[Bkkthumper]

Just got my 1st service on the bike Oil Change and got them to adjust the throttle and lube the chain while I was there. Total cost 270b or about $9. Haha awesome.

I didn't notice this before but in the service manual the 2nd Oil change is not until 12,000 kilometers. I think this is too far, all other bikes I have done every 5000.

My manual is in Thai but my interpretation is 12,000 and the honda service shop stated 12,000 next oil change the 6000 is just an inspection. Is this also stated in other regions?

Does anyone else think this is too far to wait to change?

An oil change is so cheap here I won't be waiting that long.

 

[kiwi rider]

Absolutely way too long! I dumped my original oil at 500km and will do another change at 2000km then every 4000km after that. This was what I did with my CBR250, I bought that new also.
Oil and filters are way cheaper than engine repairs!

 

[Bkkthumper]

What does your service manual recommend in NZ for 2nd Oil Change?

 

[kiwi rider]

same as yours, 12,000km. Craziness IMO

 

[mike]

Indeed, these are some crazy service intervals, and although these are numbers coming from a big bike maker, it still has me thinking about the downsides to this, if anything bad is happening after a specific point during that long interval.

 

[Buck]

I took mine in this weekend for first service at just over 500 miles. I have not read what the manual says but I was told to have the oil changed at 4000 miles. I will probably do it around 3k or 3.5k.

 

[Michael B.]

Absolutely way too long! I dumped my original oil at 500km and will do another change at 2000km then every 4000km after that. This was what I did with my CBR250, I bought that new also.
Oil and filters are way cheaper than engine repairs!

I've read on the Modern Vespa forum that at least one dude had his oil checked by a lab at 6000 miles (so 10 000 km) and it was still OK. That was model GTS300. The engine is just 8 cc smaller than the CBR/CB's. With today's high performance synthetics I think 4 thou is too soon. Well, unless perhaps it's being used for racing mostly. While it may not cost much to replace the oil, the environmental cost is relatively high, IMO.
Vespa has oil changes every 10 thou (km). Piaggio Beverly (330cc engine) even longer. I would think that normal legal (or semi-legal) riding rarely sees the engine spin faster than 8 thou, so no big strain on the engine. I think that 12 thou for normal riding sounds OK.

 

[kiwi rider]

I've read on the Modern Vespa forum that at least one dude had his oil checked by a lab at 6000 miles (so 10 000 km) and it was still OK. That was model GTS300. The engine is just 8 cc smaller than the CBR/CB's. With today's high performance synthetics I think 4 thou is too soon. Well, unless perhaps it's being used for racing mostly. While it may not cost much to replace the oil, the environmental cost is relatively high, IMO.
Vespa has oil changes every 10 thou (km). Piaggio Beverly (330cc engine) even longer. I would think that normal legal (or semi-legal) riding rarely sees the engine spin faster than 8 thou, so no big strain on the engine. I think that 12 thou for normal riding sounds OK.

Fair call, but I'm not using expensive fully synthetic. I'm using an average quality Castrol semi synthetic that works out $14 USD per 1500ml oil change. So at that price I'm happy to do it every 4000km.

If you get a contaminant in your system at 500km after changing your oil then its in there for another 11,500km no matter how good your oil is.

 

[bongoben]

I'm not into conspiracy theories but I think it's designed to discourage the owner
from performing an oil change.

I also think that explains the absurd 8000 mile oil change schedule.

Just curious, What do you mean by "absurb 8000 mile oil change". This is my first bike so I am still learning but from the forums, that seems normal for all bikes or am I completely off?

 

[kiwi rider]

Just curious, What do you mean by "absurb 8000 mile oil change". This is my first bike so I am still learning but from the forums, that seems normal for all bikes or am I completely off?

Too longer interval between changes for a small engine working hard with an oil capacity of only 1500ml.

 

[Hi-Viz-Honda]

My 2013 Hyundai Accent (manual transmission) owner's manual says change the oil every 7,500 miles. I change it at 5,000 so I'll probably do something similar with my bike.

 

[bongoben]

Too longer interval between changes for a small engine working hard with an oil capacity of only 1500ml.

That is a good point. How often do you recommend changing it? Are there any other maintenance things like this that I should consider doing more frequently than the manual says?

 

[kiwi rider]

That is a good point. How often do you recommend changing it? Are there any other maintenance things like this that I should consider doing more frequently than the manual says?

No, just the oil but make sure you still change the oil filter every time you change the oil. They are cheap.
I would half that interval down to 4K miles.
Oils for some reason are a very emotive subject but personally, because I change my oil more regularly, I use a quality semi-synthetic oil rather than an expensive full synthetic.
Just sayin tho, not lookin to start a debate.

 

[atown8605]

Too longer interval between changes for a small engine working hard with an oil capacity of only 1500ml.

I think the actual oil capacity is 1800ml.

So 17% of the old oil is still in the motor.

 

[kiwi rider]

I think the actual oil capacity is 1800ml.

So 17% of the old oil is still in the motor.

Yeah you'd have to flush the motor out with brake clean or something similar to get it all out.
Seems a bit extreme.

 

[Jang Humpen]

I think the actual oil capacity is 1800ml.

So 17% of the old oil is still in the motor.

Yeah you'd have to flush the motor out with brake clean or something similar to get it all out.
Seems a bit extreme.

So, would that be something to be considered when changing from the Dino-oil to synthetic, as that would be my next step ?

 

[kiwi rider]

So, would that be something to be considered when changing from the Dino-oil to synthetic, as that would be my next step ?

I wouldn't bother myself. Just get it nice and hot (shouldn't be too hard in Thailand!) and leave it over night to drain. Also, when its still hot tip the bike from side to side slowly and a long way over to tip the oil off/out of the internals. Best done with oil filter out of the housing and housing cover off. Can be messy business tho!

 

[mikal]

I have 4200 miles now and have done a total of 3 oil changes. The first 2 were both before 1200 miles. I ride high rpm's most of the time so plan to change it every 3500-4000 miles from now on. I try to use Amsoil/Motul, whichever is available. Someone will say I change it too early or I don't need to use expensive oil but it's the most important maintenance item you can do to any vehicle and If it gives me peace of mind it's worth it.

 

[atown8605]

Considering that 17% of the old spent oil is left in the motor, my oil
change schedule is 2000 miles with Lucas synthetic oil.

 

[Jang Humpen]

I have 4200 miles now and have done a total of 3 oil changes. The first 2 were both before 1200 miles. I ride high rpm's most of the time so plan to change it every 3500-4000 miles from now on. I try to use Amsoil/Motul, whichever is available. Someone will say I change it too early or I don't need to use expensive oil but it's the most important maintenance item you can do to any vehicle and If it gives me peace of mind it's worth it.

Almost the same with mine. In Thailand I got vouchers for 3 oil changes, 1st one was @ 625 miles, 2nd @ 2500, 3rd @ 4375. Besides that I made one just after 35 miles.
The filter, gasket, and crush washer I have to supply myself, no big deal, I know my sources.
When switching to synthetic I'll check, but changes will be somewhere in between 3750-5000 miles.