil synthetic 20-50 and I have a trip planned to leave July 20. I have 1200 miles on the fluids now and when I leave I will have roughly 2000 miles on. My trip to Glacier and home I am looking at 3000-3500 miles. So that puts me at a total of 5500 on the oil. Would you change it before or run it this way and change it when you get home. Thanks for your thght. I usually put 4000 to 5000 miles on around here but on a trip you run these motors hard

 

run it, should be fine.

 

Run it...You will be fine...Just change it when you get back home

 

I'm sure that you'll be fine. I would change it, though. But that's just me.

 

One of the reasons I stick with HD synthetics, I need service on the road I wheel into a dealer and get it done, no hassles same fluids available at all.

 

I've run across the same dilemma several times in the past and have always opted to extend the oil's service run. I usually change at 5k intervals and have run it to 6k on rare occasions without fear of adverse effects. I use a different high-quality synthetic and always changed it immediately upon return in those cases.

Remember that most wear imposed on an engine is in the first few seconds of a cold start, and a difficult time for a motor oil is the running time before normal operating temperature is achieved when it is absorbing water and acid byproducts. When on tour you should be riding many more miles per cold start than you likely would be in normal operation, so my contention is that at least the additives that absorb water and acid will be tasked less. In that sense and probably others you could make a good case for extending the oil's service run moderately like you contemplate without worry.

 

I put the break in 1K on a bike serviced it and took off on an Alaskan trip of 9,000 miles. Did the 10K when I got back. That is no problem for the engine at all. Two weeks of continuous 10 hour days will have cleaner oil than a year of riding a few times through the year for 5K.

 

ride, change it when you get home.

 

Is good

 

OMG!! Change it now & before you leave! Carry at least 8 quarts with you & change it twice in the middle of the trip! 5001 miles & your motor will destruct, your transmission will freeze, your tires will go flat, your rotors will warp, & your handlebars will bend!

Or, don't worry about it & change it when you get home.........<shrug>