Change oil before winter storage with very low miles on oil?
- Thread starter XB_Fan
- Start date
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.
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.
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 ?
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).
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).
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2022
- Messages
- 153
In my area. No rodents to speak of.
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.,,,
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.
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2022
- Messages
- 153
DO NOT DO THIS!!!
Leave the bike alone after preparing it for storage. Starting the bike for 5-10 minutes is not enough time for everything to come up to temperature to burn off any moisture that is created. That moisture will sit in the exhaust and rust it from the inside. If you are going to start the bike, ride it for 20-30 minutes to get it hot. Also, the first time you start it, you'll just burn off the protective oil you put into the cylinders in "step 3" above.
Either prepare the bike for storage and store it, or just keep riding it.
Yes, but whether Rotella T4 is suitable is open to debate.
A few miles on new oil to take the edge off? No. There is no edge. There is new oil that will never perform better than when it is fresh.
Oil becomes acidic once the TBN reaches zero. Before that it is not acidic.
The way that happens is from mixed sulfur oxides, heat from combustion and water. If the engine is not operating then this doesn't happen.
Pro tip - you don't need to change the oil to neutralize the acid, just dump 2 bottles of Pepto Bismol in the sump, it will do all the work.
All the professional mechanics like Scotty Kilmer do it this way.
Or Drano. You wouldn’t need as much.
Oil will be fine. Just park it hot and leave it sit. NO start ups until it can be driven long and far enough to get oil hot. Battery maintainer and a good fuel stabilizer in the gas that has been driven in the system for a few miles before storage. I use PRI-G in all my toys. Lots of 4 stroke motors in my care.
There is no need to change it. Change it in another year 12 more months. It's really nothing to even consider. 250 miles on the oil I dont care if it will sit for the winter or not, it's fine, even if you ride on a warm winter day during this time.
I do not agree at all with plugging the exhaust and intake. You will trap existing moisture in the system which will form condensation inside the engine. Let the bike breathe and store the bike in a dry place. Also do not wrap the bike so tight in storage that air cannot circulate. Again, moisture and condensation.
(there used to be, sometimes still, people who would wrap their outboard boat engines for the same purpose, WRONG, you are sealing in moisture which can lead to condensation which leads to corrosion of parts during storage. Some owners manual warned of this)
Let it breathe.
I do not agree at all with plugging the exhaust and intake. You will trap existing moisture in the system which will form condensation inside the engine. Let the bike breathe and store the bike in a dry place. Also do not wrap the bike so tight in storage that air cannot circulate. Again, moisture and condensation.
(there used to be, sometimes still, people who would wrap their outboard boat engines for the same purpose, WRONG, you are sealing in moisture which can lead to condensation which leads to corrosion of parts during storage. Some owners manual warned of this)
Let it breathe.
Last edited: