Always new oil before winter storage?

[AuthorEditor]

Curious as to how many of us always change our oil and filter right before winter storage, no matter how few miles on the used fill? That has been my usual procedure for many years, but I wonder how many just follow their normal OCI instead of changing out before storage.

 

[JoeFromPA]

I'm planning on doing it to my '99 Boxster, as the oil in it is more likely to be lightly acidic (or at least less well-buffered) and it's a good time to do a yearly change and leave fresh oil in there for a spring-time start-up.

I don't think it makes any real difference to long-term longevity, especially if you are goign to get it up to operating temp once or twice during winter.

 

[Redline955]

I've been doing it since my bike was new. I think it's a good policy to get the acidic oil out of there. My bike usually sits from mid-late November to March sometime without running.

 

[boraticus]

Nope.

Over the years I've done it on some machines and not on others. Pretty much A/B treatment between two ATVs I owned for 25+ years. For the first ten years or so, one machine would get the oil change in the fall then left all winter. The other was just put away. No difference whatsoever between the one that had the fall oil change and the one that didn't. Both machines are still running just fine to this day. One's an '84, the other an '87 and both have seen lots of hard service as well as regular maintenance.

Now, on all of my machines get the oil changed when it's time for that particular machine's OCI.

 

[BigCahuna]

While changing the oil won't hurt anything, I don't see it as a must do type of thing. Look how many cars, boats, and motorcycles, lawn equipment sit for years with oil dirty oil in them, and then get put back in service without oil problems. The oil gets changed then off they go.,,

 

[ddrumman2004]

I have never bothered with changing the oil in my bike for winter storage. But then I always ride my bike at least once every two weeks through the winter, provided it's not windy as heck and sub freezing temps!

Then I just ride it around the "block", which is approx 7 to 10 miles here.

 

[dwendt44]

I generally do change the oil in the Wing before storage. Last fall was different as health problems kept riding to a minimum.
Only about 1000 miles on Rotella, if that.
So no change.
With better oils and better engines these days, I think it's less a necessity than a good habit.

 

[outoforder]

There was a used oil analysis posted in another forum from a bike that sat for 16 years. Basically, it appeared the same as any other uoa. Save your money. The oil won't go bad because it sat in your engine for 4 months

 

[beanoil]

I do. In fact just did mine today. Changed coolant and added fuel stabilizer also. I'll wash and wax tomorrow, and pull the battery for the winter. Prep time to get me running in the spring is maybe 15 minutes tops. And I know after a long winter, I'm going to want to ride, not waste the time doing all this stuff in the spring. But, it will be a few months before I know if the Pennzoil 25w50 I used is going to shift better or feel different than my usual M1 redcap 15w50.