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Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 23, 2013, 13:04:04 PMEven 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.
Posted by ahernandez74
- October 23, 2013, 11:00:31 AMI 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.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 23, 2013, 10:57:06 AMWelcome 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.
Posted by JLA
- October 23, 2013, 08:46:56 AMHi 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
Posted by DC
- September 30, 2013, 16:47:45 PMGot 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.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 30, 2013, 13:52:24 PM 
and that is why for S&G I want to try the Kaw oil....
S&G = excrement and giggles
Posted by DC
- September 30, 2013, 12:23:46 PMYou 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. 
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 30, 2013, 12:17:12 PM 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.