600, 3k, 6k checks

[billythekidd]

I am sure that this has been discussed, but is this not a little excessive? I have a little over 1100 miles on my spyder and if I leave at the end of May for a 5k+ trip I should stop twice for the 3k service and then the 6K before I get home... I guess I will chance it as I am not going to take a couple of days out of my trip to get the maint check done. It is supposed to be a touring machine. (Steps off soap box)


Willy

 

[bullant12]

I am sure that this has been discussed, but is this not a little excessive? I have a little over 1100 miles on my spyder and if I leave at the end of May for a 5k+ trip I should stop twice for the 3k service and then the 6K before I get home... I guess I will chance it as I am not going to take a couple of days out of my trip to get the maint check done. It is supposed to be a touring machine. (Steps off soap box)


Willy

But it's not a car... Harley's and other bikes require a 600 mile checkup and 3000 oil change intervals.:lecturef_smilie:

 

[BikerDoc]

There are clearly those who feel that BRP has set up an "over maintenance" schedule for the Spyder, HOwever, the Spyder is a complex and somewhat sensitive machine - while I might go a bit over til the next stop for maintenance I would never go a full 3000 miles over without at least changing the oil myself. Since the Spyder is a significant investment for most folks, it seems like error to the side of caution is a good care policy

 

[billythekidd]

Some do yes, the wing was 4k, the vision is 4 or 5k, and so on. I don't mind changing oil, (I do use synthetic and it is better than the old dino stuff) it is the taking it to a shop that may or may not want to do the work as fast as I want to get on the road.

As for the it isn't a car, not sure what that has to do with it as it is a liquid cooled engine. Yes it does run at higher rpm's than other bikes or cars, but that is what the engine is made to do. Ex, the wing redlines at about 6500 and cruising at 70 - 80 is about 3500, our bike redlines at about 9000 and 75 - 80 is around 5700, so to me it is a wash. This is just my thinking and I will be the first to say I am not a tech guru. I have never had and engine or tranny failure on any of my bikes in 42 years of riding.

Oh, just checked with my buddy who has an 09 ultra and it has 2500 k checks and 5k changes on the fluids....10k on the trany fluid.

* edit, the first check on a wing is 4k after that 7k*

Willy

 

[NancysToy]

For a road trip, I use full synthetic, and stretch the interval. I also do an oil change before any lengthy trip, even if it isn't time yet. BMWs have a 6K oil change interval, and equally anal maintenance, and they do fine on that schedule. They do have a dry clutch, though. Many BMW owners arrange for oil changes and tire changes en route, not wishing to stretch the intervals any further, and I think that is wise. I think 6K would be my limit with a Spyder, for sure. How you approach the trip is up to you. You assume any risk. If you have no problems, and do the next scheduled maintenance, you should not have future warranty issues.

 

[IWN2RYD]

Right there with you :2thumbs:

That said... They do more than just change the filter(s) and oil. (Link)

Every single time I go back to pick up our Spyder after a 300 first service or any of the 3000 mile services I am told they found a few items here and there. Like the belt tension, or alignment of the rear wheel etc.

Never get charged for those adjustments... Not to mention any BUDS updates or "Suggested" BRP repairs. Our Spyder always seems to run better when we get her back as well.

The only one that bothers me is the 6000 mile one... Valve checks cost a lot of dough... :gaah:

 

[Mr. White]

Scotty, for my information, after your 600 check (you or the dealer), at what mileage do you plan on doing the "3,000" and 6,000". On my Wing it says 7,500 and I have been doing the oil/filter @ 8,000 or so. I did this on my 1500 and my present 1800...with over 100K and no problems. I have used Mobil 1 15w-50 for years. I can't use it in the Spyder due to SM rating.

This is not an oil rant, guys. I am going to ask my dealer if I can bring my own oil and save a few bucks. I am unable to change my oil any more due to bad knees so I guess I will have them do it at some mileage point.....every 3,000 miles seems a little excessive to me. Good for dealer, bad for Lewis.

Just wondering.

:spyder2:

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty, for my information, after your 600 check (you or the dealer), at what mileage do you plan on doing the "3,000" and 6,000". On my Wing it says 7,500 and I have been doing the oil/filter @ 8,000 or so. I did this on my 1500 and my present 1800...with over 100K and no problems. I have used Mobil 1 15w-50 for years. I can't use it in the Spyder due to SM rating.

This is not an oil rant, guys. I am going to ask my dealer if I can bring my own oil and save a few bucks. I am unable to change my oil any more due to bad knees so I guess I will have them do it at some mileage point.....every 3,000 miles seems a little excessive to me. Good for dealer, bad for Lewis.

