Oil: time or mileage?

[Richardv]

Hi,

I always follow the recommandation of 5,000 miles or one year for the oil change of my Spyders. I am always using Amsoil metric oil. But this year, for multiple reasons, I am getting close to the one year date, but we only put 1,200 miles on both of them. The Spyders are kept in a heated dry garage. What do you think? I feel bad to dump 2 almost new oil change just for time. (money wise and planet resources wise)

So I am consulting my fellow Spyder oil experts. What is the reasons behind the one year time limit, especially on oil like Amsoil. If Bayaron has some data from Amsoil on the subject, I would appreciate to read about it.

Thanks in advance to all of you guys.

Have a great day.

 

[Chupaca]

Tough one....

Guess one would have to consider the how those few miles were put on the odometer...If all at once in a short period of time or spread out during the year. Not an oil expert myself so can't say. Those in the know will let you know but I would start a ryding season with a fresh oil change. :thumbup:

 

[Lew L]

opcorn: opcorn: opcorn:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Although some folks believe Full Syn oil can last for years if you aren't racking up the miles …. I believe once oil gets contaminated ( from use - any amount ) it needs to be changed ….. I only change my filter once a year unless I go 1000 or so miles past 9300 …. this is on my 1330 engine …. Mike hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

With the Vee-Twins: 5,000 nmiles, OR one year is perfectly fine! :2thumbs:
The Triples allow you to stretch the mileage to 9,300 miles; but the one-year timeframe still remains.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Bajaron left Amsoil in his V twin longer than a year, analyzed it and it was fine.

 

[AeroPilot]

I would run until this winter and change before I put it up, unless I reach the suggested Oil Change interval miles... JMO

 

[Thopper]

I know I guy that has a ford focus with 280K miles and he has only changed the oil twice....its true! I think he is over the time and miles suggested limits. If it wasn't for warranty issues the oil change recommendations would have less meaning in my book.

 

[Saluda]

I would never go that far or long regardless of his supposed success. I only say supposed because I do not know of it first hand.
I usually go by mileage, but the time subject does have it's points.

 

[Rob Rodriguez]

I change the oil in everything I own based on the mileage limit not the 1yr time limit. Never had an issue doing it this way.

 

[BajaRon]

Bajaron left Amsoil in his V twin longer than a year, analyzed it and it was fine.

True! And actually MUCH longer than a year. I'm embarrassed to say how long. That oil had about 1,500 miles on when last I'd ridden it. When I got my RS going again, I rode another 100 miles or so on it before I changed the oil. Had it analyzed and it came out right were it should have had it been the same mileage and less than 1 year old. I can't vouch for any other lubricant because I have not done this with anything else. But if it were me, I'd go for it and service at the regular mileage interval. If I'd known how good my oil oil was, I'd have run it to 6,500 miles like I usually do on Amsoil in my 998 Rotax.

 

[Richardv]

.... this is what I want to hear... I was just looking for a confirmation of some kind... Thks Ron, you're making my day. !!!

(P.S. for Chupaca, It was used at kind of regular interval during last summer, and fully warmed up everytime.)

 

[BajaRon]

.... this is what I want to hear... just looking for a confirmation of some kind... Thks

You'll get a lot of differing opinions on this. And I'm not saying that they are wrong, depending on the circumstance. I was a bit surprised at the analysis myself. I would have guessed different results. I certainly would not recommend this if I had not actually done it myself. My Spyder was garaged. But beyond that. Nothing special done.

 

[Ibified]

Being an engineer, I'd do an oil analysis and see what it tells you, then go from there.

 

[ATC]

Modern synthetic oils don't just "go bad" in such a short time. The oil doesn't magically grow contaminants while sitting for an extended period. I'd run it until the mileage limit you want to change it at.

Some manufacturers use a time limit for oil changes to get the customer back to the dealer (revenue), or as an avenue to deny warranty coverage. I had a 2016 Ram 3500 diesel, and the oil change requirement was 15,000mi or 6-months. Whichever came first. 6-months! Talk about a racket...

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

.... this is what I want to hear... I was just looking for a confirmation of some kind... Thks Ron, you're making my day. !!!

(P.S. for Chupaca, It was used at kind of regular interval during last summer, and fully warmed up everytime.)

For more real life data read this thread. https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?120162-Oil-Analysis-results-green-OK-check-mark!

As Ron says, you will get a lot of differing opinions. The best info you can rely on are oil analysis lab results.

 

[Madison Sully]

Metallurgical engineer here.
It depends on the miles per start, more than total accumulated miles OR time.
If you drive 5 miles in the morning and 5 miles each night, and then let your vehicle cool off in between, and that's your habit, you need to change your oil more frequently based on both time AND miles compared to someone who drives 50 miles each start twice per day and lets the vehicle cool off.
So if those 1200 miles were done in two days per year, feel free to change your oil once every four years.
But if those 1200 miles were done 10 miles per day as described above, you should change your oil now, even if it has only been four months.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Metallurgical engineer here.
It depends on the miles per start, more than total accumulated miles OR time.
If you drive 5 miles in the morning and 5 miles each night, and then let your vehicle cool off in between, and that's your habit, you need to change your oil more frequently based on both time AND miles compared to someone who drives 50 miles each start twice per day and lets the vehicle cool off.
So if those 1200 miles were done in two days per year, feel free to change your oil once every four years.
But if those 1200 miles were done 10 miles per day as described above, you should change your oil now, even if it has only been four months.

What is your reasoning?

 

[EdMat]

What is your reasoning?

Holding moisture in the oil and not generating enuff heat to vaporize it off.

 

[Madison Sully]

Holding moisture in the oil and not generating enuff heat to vaporize it off.

Pretty much.