Midwinter Blues 1, 2020 - Best Oil/Filter for Motorcycles?

Mad Mike

Mad Mike

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It's the middle of winter, we should all be thinking about spring prep for our rides. I like to change my oil at the beginning of each season, I like Rotella T5 and Fram filters.

How long will my bikes last on this recipe?
 
As long as you keep using the T5 oil you should be fine for decades. Stay away from the T6 stuff though, it doesn't play nice with the Fram filter internals.

And make sure you use a breaker bar to tighten the filter on, you want to make sure that gasket is nice and crushed on the filter. 100ish ft lbs should do the trick.
 
"Present: DL650XT, SP125, TS125, FJR, GL1000, XV920R, TR25W"
:unsure: That is kind of an open ended question, exactly which bikes are we talking about here and what oil specifications do the owner manuals call for ?

... correct answer is likely: the same length of time as any other correct combination of oil and filter, just as long as it is kept clean and installed correctly ;)
 
The following is straight out of the Suzuki 650 owner manual:
Oil filter tightening torque:
20 N·m (2.0 kgf-m, 14.5 lbf-ft)
 
By the way, oil filters are made from treated paper and near as I have ever seen that applies to all of them.
From experience I can tell you that water destroys treated paper oil filters and near as I have ever seen that applies to all of them.

Some manufacturers might put a few more folds on the paper resulting in a theoretically larger filter media surface, some may claim their paper is better then the other guys paper, but all paper filters turn to crap with the introduction of water into the oil.
... it's the water that has accumulated in the oil from condensation that prompts you to change oil and filters in the spring and that condensation came from the motorcycle being stored in sub-zero temps over winter, if you store your bike in a heated garage, you are not going to experience anywhere near the amount of water condensation accumulate in your oil.
 
Mad Mike said:
It's the middle of winter, we should all be thinking about spring prep for our rides. I like to change my oil at the beginning of each season, I like Rotella T5 and Fram filters.

How long will my bikes last on this recipe?
Click to expand...
Bahahaha!
 
I always use Mobil1 oil filters, the M-108 specifically.They fit almost every motorcycle on the planet with a spin on filter and are readily available at Canadian Tire.If you have enough room you can also use the M-110 which is about 1/2“ - 3/4” longer. I’ve used them on my VFR’s, an St1300, Gold Wing and Bonneville. All exclusively with over 50,000km on all bikes zero problems.
 
Trials said:
... it's the water that has accumulated in the oil from condensation that prompts you to change oil and filters in the spring and that condensation came from the motorcycle being stored in sub-zero temps over winter, if you store your bike in a heated garage, you are not going to experience anywhere near the amount of water condensation accumulate in your oil.
Click to expand...

I hear so much conflicting info about this. I think it was on that Bob the oil guy site where several people said that an analysis of their oil after winter storage didn't indicate any need to replace the oil, and that approx 5 to 6 months of cold storage isn't long enough for the oil to be contaminated enough to justify the change, especially a high quality oil like motul 7100 like I use. Not so concerned with the cost but more the waste of draining barely used oil...I put only about 2500 km on that oil.
 
All your engines will sieze by the end of March if you don’t plant your own castor beans to make oil. I have some magic beans for you, we can trade for a cow


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
 
crankcall said:
All your engines will sieze by the end of March if you don’t plant your own castor beans to make oil. I have some magic beans for you, we can trade for a cow


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
Click to expand...
I grow Castor beans, it's only good for fork oil.
1581015841805.png
 
Look inside the motor or inside a half empty fuel tank during the coldest day in winter and all around the inside of the engine and transmission casings or fuel tank you will see a thick layer of white horror frost. Where does Bob the oil guy reside? Somebody from Arizona would call BS on this but this ain't Arizona, in Ontario we experience one of the most severe climates in the world when it comes to air borne water and the production of water inside our vehicles.
... same applies to your fork oil or brake fluids or carburetors or anything else that is vented to the atmosphere.
 
crankcall said:
All your engines will sieze by the end of March if you don’t plant your own castor beans to make oil. I have some magic beans for you, we can trade for a cow


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
Click to expand...

Too late for that, but can I use this? Or is it cafe racer specific?
20200206_154017.jpeg

Trials said:
Where does Bob the oil guy reside? Somebody from Arizona would call BS on this but this ain't Arizona, in Ontario we experience one of the most severe climates in the world when it comes to air borne water and the production of water inside our vehicles.
Click to expand...

I don't know where Bob lives, but I doubt anyone from Arizona would be storing their bike for the winter then talking about it online.
 
Michael0124 said:
Too late for that, but can I use this? Or is it cafe racer specific?
View attachment 41750



I don't know where Bob lives, but I doubt anyone from Arizona would be storing their bike for the winter then talking about it online.
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It works for Scooters too.
 
beard oil works very well for reproduction scramblers, and any retro bikes. There are a lot of lady scooter pilots , If they oil that beard its really none of my business.

We had a house in Arizona for years , bikes get parked for July in Pheonix since its just TOO hot, putting feet down at an interscetion actually is unpleasant. We were at 5,800 ft (Prescott) and Jan/Feb was black ice season, you had to be pretty careful early am late pm. Noon was awesome.

I've found it just safer to never change oil, dealer knew what it needed and its in there, why mess with original equipment. I occasioinally have to add air to my rear tire, my primary ride was built in the UK, I hum the theme song from Coronation st while topping up. Safety first.
 
crankcall said:
beard oil works very well for reproduction scramblers, and any retro bikes. There are a lot of lady scooter pilots , If they oil that beard its really none of my business.

We had a house in Arizona for years , bikes get parked for July in Pheonix since its just TOO hot, putting feet down at an interscetion actually is unpleasant. We were at 5,800 ft (Prescott) and Jan/Feb was black ice season, you had to be pretty careful early am late pm. Noon was awesome.

I've found it just safer to never change oil, dealer knew what it needed and its in there, why mess with original equipment. I occasioinally have to add air to my rear tire, my primary ride was built in the UK, I hum the theme song from Coronation st while topping up. Safety first.
Click to expand...
British cars and bikes don't need oil changes.
 
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