Basic motorcycle maintenance is imperative if you want to keep your bike's engine running as it should. One critical part of these regular tasks is changing the oil.
We look at how often to change motorcycle oil, so you know when to service your bike.
Motorcycle oil is quite different from car engine oil but still has the same purposes. The bike engine oil lubricates the internal parts of the engine, plus it is responsible for keeping the system cool. While some engine oils can also clean the sludge and buildup in the engine, it must be a special formula.
Over time, the motorcycle oil starts to breakdown, causing these functions to fail. Plus, oil can become contaminated as it gets dirty, which puts more stress on your bike's engine.
How to Know If Your Motorcycle Oil Needs Changing
Black and gritty oil
As the oil starts to breakdown, it changes from its light brown color to a black and gritty substance instead. This happens as the oil gets contaminated and is used for too long.
Engine running louder than usual
The motorcycle oil is meant to lubricate the working parts of the engine. As the oil breaks down, it causes more wear on these components, which could lead to increased motor noise. However, the problem could also be just a lack of oil.
Warning light on dashboard
Modern bikes have warning systems to let you know when something is wrong. If the engine oil is wearing out or if the levels have gotten too low, you might see a light come on the dashboard. You should never ignore these valuable warning signs and should check your motorcycle oil level.
Oil Level is below the minimum mark
Your engine needs a specified amount of oil to run correctly. If the system gets low, it is sometimes better just to do a complete oil and motorcycle filter change instead of topping it off. You can check the engine oil with the dipstick or sight glass.
It's been a long time since the last oil change
Depending on what motor oil you run, you might need to change it as often as every 2,000 miles. Thankfully, it isn't difficult to learn how to change your motorcycle motor oil, especially if you have the right oil drain pan and oil filter wrench on hand.
How Often Should You Change Your Motorcycle Oil?
What Happens If You Don’t Change Your Motorcycle Oil?
Now that you know how often to do an oil change on a motorcycle, it's important that you keep up with it. Otherwise, you could run into issues, such as:
People Also Ask (FAQs)
How often do you need to change the oil of a Harley Davidson?
Determining how often to change motorcycle engine oil doesn't necessarily rely on the brand of bike but the type of motor oil you use. If you are using conventional oil, you should change it every 2,000 miles, but if you run synthetic, you could go up to 10,000 miles.
How often do you need to change the motorcycle's air filter?
The motorcycle air filter is responsible for trapping dirt and contaminants from getting to the engine. It should be replaced every 10,000 to 15,000 miles.
How often do you need to change the motorcycle's gear oil?
Most people don't need to know how often to change gear oil in a motorcycle because their bike doesn't use this oil, but rather the engine oil. However, if you need to change the gear oil, it's likely going to require replacement every 5,000 to 10,000 miles.
What does a full motorcycle service include?
Your motorcycle service schedule dictates what needs to be done at each appointment. Sometimes it is just an oil change, when other times, the tires might need to be replaced, or the chain needs to be lubed.
Conclusion
Now that you know how many miles to change the oil on a motorcycle, it's time to take care of your bike. Feed your engine the best oil and change it often to enjoy rides well into the future.