How often do you change your oil

[lew600fazer]

Hi My dealer out here in Spain is trying it on I reckon. How often do you get your bike serviced. I say by milage or annually.
Normally I will do my own servicing oils filters etc!But as my FZ6 is still under yamaha 2 year warranty (2010 bike but first registered June 2013) they are telling me the oils should be changed at 6000kms = 3750 miles. I had the first service at 1000kms =625 miles. I have looked at the service manual and it says 10,000kms/6250 miles for oil change and 20,000kms/12500miles for the filter. I would not do an oil change without changing the filter anyway.
Also I do not think I would let the oil run beyond 5000miles either.
What do you reckon. I do ride the bike out here in Spain all year round. If I was in the UK and the bike was led up for the winter months I would do an oil change as a matter of course come Spring time.
Thoughts please.
Lew

[mickvp]

Normally about every 3k miles for me for both the oil and filters.

[Hedgetrimmer]

Pretty sure the Yamaha recommendation is 6000 MILES Lew. Warmer weather in Spain - would that affect it? Don't know, wouldn't have thought so. Your FZ1 should be the same. 600 for the first service is correct.

[lew600fazer]

Pretty sure the Yamaha recommendation is 6000 MILES Lew. Warmer weather in Spain - would that affect it? Don't know, wouldn't have thought so. Your FZ1 should be the same. 600 for the first service is correct.

Yea Nick, just looking at the service manual section 6-3 item 21&22 , oil change first 1000km/600 odd miles then every 10,000kms /6000 odd miles oil change and filter change at 20,000kms/12,000miles. I would never do an oil change without changing the filter anyway.
I would never let it run to that but they are telling me I will infringe the warranty if I do not get it serviced sooner.
The warmer weather should not really effect it that much out here as the engine operating temperature is normally 85 degrees. Colder weather has more effect on engine oil performance. When oil is colder it is more viscous thereby losing some of its lubricating properties until the engine achieves correct operating temperature and obviously this takes longer in Northern Europe.
Lew.

[esetest]

Oil & filter every year for me , I do between 3500 - 4000 miles per year , although the service book says 6k for oil and 12k for oil & filter that's km , mines a gen1.

[chaz]

bought mine new, had the 600 mile service after about 4 weeks then 12 months and 5,000 miles later had the next service, this took me to the end of the 2 years warranty, the dealer told me it was a good idea to get it serviced before the two years was up? I didn't and done my own servicing since, change oil and filter every year, about 4,000 miles, check brakes over and chain every tyre change lube chain after rain/washing or every 2 weeks, just thinking of changing all fluids and air filter this year at 34,000 miles

[fazersharp]

Every other year for me which is less than 2k

[griff86]

Oil and Filter every 4000 on my FZS 600.
 

[mtread]

I do every 3,000. Half way between scheduled 6,000 in the book

[stevierst]

You lot don't half waste some money! I do mine 'about' every 6k miles. That's as yam say it should be done, but if you go over for a thousand, don't worry (unless your under warranty). It's not going to self destruct at 6001 miles!!
And changing it early isn't going to do the bike any favours, or rebuild worn bores.
After a lifetime in the engineering buisness, metal is metal, rub them together and they will wear, it matters not about oil types, viscosities, age, and mileage is almost irrelevant.
Just change it at 6k (ish) and don't panic about it!

[fazersharp]

Makes me feel good
If you want to buy my second hand part used oil i will save it for you

[Hedgetrimmer]

Probably ought to do mine soon. 9500 miles since last done 

[red98]

once a year as reward for passing mot.......way over 6000 the last two years 

[adeejaysdelight]

Contrary to what Stevierst says, I think regular oil change is good for the wear of metal parts. As oil gets used, it collects deposits of carbon and metal shards. An excess of these in the oil will increase wear on the metal parts. That is not to say that Yamaha are wrong. 6000 miles is the recomended milage. Fair enough. But I would rather change my oil before that point than after. And every year if I did less milage as the oil degrades. But, its your bike and you can treat it any way you like. Shit, don't ever change it for all I care 

[Hedgetrimmer]

Might have to kick the tyres this year too....


Still, no rush, the chain's only just dragging on the floor   

[Dead Eye]

I usually change oil and do services on my vehicles when I feel like it and take the recommended time under advisement. This usually means an oil change will be done anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 miles on the bike. The car drew the short straw and although only had about 4k miles put on it, it was a good 18 months or more between its last service and the one before that.

