How often do you change your oil?

Discussion in 'Performance & Technical' started by NitroNick, Aug 9, 2016.

  1. NitroNick

    NitroNick WERA #125

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    With rpm's always getting raised how often do you change your race bike oil and what kind of oil do you use?
     
  2. Desmodude

    Desmodude n00b

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    Depends on how hard you ride but I change oil and filter before every 3rd but have friends who do it even sooner
     
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  3. 196paul

    196paul Track Day Junkie

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    I change mine after 3 full track days of riding. I use a Flow oil filter that is cleanable/reusable and always have a look at the filter and oil for anything that might indicate that there is any excessive wear going on inside. Since the oil is changed that frequently, the brand doesn't matter. Any oil of the proper weight and specification from the manufacturer will do. I use Shell Rotella because it's inexpensive. I guess I should also mention that I'm not a racer, I'm a mid pace intermediate track day rider who isn't wringing it out that hard. Opinions will vary...:D
     
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  4. Wawazat?!

    Wawazat?! That Crazy Texan

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    Twice a year using Amsoil oil and OEM filter.
     
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  5. R/T Performance

    R/T Performance found track bike
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    I change mine about every 4th trackday mobile one with m1 filter.
    wifes Daytona about every 6 or 8 days.
    My Kawasaki's always blacken the oil
     
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  6. TLR67

    TLR67 Cheers!
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    Every other weekend for oil.... Every 4 th for filter... I use Valvoline
     
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  7. Sonny112

    Sonny112 Rides with no training wheels

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    Engine oil is not bad when it's black. The only way to know if engine oil is still useful or not is to test it. Color has no bearing on useful life. Engine oil has detergents to remove soot and other debris from the engine, its not like fork oil or trans fluid in your car that never sees combustion areas. Black oil just means it's working.

    Your filter quality is also generally more important than your oil quality for engine wear (assuming the oil isn't garbage, specially if its fully syn). Quality filters have synthetic media that has more uniform "holes" where it more consistently filters particles of a certain size, as opposed to paper-based filters who's "holes" are of inconsistent size and can allow larger particles through in certain spots at times.

    That said, I've never tested moto racing oil. I've only ever tested auto oil. Moto oil also lubricates the gearbox which deteriorates the oil's ability to change viscosity w/ temperature. Your oil will progressively become thinner at operating temp the longer you use it. Theres a study and long article online somewhere about it, find it if you're interested. I think replacement largely depends on how you ride.
     
  8. Whitney Arnold

    Whitney Arnold Run it wide. The grass is a safe place.

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    Every Winter on Each Bike....
    I am still figuring out how to change the oil on the Honda Grom? (Not sure how to do it)

    Tooooooodddddddddd, where are you?
     
  9. Ohio_1199DUC

    Ohio_1199DUC Knows an Apex when he sees one
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    After every 6th track day. If I don't the tranny starts to shift like crap.
    I do my clutch fluid about every weekend...:mad:
     
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  10. gkotlin

    gkotlin What's an apex?
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    Anyone ever do an analysis. I change oil about every 1000-2000 miles. I can't imagine every couple of days is needed. The only difference between this and a car is the clutch. Clutch material in the oil does increase the need to change it. I've heard of some people doing oil changes every 3000 miles and oil filters in between because of this.
     
  11. Mran556

    Mran556 Rides with no training wheels

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    Once a year about 5000 miles.
     
  12. kisertn

    kisertn What's an apex?

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    ummm.... you're supposed to change it?
     
  13. Sonny112

    Sonny112 Rides with no training wheels

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    The difference between moto oil and car oil is also that it lubricates your gearbox. A car's engine oil only lubricates the engine and the ATF lubricates your transmission, they're separate. Your engine oil contains viscosity index modifiers that change the effective oil viscosity at high temperatures, so that the oil isn't too thin while hot. But, the modifiers are susceptible to mechanical shear from the gears. The gearbox essentially chops up the coil-like structure of the modifier additives, diminishing their effectiveness. The more the coils are chopped up over time the less they'll enable your oil viscosity to change at operating temperature. So, as the oil ages w/ use, it will become thinner at high temperatures.

    http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1327/viscosity-index-improvers
     
    #13 Sonny112, Aug 12, 2016
    Last edited: Aug 12, 2016
  14. NitroNick

    NitroNick WERA #125

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    What kind of Oil do you use in your bike?
     
  15. j cal

    j cal Rides with no training wheels

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    right, wrong or different, I change mine after roughly 5 track days. Or when the sight glass is dark o_O
     
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  16. Peyton Hibdon

    Peyton Hibdon Team Squid

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    Oil is cheaper than an engine imo. When it's brown it's down.
     
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  17. TheRabbit

    TheRabbit STT Staff
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    every 2-3 track weekends.. depends some are 3 days so generally 5-7 days... this is around 1250-2000 miles
    generally overkill... I use the "dirty" oil in my mower, weedwacker, and other small engines(not my gennys)
     
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  18. BigCountry1125

    BigCountry1125 "Lovings"

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    I change mine once a season, using Motul 300v 10w40
     
  19. beac83

    beac83 Rides with no training wheels

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    I use standard motorcycle oil 10W-40. I change the oil & filter in the track bike after 2 or 3 weekends (4-6 days on track) depending on how many sessions I ran, how hard I was riding, how hot it was, etc. I change the filter every time I change the oil, because it's cheap and easy to do. No point in not changing it.
     

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