Thinking about changing my oil change routine

headshrink · January 1st, 2009, 10:05 PM

I have been changing my oil every 1000 - 1500 mi. since I got my bike. I have recently started changing some minor aspects of this routine to save $$.... for instance, the last time I did it I didn't replace the o rings, which seemed safe enough. This time I ordered the Fram filter for 1/2 what the dealer charges AND it really does come with the o rings (I thought that was just to good to be true). I am waiting to install these this weekend. I'm considering getting oil at Autozone, instead of the dealer..... but this has been covered in many other threads.
So here is what I am considering next..... rather than replacing the filter every time I do an oil change, how about every other time (2000 - 3000 miles)? Just a thought - would it matter much?

kkim · January 1st, 2009, 10:21 PM

I personally think changing the oil every 1000-1500 miles is excessive once the bike is broken in. I changed frequently in the first 2k miles to make sure I had flushed all of the crap out of the crankcase. Now that I'm at 2K, I'm planning to do the changes at every 3K miles.

At that interval, you will save money over your present routine. If you feel squeamish about letting your oil go for 3K miles (which is quite frequent, in my book), I suggest using a full synthetic oil at your next change. Shell Rotella T 5W-40 is a great oil for our bikes and is economically priced and available at Walmart.

I stay away from Fram filters and prefer WIX filters or their equivalent at NAPA, which are their Gold line filters. Comes with O-rings, too!

Kurosaki · January 1st, 2009, 10:34 PM

1000-2000 miles is a really short interval.

I do 5000.

headshrink · January 1st, 2009, 11:47 PM

Why do you stay away from the Fram?

kkim · January 1st, 2009, 11:58 PM

I've read a few oils study reports that have had not too good things to day about Fram filters. Search online and you'll find the reports too. Make up your own mind on their findings. You already know my decision.

grandmaster · January 1st, 2009, 11:59 PM

Anybody have the Part Number for the oil filters they use

kkim · January 2nd, 2009, 12:05 AM

check the oil change DIY.

noche_caliente · January 2nd, 2009, 08:41 AM

I worked at the company that used to make the filter paper for the fram filters.... that's more than enough for me to stay away! That company has since gone under, but I'm still not going near the fram filters, as I'm sure their new supplier doesn't have much bettre quality!

headshrink · January 2nd, 2009, 12:58 PM

I never knew that.... I'll look into it. I did order 2, so I'll use them up pretty fast with my current change cycle. Then I'll look into the others - with o rings

.

Sailariel · January 2nd, 2009, 02:57 PM

Shrink, I agree with Kelly. My routine is every 3000 miles using Shell Rotella 5W40. This is the same oil I have used in my Yanmar diesel on my sailboat for the past 20+ years. On the sailboat I change oil and filter every 150 Hours of operation. Yanmar will void your warranty if you use Fram. I use WIX filters on all my vehicles as well as Rotella-T. I change the filter every time I change the oil. I see little value in changing to a clean oil and leaving 40cc of dirty oil in the engine.

headshrink · January 2nd, 2009, 03:18 PM

Good point.... I'll look for those filters and oil. Thanks!

God forbid I have a warentee issue, but I'll make sure I have an OEM filter in-place when I take the bike in for service.... regardless of what was actually in there prior.

I am assuming that I'll be OK running through the 2 Fram filters I currently have "in stock," as long as I don't make a habit of it?

Sailariel · January 2nd, 2009, 04:39 PM

Sure, Two filters are not going to do any damage--not at the rate you change oil. I am still using OEM Filters and Kawasaki 10W40 till my warranty in June expires. I saw no point in getting an extended warranty because I feel that anything that would be defective would come to light in that period. I am also blessed with two independent MC repair/service facilities in my area. Thanks to this forum, I found out that Shell Rotella-T is the way to go. It is a great oil. I have 230,000mi on my 95 Escort. The engine and trans are like new, but the body is shot. The Escort does not burn any oil andruns great--has had a Rotella diet since it was new.

Broom · January 2nd, 2009, 04:47 PM

i've always heard to stay away from fram for motorcycle filters too. not sure if its an urban myth kinda thing or not.

Sailariel · January 2nd, 2009, 05:09 PM

Broom, I took a Fram filter and cut it in half after it had 3000 miles on it. The inside was totally scrambled (not due to my cutting) The glue had done something and I doubt that the filter could have filtered anything. The Yanmar folks are no dummies--they build the penultimate diesel.

Sailariel · January 4th, 2009, 07:55 PM

Correction: The oil I have been using in my cars and inboard diesel on the boat is Shell Rotella-T15W-40. It is a non-synthetic oil. The oil I will be using in the Ninja will be Shell Rotella-T 5W40 and that is a synthetic oil. I still will continue to use WIX Oil Filters in all my vehicles.

January 1st, 2009, 10:05 PM	#1
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	Thinking about changing my oil change routine I have been changing my oil every 1000 - 1500 mi. since I got my bike. I have recently started changing some minor aspects of this routine to save $$.... for instance, the last time I did it I didn't replace the o rings, which seemed safe enough. This time I ordered the Fram filter for 1/2 what the dealer charges AND it really does come with the o rings (I thought that was just to good to be true). I am waiting to install these this weekend. I'm considering getting oil at Autozone, instead of the dealer..... but this has been covered in many other threads. So here is what I am considering next..... rather than replacing the filter every time I do an oil change, how about every other time (2000 - 3000 miles)? Just a thought - would it matter much?

