Author Topic: oil consumption  (Read 7273 times)

Offline AZBob

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #20 on: November 19, 2012, 05:00:28 PM »
No offense, but it isn't "regular dino oil," it is motorcycle specific oil, formulated to be used in engines that share lubrication with the transmission.

As far as I know, the only real difference between "motorcycle"-spec oil and not, is that motorcycle-spec oil is guaranteed not to have extra lubricants that can cause the clutch to slip. Otherwise the research I've seen shows them to be exactly the same.

If a manufacturer says an engine can go 7,500 miles between oil changes, using conventional oil, 5,000 mile won't be an issue. Neither will 6,000 on occasion.

If that's what it says, then that's what it says. Notice that the warranty isn't exactly a hundred thousand miles, though. Every report of conventional oil I've ever read shows the shear strength falling off precipitously after approximately 3k miles, less if the cold weight and operating temperature weight delta is greater than 20 (e.g. 10w40).

By all means change your bike's oil at whatever interval you feel appropriate. However, the objective data doesn't support your numbers, from what I've read. Oil change intervals prescribed in owner's manuals are driven by marketing departments just as much as by engineers; if you think otherwise, you're fooling yourself, IMO.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #21 on: November 20, 2012, 05:43:00 AM »
Notice that the warranty isn't exactly a hundred thousand miles, though.

Isn't the warranty unlimited miles?
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Offline texrider

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #22 on: November 20, 2012, 05:58:49 AM »
Oh, snap!  :o  ;D
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Offline stevewfl

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #23 on: November 20, 2012, 06:36:24 AM »
that's lather to you bud...
 6000 is my interval with Rotella T, approved by Blackstone Labs. I do look at my glass now and then just like Mr. BDF but lately I have become a slacker.

^^^that oil, combined with KiPass, is the reason I suspect my bike will exceed 200K miles 

I love oil threads  :D
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Offline AZBob

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #24 on: November 20, 2012, 01:14:58 PM »
Isn't the warranty unlimited miles?

Multiply the years by the average motorcycle miles ridden per year, and you'll soon see that the warranty isn't high, by any means. Many automobile powertrain warranties are higher by an order of magnitude.

Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: oil consumption
« Reply #25 on: November 21, 2012, 05:40:09 AM »
Multiply the years by the average motorcycle miles ridden per year, and you'll soon see that the warranty isn't high, by any means. Many automobile powertrain warranties are higher by an order of magnitude.

I have 6 years unlimited mileage on my touring bikes.
I have 35,000 miles in two years on the Voyager, 16,500 miles in one year on the Versys, and 7,500 miles on the concours in 6 months.  There are many guys here who have all those miles added up put on just their Concours.

All automobile warrantees have a mileage limit.  All my motorcycle warrantees do not.  No more to say.
My Concours Travels:
2014 New England Tour http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=17336.msg212077#msg212077