Low Mileage - How Long Can You Leave An Oil Change ?

[KTMsm]

With so many bikers covering so few miles what are people's thoughts on oil changes on bikes that have done minimal mileage ?

A mate recently sold his mint 7k ZX6r which hadn't covered 500 miles in 5 years so he hasn't serviced it and the buyers weren't impressed.

For the minimal cost of oil I change mine regularly but if it hasn't done many miles I don't change the filter.

[Krikkit]

Even if the bike was doing no miles, if it's kept in a cold outbuilding I'd want to change the oil every couple of years.

It absorbs quite a lot of moisture when the weather's cold and the bike isn't run fully up to temperature.

To be honest I don't think I'd buy a bike that'd been sitting for so long, it's not good for rubber bits etc.

[trickywoo]

Couple of years for me too, although I’d be tempted to do the oil annually but the filter only every two.

[KTMsm]

Krikkit said:

To be honest I don't think I'd buy a bike that'd been sitting for so long, it's not good for rubber bits etc.

I'd rather buy a bike that has been used regularly mostly because that's a sign it's reliable, other than tyres and sticky calipers what else is likely to be affected by standing ?

[thatdude]

Oil not at operating temp goes off quite slowly; as a general rule of chemistry, the rate of a given reaction doubles for every 10 deg.C the temp goes up...so oxidative processes etc are quite slow at ambient compared to the 90-100 deg.C (and higher at particular parts of the engine) the oil would be subject to.

Based on this, if I wasnt using my bike at all I'd just leave the current oil in there for a couple of years, but aboslutly change it before any ride. Oil wouldnt be my main worry - I would be more concrened about the clutch plates having oxidised and and stuck together, the condition of the tyres (flat-spotting under the weight having not been moved), the state of the forks (sealed dried out), binding brakes etc.

[KTMsm]

Most of the bikes I've come across (and my mate's) weren't stood for 5 years they were just ridden a couple of times a year sub 100 miles

The MOT checker means that info is available

[Rick101]

KTMsm said:

A mate recently sold his mint 7k ZX6r which hadn't covered 500 miles in 5 years so he hasn't serviced it and the buyers weren't impressed.

For me, that's far from mint.
It hasn't had the most very basic of recommended maintenance.
I hope the buyers got a good discount!

[srob]

That's the glory of an old bike. I leave a tray under the Velocette all winter, come start of summer I just pour the contents back in the top and job done.

It practically changes itself

[bogie]

srob said:

That's the glory of an old bike. I leave a tray under the Velocette all winter, come start of summer I just pour the contents back in the top and job done.

It practically changes itself

LOL ....I used to have a bike like that, that used to burn least 2-3L in between oil changes, and with a 5k mile service interval it was never that dirty

Seriously though, I would let my bike or car go 2 years with just 2-3k miles of use. However I wouldn't want to be buying a car/bike that hasn't had a change in 5 years regardless that's not a "mint" condition bike coming out of storage, its a bike that's not been serviced/maintained and needs a full recommissioning. More of a risky purchase than a bike that's been used and serviced every year.

[RemaL]

Oil is not expensive. My car oil is 0W20 and sort of pricey but even that for 6ltrs is £80.

Change oil every year regardless of miles in my bikes or cars.

[Unbusy]

KTMsm said:

With so many bikers covering so few miles what are people's thoughts on oil changes on bikes that have done minimal mileage ?

A mate recently sold his mint 7k ZX6r which hadn't covered 500 miles in 5 years so he hasn't serviced it and the buyers weren't impressed.

For the minimal cost of oil I change mine regularly but if it hasn't done many miles I don't change the filter.

That oil is still ok imo. I have never read anywhere that it’s no longer fit for purpose except on here. Change the filter and away you go.

[KTMsm]

Rick101 said:

For me, that's far from mint.
It hasn't had the most very basic of recommended maintenance.
I hope the buyers got a good discount!

Mint refers to looks and it looked like new

Actually they didn't get a penny off but he'd priced it far too cheaply IMO

Exactly what knowledge are you basing your assertions on ?

I have googled and I can find instances of ten-year-old lawn mowers with the oil still within spec, I'm struggling to find anything showing it needs to be changed with anything like the regularity bikers do

[Rick101]

Oil absorbs carbon particles. the filter will take out most, down to around 0.3 but smaller will be absorbed into the oil and damage the quality.

