oil change question

[CDNRatMan]

  oh JLA ...I can not let this slide, but pretty cool how in Spain the water can go up like that....I don't have an ocean to walk along just lots of lakes......

[JLA]

Hi, guys
Today beach walk, not bike ride. This is my real home (santander, in the north of spain) although I live in the center of the country.

[pcarrell]

He liked Amsoil, but said any 10w40 synthetic was good.

[greenbarn]

I was talking with a buddy of mine last night that owns a bike shop.  They work on anything, but they get a lot of Kawi's.  He said that on the Vulcan 1500's they're starting to see (as the bikes are getting older) a lot of hydraulic lifter failures.  He said that it seems to him that folks who are running oil heavier then 10w40 are the ones that are seeing the problems (the lifters pump up and can't cycle the oils proberly or something).  He said that the lifter set goes for about $800, and that's without labor.  Also, when the lifters go, they often take other parts with them, so it can get expensive quick.  He recommended a 10w40 synthetic as the best oil.  Take this how you want, but he owns (and turns wrenches) a shop that works on a ton of these things.

So does he have a brand preference for the Kawi?  Kawi oil?

[pcarrell]

I was talking with a buddy of mine last night that owns a bike shop.  They work on anything, but they get a lot of Kawi's.  He said that on the Vulcan 1500's they're starting to see (as the bikes are getting older) a lot of hydraulic lifter failures.  He said that it seems to him that folks who are running oil heavier then 10w40 are the ones that are seeing the problems (the lifters pump up and can't cycle the oils properly or something like that).  He said that the lifter set goes for about $800, and that's without labor.  Also, when the lifters go, they often take other parts with them, so it can get expensive quick.  He recommended a 10w40 synthetic as the best oil.  Take this how you want, but he owns (and turns wrenches at) a shop that works on a ton of these things.

[CDNRatMan]

  Well got the fresh stuff in and some sea foam into the tank and let it run for about 10 mins to get things all oiled and sea foamed up and we will now move to the living room on Sat morning.....rain and flurries for the next 5 days is in the forecast....

[DC]

Over the winter, I start mine about once a month, and let it run a while, each time.

[Troll]

200 miles isn't anything I do, I just don't want to leave oil in the engine that has been used for 2,000 miles. You need to consider that the additives in the oil, by they time it gets near change time, are pretty well depleted. I don't want to leave combustion acids in the crankcase to start etching parts. I would love to be able to run the engine over the winter, but most of the time, it's too cold (sub zero Fahrenheit) to do that. I've had one exception to that in 50 years...winter of 2011 where I actually never really stopped riding, starting out again on Jan. 6th with 50 deg. temps. With the W, as far as I can plan ahead, I'm going to run it for about 50 miles, to make sure it's fully heated so I won't have to worry about condensation in the engine after cool down, and the dose of seafoam in the gas is well mixed in both the tank and the carbs.

[CDNRatMan]

  Well looks like I lost on this one, woke up to snow on the ground and it is wet and heavy, bets are it is here to stay. So if the weekend is clear and dry I'll be outside on the ground doing an oil / filter change and then let it idle for a bit to run the fresh stuff through it.  Lots of ideas and thoughts.
D1 for the forum I'll be doing the videos clothed but for you it will be a special edition in my Stanta red thong, and GB will be getting a copy of that one too.....

[Drift1]

Jla the ratman is the king of his castle that's how he gets away with parking his lovely sunbeam in the front room. With riding season coming to a halt here very shortly , keep your eyes  open for all the fun he  has decorating his scoot for the holidays and all . I'm waiting on the pics of him riding ( fully clothed ) to Trolls videos he has made with his go cam , and nice job I might add  Now as for us telling your miss's on you , dude she knows she's just letting you think your pulling a fast one ....lol

[JLA]

I quite agree with Reo; I do the same, because I start the bikes once per month during winter and I even ride a couple of hours some sunny day.
Ratman, very important to start the engine with the new oil several minutes (perhaps to ride some meters) in order to rinse the bearings and sleeves with the new oil, before to put the drifter in the living-room. I envy you :-)  I go several times to my garage (it's not in the same building that my flat) only to watch my bikes, and I'm there only staring them (please, don't tell it to my wife).

nice day to all of you guys
JLA

[49Reo]

I like to change mine before parking them for the winter; then fire them up and run new oil the bearings, then shut them down for the winter.