Just wondering.

:spyder2:

I stick pretty close to the recommended 600, 3,000, 6,000.... marks for the Spyder, within 500 miles or so of the interval. If I am anticipating a road trip that will take me past a mark, I will do the oil change early, but may delay the rest of the service schedule until I return. If I am doing a long road trip, I use full synthetic, and change on my return. I have not done a trip over 6K on a Spyder, but if I did, I would do an intermediate oil change, on the road at about that mark. To be honest, tires are more of a bother on a long road trip than oil changes.

 

[Rando]

.....every 3,000 miles seems a little excessive to me.

Scotty, do you think BRP (or Rotax) recommends this because it's considered a high RPM engine?

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty, do you think BRP (or Rotax) recommends this because it's considered a high RPM engine?

Who knows what their engineers considered? There are lots of things involved...the wet clutch, transmission gear loadings, rpm, temperature, filtration system efficiency, metallurgy, oiling system volume, possible choices in oils, and so on, and so on. They seem to be a conservative lot, too. Remember, though, that even most automobile manufacturers have only recently increased oil change intervals beyond 3K...under less severe conditions than what a motorcycle engine endures. 3,000 miles is a standard, safe interval. I expect that they just don't want to push the envelope.

 

[billythekidd]

Heck, even the aprilla oil change schedule is 4k. They really wind those bad boys up too....


Willy

 

[Mr. White]

Thanks Scotty, what brand of full synthetic do you use as I like synthetic, but I think Mobil 1 is out due to the SM rating. I will stick to the 3,000...6,000 etc. They won't come around that often as "Punkin" ( Orange '02 GW Motor Trike), is also in the barn. As I get older, I don't do trips as in the past.
It is hell getting old. :gaah:

:spyder2:

 

[IWN2RYD]

Heck, even the aprilla oil change schedule is 4k. They really wind those bad boys up too....


Willy

I have to believe one of the reasons they recommend it is due to having no mileage limits with their warranty. :dontknow: So this reduces potential issues maybe?

 

[GeoffCee]

I have to believe one of the reasons they recommend it is due to having no mileage limits with their warranty. :dontknow: So this reduces potential issues maybe?

That's good thinking, plus the more the bike has to be looked at by the dealer the happier the dealer is going to be. BRP knows the owner has feelings about this, too, but once he has become a customer his pride of ownership will kick in. We are all scared about not doing the "right thing" which is why there is so much nervousness around here about not following BRP's commands to the letter... :spyder:

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks Scotty, what brand of full synthetic do you use as I like synthetic, but I think Mobil 1 is out due to the SM rating. I will stick to the 3,000...6,000 etc. They won't come around that often as "Punkin" ( Orange '02 GW Motor Trike), is also in the barn. As I get older, I don't do trips as in the past.
It is hell getting old. :gaah:

:spyder2:

I have been using both types of BRP oil, blended and full syn, in the Spyders. The BMW usually gets BMW oil, since I buy the oddball viscosity by the case. I'll probably switch to something I can get locally for the next road trip. I can't find the new Valvoline 4T in 10W-40 locally, so that leaves Castrol 4T and Amsoil. Like you, Mobil1 is out for me.

 

[ruthie]

So Scotty I take it that you have not used the synthetic in your 2011 :f_spider:yet. I had asked about using Rotella T in my :f_spider: and was told it would cause the clutch to slip. We use synthetic in all our vehicles (Accord, Burgman 400, truck and Gold Wing).

Like a few of y'all, I too will be making around a 2000+ miles trip at the 1st of June. Just schedule my 6000 mile oil chg for this Saturday.

 

[NancysToy]

So Scotty I take it that you have not used the synthetic in your 2011 :f_spider:yet. I had asked about using Rotella T in my :f_spider: and was told it would cause the clutch to slip. We use synthetic in all our vehicles (Accord, Burgman 400, truck and Gold Wing).

Like a few of y'all, I too will be making around a 2000+ miles trip at the 1st of June. Just schedule my 6000 mile oil chg for this Saturday.

I have not used full synthetic in the 2011, but it is alright to do so, as long as the oil meets BRP's specs. The new formulation of Rotella T does not meet the spec! Lamont used it after they changed to the blue bottle, and it caused his clutch to slip. There are other synthetic oils that do meet the spec, however. I will likely change to full synthetic before the Maggie Valley trip, now that the Rouge Rocket is broken in a little. I use nothing but full syn in Nancy's GS, since that is what it came with, and that is what was specified originally.