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Post by FightingFalcon on Jul 29, 2006 21:09:55 GMT -8
Well it's about that time to change the oil - the first time was at the dealer for the intial check but now I'm doing it.
I'm at 2500 miles and my oil level is fine but I'm gonna change it very soon anyway. This topic is beaten like a dead horse over on kawiforums.com but I just wanted to know what ya'll thought.
Husky I saw that you mentioned how you use fully synthetic in your bike. 101?
I've heard good and bad things about doing that. Just curious with what ya'll do.
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Post by 101ABN on Jul 30, 2006 8:45:18 GMT -8
I use the standard HD 20-50.
I don't object to synthetics, though. Although the earlier ones were a bit thin and would find a place to leak if they could.
When is your next scheduled maintenance?
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Post by FightingFalcon on Jul 30, 2006 13:49:34 GMT -8
I'm trying to do as much as I can by myself. I replaced the coolant and brake fluid by myself and now I'm trying to do the oil by myself as well. Not only is it much cheaper but its more convenient and easier that way. I don't wanna pay the stealership $200 for something I can do myself.
The next Kawasaki recommended maintenance is 14,000 miles I believe. The first one is 500 miles and the second is 14,000 miles AFAIK. I'm definitely doing every thing I can to keep this thing in top shape, considering how hard I push it.
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Post by 101ABN on Jul 30, 2006 14:44:46 GMT -8
How often do they recommend oil changes?
14 K miles is a long haul between service, especially for small high-revving engines.
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Post by FightingFalcon on Jul 30, 2006 16:27:31 GMT -8
Everyone's different about oil changes. Some people are really crazy - they do an oil change at 50 miles, then 500, 1000 and then every 2000 or so after that. I did my first at the initial check (500 miles) and I'm about to do my second (2500).
Regardless of what Kawasaki recommends, most people do it every 2000 miles or so. 3000 is pushing it and anything over that is retarded.
Yea, 14K is a long time. At the rate I'm going now, I'd probably reach 14 by next spring/summer (depending on how cold the winter is) and that's a long time to go before service. I might bring it in for a check-up before winter storage.
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Post by AmericanEngineer on Jul 30, 2006 19:37:12 GMT -8
I wouldn't go 14k on the oil. Regular oil is decent, though it is good for only about 5k. Synthetic shines in that it resists heat breakdown and won't sludge up an engine if you do infrequent oil changes.
Synthetic also has better additives in it to resist wear on engine parts.
I use it in my new car. Castrol all the way.
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Post by Husky23 on Jul 31, 2006 11:11:32 GMT -8
I run fully synthetic oil FF, (Mobil 1 SuperSynthetic; 15W40 or 15W50) my Triumph came from the factory with it and they forbid conventional (petroleum) oils.
AE is correct, fully synthetic provide a number of benefits, especially for high temp high revving engines, to include:
• Better low temperature viscosities
• Better high temperature performance
• Less impurities
• Decreased oil consumption
• Reduced friction and hence reduced engine wear
• Lower fuel consumption (dependent on viscosity)
• Increased oil change intervals
• Resistance to oil sludge problems
The only negative with synthetic is the cost per quart, like $5-$7 a quart and my mount takes 4.3 quarts.
No real special tasks in changing these days; just complete a normal oil and filter change. When I did change from conventional to synthetic, I usually flushed some extra synthetic (about a half to a full quart) through the engine to push the remaining conventional oil out before I re-installed the drain plug and filled the case to the proper level.
Oil change intervals; Yas my break in change was at 500 miles...and the manual is indicating I too can go to 14,000 for my next....that's abit far for me, especially the way I sometimes ride hard and high revving...I'll probably change it around 7-9000.
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Post by FightingFalcon on Jul 31, 2006 12:57:11 GMT -8
Husky - you're going 9000 miles on the same oil? I know I'm a noob and all but isn't that a bit much? All of the Kawasaki guys change theirs like every 2000/3000 miles. Regardless, this weekend I'll buy a new filter and some fully synthethic oil. I gotta get my bike ready - Sunday I'm going on my first organized group ride  |
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Post by Husky23 on Jul 31, 2006 14:57:04 GMT -8
To be accurate, it actually it would be between 6500 and 8500  But let me correct...I just pulled out my service manual and scoped out the maintenance schedule; says every 6 grand to change oil and filter. I'll probably do it around 1000 miles earlier...depending upon how I ride. On my other bikes (with conventional oil) I would change oil and filter every 1500-2000 miles, but this very high quality synthetic should last well. Hey....good show on the group ride. |
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Post by FightingFalcon on Jul 31, 2006 15:20:02 GMT -8
hrm that's weird....yea i change my car oil every 3000 miles so im surprised that bikes last a lot longer than that. I would have figured that you have to change your bike oil more often than your car oil. Guess not. I'll check my manual tonight though. Should be fun...three of us are going to explore northern New Jersey at a moderate (e.g. 80mph) pace. The other two guys are more experienced than me so they'll probably lead and sweep. I hafta get some group practice in before I head back down to school. I should be in the DC area starting around 27 August or so. That gives us a good two months of riding Husky |
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