Oil and winter storage
 

The riding season will be over in a couple days, and my bike will be stored over the winter season (3 months).

What's the consensus on changing the oil prior to storage vs. after rolling it out again?

The bike is 2001 TT600R with 12.500 km on the clock and a oil capacity of about 2.8 litres. I've got 2300 km on my current oil which was changed about 5 months ago.

I've heard pros and cons for both methods, but what do my fellow hubbers do?

Do the oilchange when the new season start, the oil you have on engine is still in good condition.

2300 is plenty for time to change. Getting the old oil out now is best to get all the impurities and junk from used oil out and fresh clean in for sitting. Take the battery out and put a tender on it for the entire time, you can leave it in the bike also just put a tender on it so it can't drain dead . Some don't use a tender ,but I do , I've had even new bikes/quads that killed the battery in a couple weeks and wrecked the battery, so now all get a tender.

If you change oil now you have to change oil for the new season again if you want the best lubrication for the engine, its a reason why oil comes in sealed boxes. Buy a cheap oil for storage and good oil for the season, most importan of all is not what you do in winter, its what brand and how often you change.

For only three months i wouldn’t bother changing the oil, you would be beter off just starting it up & letting it warm up a couple of times, plus it will prevent it wet sumping.

Remember you engine is a dry sump & oil could seep back in to the engine if left standing still for months.

Mezo.

If a person starts it every so often in the winter, always make sure to get it up to full temp for a bit to burn off condensation. Unbelievable how much water gets in the oil at cold startup(I mean cold, as in winter cold), not as bad at warmer temps.

Unless the thing sits for 8-12 months very doubtful modern oils will be bad after 3 months. I'd change it at a bit lower mileage in the spring but not just throw it out because it is 3 months old. Oils from the 60's-70's , ya ! This will be one of "personal preferences " things and leave it at that, kind of like which oil is best doh .

YES! And this basically means you need high oiltemp :nono:
So I don't start it unless I will drive it.


I used two change it before winter (old oil contains acid).
No I'm a bit more lazy and my engine is still alive after 250kkm...