I have a '99 Kawasaki 1500 Drifter with 27,000 miles on it. I changed oil in it a year ago last October and have put less than 4,000 miles on the oil change (Amsoil 10W40 MC oil and Amsoil's best oil filter). Amsoil says to change at one year no matter what the mileage. I get my oil and filters at dealer's cost but will have to order more if I change the oil. We are very short on money now due to my wife's illness and I'm debating whether an annual change is necessary. The oil in the bike still looks very good in the sight glass on the case. I would send some to an oil lab but can't afford that right now, either. The bike still shifts as smoothly as when the oil was new and I have added about 6 oz. of oil since the change. What does the group think about this?
Need an opinion on oil life....
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I think most bike manufacturers recommend at least an annual change as well, so I would go ahead and do it if you can. Now, if the choice is between an oil change on a toy and your wife's medical bills, then obviously you know what's more important. The bike is not going to blow up just because you didn't change the oil in it one year.
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
Or you could run a cheaper oil. For example rotella 15w40 which most people seem to like. Probably better off that way. 4000 seems a long time on the oil and have it sit for the winter.
For what the oil sells for, I'd be upset if it couldn't last past 4,000 miles. Here's another secret, oil doesn't know how old it is.,,,
Originally Posted By: tc1446
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
This, exactly this. As long as the bike is dry in a non vapor condensing environment (wet, then cold) you will be perfectly fine. That oil holds it's TBN well, plus it has lots of anti-rust/anti-oxidants.
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
This, exactly this. As long as the bike is dry in a non vapor condensing environment (wet, then cold) you will be perfectly fine. That oil holds it's TBN well, plus it has lots of anti-rust/anti-oxidants.
Originally Posted By: tc1446
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
It is stored indoors in a dry garage. I think I will run it as is. I've applied for another job that pays much better with much better insurance and if it comes through, I will do an oil analysis and change if necessary.
Originally Posted By: bigt61
I think let it go for another year, you'll be fine.
+1, especially if its stored in the dry and not sitting out in the damp.
It is stored indoors in a dry garage. I think I will run it as is. I've applied for another job that pays much better with much better insurance and if it comes through, I will do an oil analysis and change if necessary.
Old oil is no problem, especially for a very high quality oil like you've chosen. However, 4000 miles is generally my outside limit for sport and dirt motorcycle oil changes. Most bikes really are harder on oils. Gears shear oil and so on. Your big bike may not be hard on oil.
While not the same, I use M1, 15W-50 in my generator. During periods of light use, I don't change the oil for years. During periods of heavy use, I change every 50 hours.
Have you been able to find any UOA results on your type of bike? That might be quite informative. If, for example, your bike is known for being easy on oil, then why worry.
Check this out: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32598
While not the same, I use M1, 15W-50 in my generator. During periods of light use, I don't change the oil for years. During periods of heavy use, I change every 50 hours.
Have you been able to find any UOA results on your type of bike? That might be quite informative. If, for example, your bike is known for being easy on oil, then why worry.
Check this out: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32598
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Originally Posted By: Cujet
Old oil is no problem, especially for a very high quality oil like you've chosen. However, 4000 miles is generally my outside limit for sport and dirt motorcycle oil changes. Most bikes really are harder on oils. Gears shear oil and so on. Your big bike may not be hard on oil.
While not the same, I use M1, 15W-50 in my generator. During periods of light use, I don't change the oil for years. During periods of heavy use, I change every 50 hours.
Have you been able to find any UOA results on your type of bike? That might be quite informative. If, for example, your bike is known for being easy on oil, then why worry.
Check this out: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32598
Thanks for the link, Cujet.
Smokey
Old oil is no problem, especially for a very high quality oil like you've chosen. However, 4000 miles is generally my outside limit for sport and dirt motorcycle oil changes. Most bikes really are harder on oils. Gears shear oil and so on. Your big bike may not be hard on oil.
While not the same, I use M1, 15W-50 in my generator. During periods of light use, I don't change the oil for years. During periods of heavy use, I change every 50 hours.
Have you been able to find any UOA results on your type of bike? That might be quite informative. If, for example, your bike is known for being easy on oil, then why worry.
