Change oil before winter storage with very low miles on oil?

[troop]

The oil is still perfectly good. Just make sure your last seasonal ride is a long one to get the oil fully heated, and to get the fuel stabilizer in your fuel to get fully circulated. Avoid any in storage start ups.

 

[Japanese]

Good points. What about fogging the cylinder? I do this with my other single cylinder lawn equipment.

Don't change the oil. The oils will be perfectly fine.
Just make sure you winterize the scooter the right way, which doesn't take much.
1. Plug the exhaust or wrap it up in a plastic bag with some rubber band around.
2. Remove the filter and plug the carburetor, if it has any or plug the inlet of the filter box.
3. Pour a bit of oil in the cylinder through the spark plug hole, put the plug back and kick it a couple of times with the spark plug wire disconnected.
4. If you have chance during the winter, start up the bike once a month and let it run for a 5-10 minutes.

 

[NibbanaBanana]

Changing that oil is a total waste. Oiling the cylinder is a good idea unless you have a catalytic converter in which case don't. Bag the exhaust. Get the tires off the ground.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

Yes, change the oil. Oil becomes contaminated the minute you throw in into an engine. Can become acidic. CHANGE IT / STORE IT

 

[nomas]

Yes, change the oil. Oil becomes contaminated the minute you throw in into an engine. Can become acidic. CHANGE IT / STORE IT

I read about oil becoming " acidic " on forums but I've never seen a documented , verifiable example . You got anything to share ?

 

[Nessism1]

Oils have acid buffer additives. TBN measures as much. You have no reason to worry about "acidic" oil damaging the engine.

As for fogging the cylinder, I wouldn't bother. Just do as suggested, and take the bike for a nice ride, to fully warm up the oil, before parking. Add fuel stabilizer, and cover it. I wouldn't bother to bag the exhaust, unless small rodents have access to your garage (heavens forbid).

 

[The_Sheriff]

I wouldn't bother to bag the exhaust, unless small rodents have access to your garage (heavens forbid).

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When don’t they?
.

 

[Nessism1]

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When don’t they?
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In my area. No rodents to speak of.

 

[BigCahuna]

Does anyone have any real proof that anything will happen if you don't change the oil before storage, Or is it all hearsay?. Should you really change the oil you changed in the fall, in the spring when you start using your bike? Do your tires really go bad if not lifted off the ground ?. If you leave your battery on a tender all winter, is there any proof that it will ruin your battery?. I'm looking for real hard proof, not what someone told you about what happened to their friend or cousin. I'm trying to get the facts straight here.,,,

 

[Japanese]

In my area. No rodents to speak of.

The exhaust and the intake are always plugged/wrapped to prevent moist air entering the cylinder, not because rodents.
I just staffed a piece of towel in the exhaust and plug or plastic wrap the carb.

 

[The_Sheriff]

In my area. No rodents to speak of.

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Lucky you.
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