That is the reason the service schedule traditionally says XX miles or 12 months whichever is sooner.
There is a time limit on it. It's quite well known, well amongst enthusiasts. The only reason not to change is the owner wanting to save themselves £50 but I find in the long run it's more than worthwhile.
I certainly wouldn't even consider a vehicle, even shed level that hadn't had regular oil changes.

Lots of sites showing similar info, not sure why you couldn't find any.
https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/motor-oil/article...

Edited by Rick101 on Monday 29th March 18:39

[Bob_Defly]

2-3 years for oil, but as others have said, after sitting for 5+ years there will be more/different problems than old oil.

[underwhelmist]

Unbusy said:

That oil is still ok imo. I have never read anywhere that it’s no longer fit for purpose except on here. Change the filter and away you go.

Change the filter but not the oil?

[KTMsm]

Rick101 said:

Oil absorbs carbon particles. the filter will take out most, down to around 0.3 but smaller will be absorbed into the oil and damage the quality.

That is the reason the service schedule traditionally says XX miles or 12 months whichever is sooner.
There is a time limit on it. It's quite well known, well amongst enthusiasts. The only reason not to change is the owner wanting to save themselves £50 but I find in the long run it's more than worthwhile.
I certainly wouldn't even consider a vehicle, even shed level that hadn't had regular oil changes.

Lots of sites showing similar info, not sure why you couldn't find any.
https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/motor-oil/article...

But that didn't answer my question and as they are trying to sell more oil they are somewhat biased.

They are saying their oil stays within grade for 25,000 miles so I find it hard to believe it can go out of grade within 1 mile in 5 years - or indeed one year according to the bike manufacturer.

All I am asking for is, has anyone got any independent results showing lab testing after oil has sat for a number of years and how far out of grade it has gone ?

The only one I could find was regarding a lawnmower that at 10 years old was still within grade, needless to say it wouldn't have been filled with the finest synthetic oil.

Whilst I admit a lawn mower isn't the harshest environment it's hardly made to the best tolerances either.

[Northernboy]

What do people do with the old oil? Do the council take it at the tip?

[Rick101]

I haven't had oil samples analysed but some people do.

I'm sure time served lightly used oil will be of poorer quality that than fresh stuff. How much by I don't know.

Regardless, for me, I would change to the manufacturer recommendation as a minimum.

[KTMsm]

Northernboy said:

What do people do with the old oil? Do the council take it at the tip?

My Council do

I think it gets re-refined and re used

(Edit - just googled, it does, can't say I've ever noticed it being sold as such)

[Bob_Defly]

KTMsm said:

Rick101 said:

Oil absorbs carbon particles. the filter will take out most, down to around 0.3 but smaller will be absorbed into the oil and damage the quality.

That is the reason the service schedule traditionally says XX miles or 12 months whichever is sooner.
There is a time limit on it. It's quite well known, well amongst enthusiasts. The only reason not to change is the owner wanting to save themselves £50 but I find in the long run it's more than worthwhile.
I certainly wouldn't even consider a vehicle, even shed level that hadn't had regular oil changes.

Lots of sites showing similar info, not sure why you couldn't find any.
https://www.amsoil.com/newsstand/motor-oil/article...

But that didn't answer my question and as they are trying to sell more oil they are somewhat biased.

They are saying their oil stays within grade for 25,000 miles so I find it hard to believe it can go out of grade within 1 mile in 5 years - or indeed one year according to the bike manufacturer.

All I am asking for is, has anyone got any independent results showing lab testing after oil has sat for a number of years and how far out of grade it has gone ?

The only one I could find was regarding a lawnmower that at 10 years old was still within grade, needless to say it wouldn't have been filled with the finest synthetic oil.

Whilst I admit a lawn mower isn't the harshest environment it's hardly made to the best tolerances either.

The oil itself doesn't really degrade that much, but the additives do. But again, if you change it prior to starting up a bike that's been left for 5-10 years then no damage will be done.

Basically the spec will just not be as good as intended, it doesn't mean it won't lubricate. Source - worked in the oil industry for a few years and we had a lab.