1500 Vulcan oil change interval

[Degreaser]

I have a 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 cruiser 32,255 miles(51,899km). I've been changing the oil at 1866 miles (3000km) intervals. Somehow I have a feeling that's too soon. I am using Shell Rotella T5 5w40 and live in Canada. Sometimes in the summer months of July and August I use Rotella T 15w40. What would be your recommended miles before changing my oil?

 

[dtt004]

I have a 2004 ZX-10R and I change it every year, which is around 3000 miles. I currently have Mobil Delvac 1300 15w40 in there. I have used Rotella...excellent oil as well.

 

[Quattro Pete]

You can do 3k miles easily.

 

[BigCahuna]

Why don't you have a sample tested. That will tell you if its time or not.,,

 

[mjoekingz28]

What's the book call for?

IMO they are never too far off.


3-4k miles, uh I mean, 5-6k kilometers or every spring, whichever is first would be prudent.

 

[RC46_Rider]

Hi.
It is a hard fact that bikes with shared transmission and crank case are a lot harder on oil than a car. A few years back, a professor at Cal Tech did a study and concluded that bikes can be 4 to 8 times harder on oil than a car. So, armed with that data, you may not be too far off on your change intervals if you want to keep oil that is probably fully in grade and spec. in the bike. That said, I know several people who have some very
high mileage motorcycles and they go 4 to 5 K Miles on oil.

Based on used oil analysis I get back on my Honda Interceptor, 2,000 mile changes are not at all unreasonable as the oil has been repetitiously sheared down one full SAE grade in that time and that is several different brands of a synthetic oil. Some bikes and some riders are harder on motors and oil than others.... Ultimately, you need to make the call on your bike.

It is a worn out saying, but it is quite true:
"Oil is a LOT cheaper than engines......"

Bottomline: there is nothing BAD about shorter change intervals unless you are severely strapped for money.....

 

[Rick_A]

You may just want to follow the recommendation in your owner’s manual. What do they recommend?
I usually run 8.000 mile OCIs in my Honda ST1100 and have the oil tested on every change. In fact, I recently ran some Redline 15W50 for 12,000 miles without much shearing.
I have tested Delo before with multiple tests of the oil without changing it and found that after 3,000 miles there was very little difference in the viscosity. It appears that all of the shearing occurs very early in the OCI and then stays flat from then on.
By the way, I have posted lots of used oil analysis for my bike on this site.

Rick