Synthetic - how often?

[nec]

How often do you change synthetic (Rotella) oil on DL650?
If it's more than 3.5K - do you change filter every time?

I'm trying to decide if I should stick with recommended 3.5Kmiles intervals or if using synthetic means longer interval is OK.

[GrayWolf]

I go 5k miles between changes. I always change my filter every time.

-GW

[greywolf]

I stick to the 3500 mile interval unless I'm taking a long trip. Then I'll go up to 7000 miles on a two week trip. If I'm in 3500 mile interval mode, I'll change the oil filter every second oil change.

[Big B]

When I ran synthetic, I always changed around 4 thousand miles.

[FireDog45]

I go 5k miles between changes. I always change my filter every time.

-GW

+1. Synthetic MC specific oil and a new filter. Unless anyone can show why this is bad, I'll just keep this schedule.

[RedAnt]

I go 5k miles between changes. I always change my filter every time.

-GW

+1 Same here.


The CalSci Oil guy claims it's good for 7,000mi.

I've heard a lot of claims that the OEM oil filter is MUCH better filtering than the K&R. So much so that I switched back to OEM, even though I loved the K&R welded on nut for removal. I don't know, but I've never seen much in my oil ever. I've used Rotella since mile 70, and I'm over 19000 now.

[RedAnt]

+1 Same here.


The CalSci Oil guy claims it's good for 7,000mi.


I could easily live with 7000 miles and not worry about it. I decided on 5000 because it makes the math easy.

Do I need an oil change? = Does my odometer devide cleanly by 5000.

As cheap as the Rotella is, I'm OK with wasting 2000 miles of use. If I used the expensive MC specific oils perhaps I would feel differently.



I also do the same thing with chain oiling. My 2nd change wants to be oiled every 300 miles (The OEM one said every 600). I probably did my OEM one every 500 miles so I could use the same math to determine when it's needed. Now I have harder math since I try to oil every 333miles.

[Jblk9695]

I go 5k miles between changes. I always change my filter every time.

-GW

Ditto, I didn't notice any difference in shifting or engine sounds after 5K and the old oil still looked good when I drained it, not like new but not all black and nasty looking either.

Jerry

[coop74]

i change on even 5k's give or take a few. I had a beemer that i ran synthetic on and had the oil tested. The guidance from the test was that based on the wear i should be able to go 18k on that oil before needing replacement. Yes i know a beemer is dry clutch which makes a difference.

5k is plenty fine unless you do not do a lot of short or real dusty trips.

My two cents!

Coop

[JONNYREB]

I find that my shifting starts getting stickier at around 1500 miles or so. I've noticed it with rotella, mobil 1(cycle specific) and the amsoil that i run now. Soon as it gets noticable i change it. Goes right back to butter smooth soon as i do. No doubt the oil is good way beyond that but thats where i change it. I'm doing my best to conserve now(AL GORE said to...) as i used to change it every thou...

...someone once said it was clutch material that begins to cause that...?

[nec]

Thanks everybody! That was helpful.

[MTNAdventureRider]

I could easily live with 7000 miles and not worry about it. I decided on 5000 because it makes the math easy.

Do I need an oil change? = Does my odometer devide cleanly by 5000.

As cheap as the Rotella is, I'm OK with wasting 2000 miles of use. If I used the expensive MC specific oils perhaps I would feel differently.

I also do the same thing with chain oiling. My 2nd change wants to be oiled every 300 miles (The OEM one said every 600). I probably did my OEM one every 500 miles so I could use the same math to determine when it's needed. Now I have harder math since I try to oil every 333miles.


Good point and I do the same. Synthetic Rotella 5W40 for me as well. (Matter of fact, I use this oil in every vehicle I own.)

Yeah, I am confident that Calsci Oil guy knows his stuff. He also emailed me and said that he changes the oil in his Strom every 7,000 miles. I decided to go with shorter intervals until I hit 10,000 miles and then I will change every 5,000, as the math is easy. I also change the oil filter every time and I use the Suzuki filter (I would use the Amsoil filter, but it is too difficult to get).

After buying the bike, here is how I did it.....

37 miles First oil change and filter
500 miles Second oil change and filter
1,000 miles Third oil change and filter
3,000 miles Fourth oil change and filter
6,000 miles Fifth oil change and filter

Next planned change will be at 10,000 miles and then I will go 5,000 mile intervals. I am sure that most of you think this is over kill, but I pamper my rigs and bikes and I plan to keep them around for a very long time, or else pass on my rig or a bike that is in outstanding shape to some buyer.

As for the chain, I make it simple and lubricate every other tank of gas. I haven't been so good about scrubbing the chain with kerosene...so far I have only done it once at 3,000 miles. It is due for another scrubbing right now.

Anyway....here's to a happy, healthy bike!!!!!:mrgreen:

[greywolf]

Now that my bike is out of warranty as of the 18th, I'll go to 5000 mile changes.

[fastwally]

I use Suzuki full synthetic 15/50 and change oil and filter every 5000.

[cyclerama2000]

Frist of all, to JONNYREB --- how do you like the Amsoil compared to MC Mobile One?

I had used Mobile One MXT4- 10/40 at the oil change befroe last and it ran fantastic and shifted very smoothly!


This last time at 17,000 miles I decided to save money and used Suzuki Synthetic 10/40. IT'S NOT VERY GOOD OIL.
First of all, I had to turn the idle up from where it was with Mobile One.
Secondly, it used more oil than ever before.
Third, it didn't shift near as well.

So, I am going back to Mobile One unless someone throws a better idea at me.

[greywolf]

Now that my bike is out of warranty as of the 18th, I'll go to 5000 mile changes.I chickened out. I've decided to only exceed 3500 miles if I do it on a single trip. It's convenient and involves light duty.

[Corkus]

This is the first machine I've seen that has a recommendation for changing the filter every 3rd oil change. That seems strange to me.

I just did my first oil change at 6K. The previous owner did several in the first 4.5K miles. My plan is to use Rotella Synthetic and change the oil and filter every 6K from now on. If the shifting starts to feel less than smooth I'll change the plan and change the oil and filter sooner.

My internal oil change meter tells me oil is wearing out when the shifting stops being smooth. It is amazing how quickly the feel of the shifting can stop being smooth and how an oil change puts it right back to nice and smooth.

[rcacs]

I try to change it every 5,000km, no more than 6,000. Filter changed each time. I use AmSoil 0w40 synthetic.

Cheers