I purchased my bike (03 f4i) in July of 08 with a little over 10k on the odemeter. Now it's more then a year later and I have yet to change the oil. The previous owner had documentation for the 8k service which included an oil change, but my clymer manual says oil changes are done every 8k miles. I'm at about 12,000 miles now.

The thing is I live in San Francisco and mostly use my bike around the city during the week. So I don't put on a lot of miles but I do put it through a lot of stop and go.

Should I really be going years with out an oil change? Am I just too use to the beaters I owned when I was young that required more regular work?


Eric

 

I'd change it every 8k or after any extended storage.

And yes, you're too used to beaters. The recommended oil change doesn't care that you're not putting a bunch of miles on it in one go. 8k miles is 8k miles regardless of how long it took you to put them on there.

 

Well I don't really ever store it. I live in SF so I ride it year round.

 

I always changed my oil after 3k miles, but I rode pretty aggresively on the street. Now I change my oil on my race bike after every two race weekends.

 

8,000 miles is ludicrous, imo. 2-3K mile OCI.

 

8K b/f an oil change?!?!?!? That's absolutely rediculous no matter what type/brand of oil you're using!!! At most 5k if you're using synthetic. Otherwise, 3k for standard oil change.

Changing the oil & filter is one of the most important things you can do for your bike. Why wait??? Its easy to do. For the cost of tanking up your car w/ gas, you can change your oil & filter.

 

Ya the oil molecules will break down after so many miles. Since this happens the oil will shed to a different weight not giving you the adequate lubrication you need for your bike. Remember the bike's oil is shared through it's transmission as well. To keep maximum protection and to have the longest life of your internals change oil ever 3k with normal oil and 4k-5k with synthetic.

 

On the 3k vs 8k change period:
We all ride our bikes differently. Many of us are a lot more aggressive than others. Many of us a lot harder on our bikes than others.

The Honda manual does recommend every 8k miles, prolly expecting the rider to rarely (if ever) approach redline. I know I can keep my bike under 7k riding around the city if I want (which I don't ). The OP went 4k beyond even Honda's recommended cycle.

Regardless of riding style, personal maint cycle or whatever that's bad