Mileage after changing oil for winter storage

[CollingsBob]

Ok…a bunch of you ‘muricans can just ignore this.
I’m fairly religious about changing oil before storing the bike for winter - and only putting a few miles on that oil before storing it.
The oil in the bike has about 500 miles/800km on it..
Change it again before storing the bike, or just store it? The oil is 10w40 full synthetic.

[fjray]

If it was mine, I wouldn't but my opinion is worth exactly what it costs. I've left oil in for the winter with thousands of miles on it with no ill effects. My stuff lives inside on tenders in a heated building.

[FJRoss]

Ok…a bunch of you ‘muricans can just ignore this.
I’m fairly religious about changing oil before storing the bike for winter - and only putting a few miles on that oil before storing it.
The oil in the bike has about 500 miles/800km on it..
Change it again before storing the bike, or just store it? The oil is 10w40 full synthetic.

I have no problem storing my bike over the winter with used oil in it. If it close to the next change interval, I would change it but certainly wouldn't with less than a thousand miles!!

My bike is kept in an unheated (attached) garage and not on a battery tender - top-up charge once or twice over the winter.

[raYzerman]

Maybe back when you were a teenager you'd change the oil.... these days oil is formulated to stick to surfaces and neutralize any acids we talked about in the old days.. well OK, not THAT acid, it was something else.
I change oil when the interval comes up.

[Angus_McL]

With low miles like that on it I'd leave it over the winter as well. If you're itching to do a change though you can come do mine in a month or so!

A.

[Pterodactyl]

Change it. Then sell the used oil to Ray for 80 cents on the dollar... plus shipping.

[Canadian FJR]

Before I put the bike to bed for the winter I always do one last ride and then change the engine oil, filter & gear oil when everything is warmed up.

With those few mikes, I’d say leave it as is.

Canadian FJR

[fjray]

Change it. Then sell the used oil to Ray for 80 cents on the dollar... plus shipping.

I'm sure you are referring to the other Ray. I've already got a drum full of used oil.

[John d]

I change the dino oil in November or December, then ride any day possible during the winter. Once I rode Christmas day. Rides in January and February are few, but March in my part of Canada is beginning of the season for me.

[gixxerjasen]

Store it? You mean for the summer when it's too freaking hot to ride? Man, it's time to get the bikes out now.

[Cav47]

To paraphrase a common saying here “Store more, worry less”.

You all know I am one of the least mechanical savvy riders here, but anecdotally, I have left oil in machines over the winter often with no problems. One such example is my neighbors log splitter that he has told me to just keep in my shed. We have lived here 10 years and the first time I borrowed it, he said “It hadn’t been used much lately. Prob was due for an oil change.” I asked if he changed it after he used it last. He replied “I did change it after the last time he used it, but that was in 90 or 91.” So roughly 25 years between changes. I questioned him about that maintenance interval and he replied “Ever see the inside of an sealed engine rust?” Nope, cant say that I have. My neighbor was the maintenance foreman at GM Engine plant here in Danville for 30 years. I know that Briggs & Statton is not a FJR, but it doesn’t need to be. That thing fires up every time I use it and the only thing I do is drain the gas out after using it. The oil has been changed exactly 2 times since I got my drivers license!!!!

It will snap a 15 inch walnut log like nothing. Hydraulic power does the work, but the gas engine never misses a beat. The oil that was in there from 90 or 91 was prob a decade old. My suspicions are from knowing my neighbor doesn’t use bar oil in his chainsaws, he uses recycled engine oil. “No use wasting dead dinos and money on stuff that don’t matter”.

[Pterodactyl]

Change it. Then sell the used oil to Ray for 80 cents on the dollar... plus shipping.

I'm sure you are referring to the other Ray. I've already got a drum full of used oil.

Yes, Canadian Ray, but only to keep shipping costs down.

[Hppants]

Winter storage?
What is this phenomena you write of?

[gixxerjasen]

Winter storage?
What is this phenomena you write of?

When you have to store the bike because it rains all week, I think that's what he's talking about. I wouldn't worry about my oil at all for that.

[CollingsBob]

all week

lol@“all week”…

How about 5 1/2 - 6 months of raisin pouch cold..

[raYzerman]

all week

lol@“all week”…

How about 5 1/2 - 6 months of raisin pouch cold..

You shouldn't have a problem because yours is kept in your wife's purse.

[fjrob]

254000 km on mine Bob. In november I turn off the key. Yhe next ime I use it I turn the key on. I change oil around 10000 KM .

[bungie4]

254000 km on mine Bob. In november I turn off the key. Yhe next ime I use it I turn the key on. I change oil around 10000 KM .

No no. You must use specialty blended full synth oil for $30/l and only Yamaha filters pre-lubed with brow sweat of a hyperglycemic virgin. Then, you must change everything every 3000km while never exceeding 3250 rpm.
Make sure you wax it twice a week, and for godsakes don't run a car tire.

[fjrob]

254000 km on mine Bob. In november I turn off the key. Yhe next ime I use it I turn the key on. I change oil around 10000 KM .

No no. You must use specialty blended full synth oil for $30/l and only Yamaha filters pre-lubed with brow sweat of a hyperglycemic virgin. Then, you must change everything every 3000km while never exceeding 3250 rpm.
Make sure you wax it twice a week, and for godsakes don't run a car tire.

Thanks for the input Steve. I'll file it away for later..........

[Steel_Gin]

Pre-pandemic I rode about 8000 to 10000 miles a year and I planned my oil changes based on that, an oil change at about the halfway point. When I put it away for the winter I change the oil and rear end fluid. I know many will think that's too often for both but that's how I do it.

This season and last I only rode about 5000 miles each. Only did/will do one oil change and that's when I put it away for the winter. Rear end oil gets changed too. A bottle of gear oil is only like $20 and is good for many changes, at $2-$3 a pop it's cheap insurance.