Oil change - is it worth it

[Big Kev]

I now have 1500 miles on the GTR and before I go off on a tour I thought I would change the Diff oil as it seems a bit murky again. Easy done so might as well

I am also tempted to change the engine oil and filter. Advice from you guys please. Is it worth changing or should i wait till nearer 3000. If I change should I stick with mineral or go semi synthetic - what are the pros and cons ?

Kev

[Hammerhead]

If the break-in oil was changed at 5 or 6 hundred miles, you have a couple thou to go before it's necessary again. If you still have factory oil in the sump, get that crap out of there ASAP. Full synthetic, such as Mobil 1 4T, Amsoil 10W-40 4T and others are expensive, but provide superior protection and can extend change intervals. I use the Mobil 1 and change every 5K, but you could probably go longer than that with no probs. Synthetics do not gas off and change character from heat like dino oils, so they last longer.

[Frans]

You cannot change the oil too many time. With the heat build-up in the engine, I change about every 2,000km. At 2,000km on the clock went to semi-synthetic (Castrol Activo) will go to full synthetic at 6,000km (Castrol 4T) You hear so may stories about the superior protection of synthetic oils which is not good for a new engine trying to bed in. Should use a lower grade mineral oil to ensure maximum alowable friction during the bed in phase. Contacted a friend at a major oil company, he advises that at 2,000km al the bedding in should have taken place and you can go synthetic.

[mr.zx11]

ive been told to run mineral oil for about suck as any shitty oil just not synthetic for teh first 500 to let the motor break in..then switch over to mobil 1 so i agree with hammerhead mobil 1 is the best

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by mr.zx11

ive been told to run mineral oil for about suck as any shitty oil just not synthetic for teh first 500 to let the motor break in..then switch over to mobil 1 so i agree with hammerhead mobil 1 is the best

When using Amsoil's premium motorcycle oil you can actually run twice the OEM's recommendation. This is the only motorcycle oil on the market that is designed and recommended for this longer interval between oil changes. This scares most people, but one would surely not have to worry about needing an oil change while on a trip even with using a shorter interval.
george
ADG

[KrautBurner]

I had my break in svc done at about 550 miles

then had the oil and rear end fluid done again at about 1500 miles
the mechanic said the engine oil looked just fine.
but the rear end fluid was dark, and had shiny bits in it.
I will do it again between 2500 and 3K
then switch to amsoil around 5K

[Amsoil Dealer Group]

Originally Posted by KrautBurner

I had my break in svc done at about 550 miles

then had the oil and rear end fluid done again at about 1500 miles
the mechanic said the engine oil looked just fine.
but the rear end fluid was dark, and had shiny bits in it.
I will do it again between 2500 and 3K
then switch to amsoil around 5K

Should just be break in material, but the next time you service it pay attention to the fluid and make sure you have a lot less of these shiny bits of material. Let us know if we can be of assistance in getting you some Amsoil.
george
ADG