[Drift1]

So with that being said the trick to your mastered 200 + mileage is simply change the oil before putting her to bed ?  LOL Now like we say in the military , " TO EASY " 

[Troll]

    HUH? what do you want? With the Harleys, there was never any problem about leaving the oil in, the engines were always having to come out for something...Now, when it comes to my new best friends, the Kawasaki brothers, I change the oil before I put them to bed for the winter. I changed the oil in the Drifter before I went to mad town, yesterday, and since I only need 200 more miles on it this year, I'll wait on the W until I've got the Drifter blocked up off the ground for winter storage. I only need 50 more miles on the W for an even 10,000 this year, so it's oil change can wait for the weather liar to predict snow. As far as what I'm using.. well that's more of an interesting story. I tried several brands of full synthetic motorcycle specific oil, and try as hard as I could, I just couldn't bring myself to extend the oil change interval by enough to make them cost effective. I noticed NO difference in performance, or engine noise no matter what I put in. Wal-Mart had a close out on Valvoline 10-40 Motorcycle oil last week, so I bought them all at $3.99 a quart.  I now have enough for all next season for both bikes...as they both use 3 1/3 quarts each for a change with filter....Having the bike in the house would be something I would love, but I don't think my Wife would appreciate it. My old house had my work shop with heat, surround sound, internet, phone, and cable TV...here I have a 2 car garage that gets to be as cold inside as it is outside....

[Drift1]

Now that's funny 49    but do remember were talking about ratman so I'd be careful asking him to video tape 
I personaly would like to hear Trolls input on this subject . No disrespect intended to the other members who already posted on this matter so please don't take any offense . It's just Troll has had numerous rides with very high mileage and seems to have mastered something on this subject . Whatcha say Troll ?

[49Reo]

The good quality rigid aluminum, collapsible dryer vent works great for the exhaust pipe extension; might be a good way to run it in the living room. If you do any burnouts in the living room, please be sure to set up the video camera first....

[CDNRatMan]

  Even I draw the line of starting it once in a while in the living room, unless I can make a vent hose out the side door...something to ponder......

Seeing as it snowed last night and today for a bit it might be time to hasten to get it done.

[ahernandez74]

I dont think you need to go as far as draining the oil and leaving it empty. I would give it a fresh oil change with synthetic and let it sit in storage until its time to fire her up again. Shouldn't be any problem with that. Even if you start your bike once or twice during winter time, you'll still keep it running freshly.

[CDNRatMan]

  Welcome back JLA, so you are suggesting that I drain the oil and leave the crackcase empty for the winter, because I park in the living room for the winter and have no ambition to ride in sub zero weather.

[JLA]

Hi Ratman, pleased to meet you again, I was out for more than 2 months
Hi DC
My own experience, not only with vehicles but also in industrial maintenance, is that if the machine will be stopped for several months, the engine should be stored empty, because the engine oils have some corrosive components which damage the metallic parts (mainly the gears and other friction parts) in the long term.

If this is not a option for you because you use the bike, even occasionally, in winter, then my recommendation is to put the new oil just before the storage. Never storage with old worn oil.

Other personal recommendation: get synthetic oils specific for bikes (the clutch is lubricated with the same oil that the engine) from very well known oil brands; never from the constructors of the vehicles (kawasaki, wolswagen...), who ask for it to the same brands and then increase the price for their own distribution. The most important parameter for the choice of an oil for a vehicle is the viscosity in cold conditions; mainly for vehicles living in cold climate. The first seconds/minutes after the starting of the engine are the worst for the friction and damages. The best oil is that which protect the engine in those moments. Here in the centre of Spain (continental climate) with low temperatures in the mornings (less than 5ºC) I use 5W40 synthetic oils in my bikes and cars; even better 0W30. Perhaps 10W40 if the engine is old (under 50.000 km.) and it spends some oil.

Regards
JLA

[DC]

Got it.

I went to one of my local Kaw dealers and they didn't have the synth.  They tried to steer me to a generic brand I never heard of.  Not biting on that one.  See, I'm pulling out my fishing lingo.

[CDNRatMan]

   and that is why for S&G I want to try the Kaw oil....

S&G = excrement and giggles

[DC]

You probably read my Mobile 1 story.  Right after I changed the oil, the tranny was poppy out of first at a light and going into neutral for a week or so.  Things settled down after a while, and it shifts fine now.  I think bikes are like people.  If you go and change the food they are used to, they tend to protest for a while, then get used to it.   

[CDNRatMan]

    ok so today I went to the local Kaw dealer. Wanted to order some rear brakes, and get a filter and oil. There was a couple of the hanger abouts at the parts counter, on a side note, these guys are always there and hanging about, never seem to work, nor do anything, yet always have coffee and smokes, and gas in the bikes, just wonder what I did wrong and have to work. Ok rant is over, so I asked for the filter, and then I picked up the oil and went with Kawasaki S4 synthetic oil. The parts lad, (arrogant individual) said " Did you not use Amsoil last time?" So told him I had and wanted to try something different and had my reason, and mentioned I was going to do the oil change before I parked the bike for the winter.
This started a huge discussion about when is the best time to do the seasonal oil change, so what are the opinions?

Now never did learn what oil the PO had used but it was black and thick...lol.....when I did the first change I went right to the Amsoil, and seemed to or I think the shifting seemed louder when slipping it into first at the lights, more a clunking sound, and just want to try the Kaw synthetic for S&G reasons. Oh and the $2.04 difference in bottles.