What oil do you use?

[wiseguy]

I'm curious, Like I stated earlier, I have just switched to Royal Purle and I run a Honda filter. My question is how many miles would you recommend between oil changes? 

[John U.]

I'm curious, Like I stated earlier, I have just switched to Royal Purle and I run a Honda filter. My question is how many miles would you recommend between oil changes? 

Honda says 8,000, I change mine at 5,000, except that although I don't think oil goes bad, I do think that it is gradually poluted as the miles go by. At some point it can become corrosive to the engine's internal surfaces.
So I think it's a good idea to change it in the fall/early winter so the bike won't sit too long with dirty oil working on it.

[wiseguy]

Thanks John, I think 5000 sounds like a good number

[Farther]

I'm not going to give this up!  So, what "oil mfg/rs" are recommending "3K miles/3 month" interval?

[BamaDrifter64]

Good Lord, man, use that thing called a computer and that thing it's attached to called the Internet!  Check oil service providers like Goodyear, Big 10 Tires, places like that.  Check oil mfg'rs websites.  Here, I'll show you a couple:

http://www.big10tires.com/tips_basic2.php
Big 10 Tire:  As a rule of thumb, oil should be changed every 3,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first, but check your car's owner's manual for recommendations. Always change the oil filter when you change the oil the dirt and old oil trapped in the old filter will quickly contaminate the new oil.


http://www.valvoline.com/car-care/motor-oil-myths/#b
Valvoline website:  Valvoline recommends changing oil every 3,000 miles. Most consumers (more than 80% of drivers, according to a State of California study) actually drive under what is considered severe driving conditions (stop and go, short trips, towing, or very hot or very cold temperatures). Auto manufacturers' oil change interval recommendations are dramatically shorter for severe driving conditions, with the majority recommending 3,750 miles or less and with 3,000 miles being the most common recommendation. Both oil and oil filters have less of a useful life under severe conditions due to increased dirt and other contaminants. So, changing the oil and filter every 3,000 miles is the best way to ensure engine health.

[Farther]

Thank you for providing that information.  Just so you know, I have no obligation to verify what you write.

[BamaDrifter64]

Thank you for providing that information.  Just so you know, I have no obligation to verify what you write.

That's right...just like I don't have an obligation to verify something I said just because "you're not going to give this up!"....but I did anyways....you're welcome.

Dave

[John U.]

So then, whom shall we trust?
Is the reccomendation of the manufacturer of the vehicle or those of oil refiners or vehicle service providers more likely to be driven by self interest?
There is another way to inform the question. Oil analysis. It costs, but it will remove the "let's sell more oil" factor from the equation.

[98valk]

Good Lord, man, use that thing called a computer and that thing it's attached to called the Internet!  Check oil service providers like Goodyear, Big 10 Tires, places like that.  Check oil mfg'rs websites.  Here, I'll show you a couple:

maybe u should use one and find out that changing oil at 3k miles or 3 months is completely false. only time that is valid is 1) when short trips are done all of the time, esp when the ambient temps are below 32F. reason oil never gets up to temp, so excess water, fuel and acids build up past the ability of the oils TBN to protect and temp to evaporate, 2) towing 95+F  and/or hilling/mountain conditions. All vehicle owners manuals have stated this for decades.

changing syn oil every 2500-3000 miles in a car or bike esp when our bikes manual recomends 8k mile change with non-syn oil is such a waste of time, oil and money. But of course its just cheap emotional driven insurance, nothing based on proven scientific testing.   Oil analysis always disproves the 3k mile oil change.   www.bobistheoilguy.com

[BamaDrifter64]

Doe anyone do any research or at least read the thread above before they decide to argue with or chide another's post?  If you had read my post above in this very thread, you would seen that I was arguing AGAINST the 3K mile change interval, not for it.  Geeeezzzzz.... 

Dave

[highcountry]

Rotella T6

[98valk]

Doe anyone do any research or at least read the thread above before they decide to argue with or chide another's post?  If you had read my post above in this very thread, you would seen that I was arguing AGAINST the 3K mile change interval, not for it.  Geeeezzzzz.... 

Dave

my bad.  missed your very first post.

[dipstick]

Shell Rotella T blue jug and a Wix filter in everything I own. My Wally World still has it.

[salty1]

Rotella T6 and a Pure One filter every two to three thousand miles.  I do the same for all three of my bikes, works great. Honda oil is essentially crap! Tranny clunk would start at 1000 miles with Honda product.