Check this out: http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32598
Thanks for the link, Cujet.
Smokey
Doesn't the Drifter have a dry clutch? If so, and you intend to continue riding it, you can put in something less expensive, like Rotella 15-40 conventional oil...about $12 gal. Its a good oil and widely used by bikers. Earlier I said leave it in, but was assuming it was being parked for the winter, or ridden very little.
Originally Posted By: tc1446
Doesn't the Drifter have a dry clutch? If so, and you intend to continue riding it, you can put in something less expensive, like Rotella 15-40 conventional oil...about $12 gal. Its a good oil and widely used by bikers. Earlier I said leave it in, but was assuming it was being parked for the winter, or ridden very little.
The Drifter has a wet clutch. I don't know of any current Japanese motorcycle being manufactured with a dry clutch. Even Harleys have wet clutches these days, though that clutch is lubed by the primary oil.
Smokey
Doesn't the Drifter have a dry clutch? If so, and you intend to continue riding it, you can put in something less expensive, like Rotella 15-40 conventional oil...about $12 gal. Its a good oil and widely used by bikers. Earlier I said leave it in, but was assuming it was being parked for the winter, or ridden very little.
The Drifter has a wet clutch. I don't know of any current Japanese motorcycle being manufactured with a dry clutch. Even Harleys have wet clutches these days, though that clutch is lubed by the primary oil.
Smokey
You could always change the oil and keep the filter on there for another interval.
I think your safe if you leave it in. I ran my bike using Castrol 4T for 2 years with no issues.
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
I agree. If your oil is not jet black from fuel byproducts go another 6 months. My bike has had the oil in it for 15 months. I'll change it in April or May when the warm weather starts.
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
I agree. If your oil is not jet black from fuel byproducts go another 6 months. My bike has had the oil in it for 15 months. I'll change it in April or May when the warm weather starts.
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Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
My only issue having an original clutch with over 100,000 miles on it, didn't happen from running oil to end of life, but frequent changes, wet clutches wear much less(if at all) with clean oil.
I guess my point doesn't matter if the oil has 5,000 more life if its full of contaminant.
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
My only issue having an original clutch with over 100,000 miles on it, didn't happen from running oil to end of life, but frequent changes, wet clutches wear much less(if at all) with clean oil.
I guess my point doesn't matter if the oil has 5,000 more life if its full of contaminant.
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Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
You could always change the oil and keep the filter on there for another interval.
Back in the dinosaur days when I went to lubrication seminars for cenex the concensus was your better off changing the filter and topping off with fresh oil. The filter catches the particulates and the top off fresh oil adds back in some additives.
Right, wrong, indifferent that's what I've been taught an makes perfect sence to me.
You could always change the oil and keep the filter on there for another interval.
Back in the dinosaur days when I went to lubrication seminars for cenex the concensus was your better off changing the filter and topping off with fresh oil. The filter catches the particulates and the top off fresh oil adds back in some additives.
Right, wrong, indifferent that's what I've been taught an makes perfect sence to me.
Originally Posted By: Mackelroy
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
My only issue having an original clutch with over 100,000 miles on it, didn't happen from running oil to end of life, but frequent changes, wet clutches wear much less(if at all) with clean oil.
I guess my point doesn't matter if the oil has 5,000 more life if its full of contaminant.
I totally agree.
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
It seems to me that oil mfgrs are the one recommending a once a year oil change. Look at any UOA, I haven't seen one that said that the oil tested was too old. Usually they say to run it longer based on what the oil has left in it.If it was 20 years ago I might agree with once a year changes, but oil today with it's better chemistry and higher prices, can go farther and give good protection then the oil of yesterday.,,
My only issue having an original clutch with over 100,000 miles on it, didn't happen from running oil to end of life, but frequent changes, wet clutches wear much less(if at all) with clean oil.
I guess my point doesn't matter if the oil has 5,000 more life if its full of contaminant.
I totally agree.
Has anyone seen a used oil analysis that showed the oil had any amount of clutch material in it? In shared sump motorcycles, wouldn't the oil filter remove anything that could cause damage to the motor? I've never heard of motor failure due to clutch material contamination. I think some people tend to worry about situations that never occur.,,
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