January 2nd, 2009, 04:47 PM	#13
Broom Track Junkie Name: Jon Location: Dallas Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r Track Bike, DR350 commuter, KDX220 woods bike Posts: 602	i've always heard to stay away from fram for motorcycle filters too. not sure if its an urban myth kinda thing or not. __________________________________________________ Las Escobas -- Track Bikes Save Lives JonBroom.com

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January 1st, 2009, 10:21 PM	#2
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	I personally think changing the oil every 1000-1500 miles is excessive once the bike is broken in. I changed frequently in the first 2k miles to make sure I had flushed all of the crap out of the crankcase. Now that I'm at 2K, I'm planning to do the changes at every 3K miles. At that interval, you will save money over your present routine. If you feel squeamish about letting your oil go for 3K miles (which is quite frequent, in my book), I suggest using a full synthetic oil at your next change. Shell Rotella T 5W-40 is a great oil for our bikes and is economically priced and available at Walmart. I stay away from Fram filters and prefer WIX filters or their equivalent at NAPA, which are their Gold line filters. Comes with O-rings, too!

January 1st, 2009, 10:34 PM	#3
Kurosaki Akai Suisei - 赤い彗星 Name: Joseph Location: socal Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): 08 Kurosaki 250, 09 Honda 600RawrRawr Posts: 540	1000-2000 miles is a really short interval. I do 5000.

January 1st, 2009, 11:47 PM	#4
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	Why do you stay away from the Fram?

January 1st, 2009, 11:58 PM	#5
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	I've read a few oils study reports that have had not too good things to day about Fram filters. Search online and you'll find the reports too. Make up your own mind on their findings. You already know my decision.

January 1st, 2009, 11:59 PM	#6
grandmaster ninjette.org member Name: Levi Location: St. George, Utah Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Ninja 250R, CR125R Posts: 191	Anybody have the Part Number for the oil filters they use

January 2nd, 2009, 12:05 AM	#7
kkim Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.	check the oil change DIY.

January 2nd, 2009, 08:41 AM	#8
noche_caliente ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Kim Location: mundo de ensueño Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 250 Posts: A lot.	I worked at the company that used to make the filter paper for the fram filters.... that's more than enough for me to stay away! That company has since gone under, but I'm still not going near the fram filters, as I'm sure their new supplier doesn't have much bettre quality!

January 2nd, 2009, 12:58 PM	#9
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	I never knew that.... I'll look into it. I did order 2, so I'll use them up pretty fast with my current change cycle. Then I'll look into the others - with o rings .

January 2nd, 2009, 02:57 PM	#10
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Shrink, I agree with Kelly. My routine is every 3000 miles using Shell Rotella 5W40. This is the same oil I have used in my Yanmar diesel on my sailboat for the past 20+ years. On the sailboat I change oil and filter every 150 Hours of operation. Yanmar will void your warranty if you use Fram. I use WIX filters on all my vehicles as well as Rotella-T. I change the filter every time I change the oil. I see little value in changing to a clean oil and leaving 40cc of dirty oil in the engine.

January 2nd, 2009, 03:18 PM	#11
headshrink ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Bob Location: CA Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.	Good point.... I'll look for those filters and oil. Thanks! God forbid I have a warentee issue, but I'll make sure I have an OEM filter in-place when I take the bike in for service.... regardless of what was actually in there prior. I am assuming that I'll be OK running through the 2 Fram filters I currently have "in stock," as long as I don't make a habit of it?

January 2nd, 2009, 04:39 PM	#12
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Sure, Two filters are not going to do any damage--not at the rate you change oil. I am still using OEM Filters and Kawasaki 10W40 till my warranty in June expires. I saw no point in getting an extended warranty because I feel that anything that would be defective would come to light in that period. I am also blessed with two independent MC repair/service facilities in my area. Thanks to this forum, I found out that Shell Rotella-T is the way to go. It is a great oil. I have 230,000mi on my 95 Escort. The engine and trans are like new, but the body is shot. The Escort does not burn any oil andruns great--has had a Rotella diet since it was new.

January 2nd, 2009, 05:09 PM	#14
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Broom, I took a Fram filter and cut it in half after it had 3000 miles on it. The inside was totally scrambled (not due to my cutting) The glue had done something and I doubt that the filter could have filtered anything. The Yanmar folks are no dummies--they build the penultimate diesel.

January 4th, 2009, 07:55 PM	#15
Sailariel ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Alex Location: Belfast, ME Join Date: Jul 2008 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Honda NT-700-V, formerly, Green 2008 Ninja 250R Posts: A lot.	Correction: The oil I have been using in my cars and inboard diesel on the boat is Shell Rotella-T15W-40. It is a non-synthetic oil. The oil I will be using in the Ninja will be Shell Rotella-T 5W40 and that is a synthetic oil. I still will continue to use WIX Oil Filters in all my vehicles.