It's that time of year for cold-climate motorcyclists to put their rides away for the winter. Motorcyclist magazine just did the usual story on how to winterize your bike and said the usual things. Among them, they recommended changing the oil and filter because, "Acids are a natural byproduct of combusting fuel and air and many of these acids end up suspended in the oil...lighter constituents will rise up and attack the exposed components...the heavy deposits will fall through the oil and sit on the bottom, creating sludge."
Do you buy this? I don't think I do. The acids should be neutralized by the bases in the oil. Any water in the oil should sink to the bottom of the pan--out of harm's way. Will the contaminants that the detergents hold in suspension fall out of suspension and form sludge in a winter's sit?
If you change the oil in the fall then you have partially oxidized oil come spring. Do you really come out ahead by changing oil in the fall or does this just waste oil?
Do you buy this? I don't think I do. The acids should be neutralized by the bases in the oil. Any water in the oil should sink to the bottom of the pan--out of harm's way. Will the contaminants that the detergents hold in suspension fall out of suspension and form sludge in a winter's sit?
If you change the oil in the fall then you have partially oxidized oil come spring. Do you really come out ahead by changing oil in the fall or does this just waste oil?