Oil changes are just one of the many minor hassles of car ownership, but they're crucial to keeping your car in good shape. Can Overfilling Engine Oil be Damaging to My Bike? Yet, many drivers push their oil well past recommended limits or skip oil changes altogether. Again, it's not the age of the oil, it's the fact all the important bits have gone "dry" in 13 years. I'd put fresh oil in it just for the exercise, and crank with spark plugs out and a few squirts in each cylinder. Make sure you write the date of the oil change so you’ll be able to check on a later date. August 9, 2013. More Ask Kevin. Oil is arguably the most important fluid your car needs, besides fuel, and its upkeep is essential to the vitality of your vehicle. If you don’t remember when your bike had its last oil change, then that’s a good indication that it’s time for an oil change. Latest. While the oil circulates, it covers the components in the engine that work together. Check out the risks of adding too much oil. Oil lubricates, cleans, and keeps the car engine from overheating. If you are a regular user and you run the bike daily for atleast 20 to 30 kms, then you should change the engine oil in 6 months time. If you forget that you emptied the oil and try to start it up again, you’ll cause major damage. So motorcycle motor oil does not contain the friction modifiers of a passenger car motor oil. Furthermore, if you don't change your oil on time and with the proper products, it could void your car's warranty.. Sludge occurs when old oil begins to gel or solidify in an engine. Correct answers all around and just adding my two cents for my KTM. If you’ve passed the recommended amount of time, change the oil. What Happens if You Do Not Change Your Oil? The second area of concern for motorcycle motor oils is that they tend to shear (break down viscosity) more quickly than a typical passenger car. Some motorcycles store motor oil in a tank separate from the engine. It is not always feasible to keep track of the kms run, so on an average changing engine oil in a period of 6 months time will be optimum. On Edit: [I realized later you said the oil had not been changed since 2004, not … You do NOT need to empty the oil. Shell has developed an impressive range of motor oils specific to use in motorcycles. Residual break-in oil can collect in the system following the break-in period and contaminate the service-fill oil. By Kevin Cameron. Changing bike engine oil depends upon the manner you use the bike. Mobil 1™ motorcycle oils are designed to provide exceptional protection against viscosity loss. In this case, run the engine long enough to circulate the oil throughout the system and change it a second time to ensure the break-in oil is completely removed. The oil in your truck and car keeps it running well. Though oil will degrade over time, it is still serving a purpose to the engine in a sense that it’s still lubricating. India Is … Just be sure to remember to change the oil after it has been sitting for any extended period. Oil lubricates the engine and carries heat away from the engine. When sludge begins to build up, oil isn’t able to flow freely through the engine and can cause oil starvation to crankshafts, bearings, camshafts, and other valve train components not be lubricated. Different cars have recommended mileage standards between oil changes. Bikes. The engine from a 2007 Suzuki V-Strom 650--the same bike featured in the oil change tutorial This one, however, was ridden by its uninformed owner until it was dry of oil Another view of the V-Strom engine--note that the front cylinder has already had its valve cap removed in an effort to diagnose the problem. That work together so you ’ ll cause major damage the break-in period and contaminate the oil! 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