Running bike engine during winter
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 521
Likes: 3
From: Virginia
I definitely keep the battery charged with the battery tender but I am wondering how many of you start your bike and let it run for 10-15 minutes every few weeks while it sits all winter long? Is this good to do to keep things "lubricated well" and beneficial for the engine? Seems like a bike sitting for months with the engine never being cranked up would not be good. Thanks for your opinions. Winter sucks by the way. Come on spring. 
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 27
From: Iowa
Interest factoid for sure but not really relevant to the discussion. water produced during combustion is not condensation, its water produced from combustion, and it exits the exhaust tract. I'm not qualified to give a science lesson so you can google "condensation" for yourself. If we all pumped 5-6 gallons of water though the lubricating system every time we use a tank of gas there would be a lot more discussion about this issue.
Thanks for posting your personal experience testimonial, but I have always randomly started my engines in winter storage and let them run for a while, and I too have never had any metal parts eaten away from acids, so now what who's experience is closer to the "norm". Of course I don't completely disassemble my engine in the spring to inspect each component for the effects of winter storage but maybe you do. Acid in the oil is a whole different topic and it is a valid concern to put fresh oil in before storage. Frequent short runs in high humidity areas is where people have problems with moisture in the oil.
Thanks for posting your personal experience testimonial, but I have always randomly started my engines in winter storage and let them run for a while, and I too have never had any metal parts eaten away from acids, so now what who's experience is closer to the "norm". Of course I don't completely disassemble my engine in the spring to inspect each component for the effects of winter storage but maybe you do. Acid in the oil is a whole different topic and it is a valid concern to put fresh oil in before storage. Frequent short runs in high humidity areas is where people have problems with moisture in the oil.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 612
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Last weekend I had a friend bring his bike over as we installed a new set of cams, as we were working on the bike he said that he would start it every few weeks in unheated garage to keep the oil circulating and such...as the cam cover was removed you could see a distinct creamy film on everything...condensation I'm assuming from the several starts without ever fully warming up. He thought he was doing a good thing for his bike until he saw the creamy oil.
When he pushed his cold bike in my garage that was heated the bike instantly had condensation dripping off until it warmed up, probably same thing happens inside the engine cases on short starts when cold as **** out.
When he pushed his cold bike in my garage that was heated the bike instantly had condensation dripping off until it warmed up, probably same thing happens inside the engine cases on short starts when cold as **** out.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,749
Likes: 16
From: sand mountain Alabama
use a good stabilizer in the fuel, use a battery tender for the battery and leave it alone.
condensation can cause some problems down the road.
I do not change my oil when parking for the winter. I change it when riding weather shows back up.
My shop is not heated, so I see a lot of condensation on my bike from time to time in the winter mostly. So if there is condensation on the outside of the engine then there is a good possibly there is some inside of the engine.
I change change in the spring to remove any possibility of any condensation.
Maybe I'm wrong, I do not know for sure.
condensation can cause some problems down the road.
I do not change my oil when parking for the winter. I change it when riding weather shows back up.
My shop is not heated, so I see a lot of condensation on my bike from time to time in the winter mostly. So if there is condensation on the outside of the engine then there is a good possibly there is some inside of the engine.
I change change in the spring to remove any possibility of any condensation.
Maybe I'm wrong, I do not know for sure.
Last edited by dirtdobber; Feb 15, 2014 at 03:44 PM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
...the truth is a little of all these posts... truth 1). yes...it's true, it's better to leave it alone than starting it up in a cold garage and running it for a few minutes.
truth 2). who cares if you start it once in a while, no one keeps their bike long enough for any of this miniscule "damage" caused by condensation, to finally build up and matter...you're 3 bikes into the future by that time...except a few of us around here who hold onto their machines...
truth 2). who cares if you start it once in a while, no one keeps their bike long enough for any of this miniscule "damage" caused by condensation, to finally build up and matter...you're 3 bikes into the future by that time...except a few of us around here who hold onto their machines...
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,335
Likes: 5
From: CT
The only reason to absolutely not start it is that your 20w-50 oil in 40 degrees or lower is like cake batter. More damage could occur from lack of oil than moisture. Just wait.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 282
From: Long Island NY
Good information here, I was wondering the same thing recently about winter startups. I see a lot of references to storage, what constitutes storage? Six months, three months, one month? I don't usually store my bike and try to get out to ride at least twice a month in winter, not so this winter though. If you don't "store" a bike, what's a safe length of time to let a bike sit safely before having to take it out for a ride? Thanks...
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,537
Likes: 4
From: The Great River Road, Wisconsin
Mine goes into Harley storage where the oil gets changed, stabile added to the fuel, the engine gets fogged, (all of this b4 storage) and she sets on a battery tender all winter.
As all have said, it is hard on them to start em in the winter for short durations for various reasons. All beit hard to do, just let her set and look, but don't touch.
As all have said, it is hard on them to start em in the winter for short durations for various reasons. All beit hard to do, just let her set and look, but don't touch.