[lew600fazer]

Contrary to what Stevierst says, I think regular oil change is good for the wear of metal parts. As oil gets used, it collects deposits of carbon and metal shards. An excess of these in the oil will increase wear on the metal parts. That is not to say that Yamaha are wrong. 6000 miles is the recomended milage. Fair enough. But I would rather change my oil before that point than after. And every year if I did less milage as the oil degrades. But, its your bike and you can treat it any way you like. Shit, don't ever change it for all I care 

That is why they are fitted with a filter to remove the deposits

[Simon.Pieman]

You lot don't half waste some money! I do mine 'about' every 6k miles. That's as yam say it should be done, but if you go over for a thousand, don't worry (unless your under warranty). It's not going to self destruct at 6001 miles!!
And changing it early isn't going to do the bike any favours, or rebuild worn bores.

I agree, most of you are wasting money. Well said.
.

[noggythenog]

I can see the bigger picture here.


I can see the logic in regular changes.


But it only comes into play if you keep the same bike from birth il death.


Buy a 10 year old bike that has already been abused then it wont make much difference.


treating a bike to death only to sell it 2 years later to someone who abuses it rotten is pointless.


Most folk have longevity in mind.


Most folk end up selling the bike after a few years so why did they bother their arse with it so much.


Personally i change the oil once a year regardless of mileage but I'm only a summer rider.


Once a year....& thrash it all year

[lew600fazer]

You lot don't half waste some money! I do mine 'about' every 6k miles. That's as yam say it should be done, but if you go over for a thousand, don't worry (unless your under warranty). It's not going to self destruct at 6001 miles!!
And changing it early isn't going to do the bike any favours, or rebuild worn bores.
After a lifetime in the engineering buisness, metal is metal, rub them together and they will wear, it matters not about oil types, viscosities, age, and mileage is almost irrelevant.
Just change it at 6k (ish) and don't panic about it!

That is the idea of oil so you do not rub the metal together, there is a film of oil between the two moving surfaces, it is called an oil wedge. The most wear and tear on an engine takes place on the start up as the system is not instantly pressurised. On a lot of larger engines there is an oil priming pump which keeps the system pressurised and therefore maintains that film ofv oil between the bearings /crank journals and cylinder walls.
Life time in Merchant navy marine Chief engineer.
But I do agree changing the oil early is wasting money. Only thing I would say is if a bike has been sitting all winter and not run I would change the oil come spring time as there will be a certain amount of moisture will have got into the oil.

[noggythenog]

Hey Lew this is my mantra about winter storage.


I stick my bike in the shed at start of winter & i dont start it once until summer.....after an oil chamge.


As you sort of say my reasoning is that all the moisture & crap last years oil will not do the engine any good being chucked around the engine for 30 seconds at high revs once a week.


I just let it sit and accumulate...flush it out end of winter, replace with nice and fresh stuff and woola bobs my uncle fannys my aunt.


If it worked last year for me then maybe a fluke...if it works this year that's a trend.

[Andy FZS]

Every other year for me which is less than 2k

Ok fazersharp you've reminded me my oil change is due this year as it was last done in 2012 about 2000 miles ago I didn't bother last year as I'd only done about 700 miles since the previous year. I really need to get out more, but as I only ride for pleasure I choose my days. Roll on summer.

[fazersharp]

Every other year for me which is less than 2k

Ok fazersharp you've reminded me my oil change is due this year as it was last done in 2012 about 2000 miles ago I didn't bother last year as I'd only done about 700 miles since the previous year. I really need to get out more, but as I only ride for pleasure I choose my days. Roll on summer.

At last somone who is just like me, I dont mind it cold but it has to be dry. If you look at my mot now they include the last 6 years or so milage, its like looking at the history of the years weather.
And as noggy says early oil change is only any good if you have had the bike since new - I brought  my 98 in 2001 with 4k on the clock.

Right what about time then, with my car am I not told every 12 months or 10k miles whichever comes sooner - so what about the time factor in my bike

[paul1606]

mr yamaha spends millions on research & development i think they've taken into account various scenarios laying up  for the winter etc, and give recommendations for each model in various country climates . Im happy to go with that, or do we know some thing he does'nt ??? Anyway lets have a discussion on tyres 

[fazersharp]

various scenarios laying up  for the winter etc

I very much doubt that.
And why would they recomend somthing that WOULD keep your bike going for on for ever, wheres the sense in that.
Yes the boffins have spent thousands on researching that every 6k change would see you buying a new bike off them in 10 years