Oil change interval

Message

ReggieGasket · #1 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:10 am

The chap I purchased my Falco from claimed he had his bike serviced by some Aprilia guru in Liverpool. This guru said it was important to change the oil on this engine very regularly - i think he said every 2000 miles. If this is done, the engine is very robust. Any views? I tend to change the oil regularly on my bikes, but this seems excessively careful.

D-Rider · #2 Post by **D-Rider** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 10:26 am

Oil change every 4687 miles (7500Km).

The "Service" message will come up on your right hand LCD to remind you.

Think the chap that told you 2000mls was an oil salesman!

Yes, the engines are extremely robust and reliable - we know a few that are going strong after 100,000 Km.

Service intervals are in your owners manual - more detail in the workshop manual - both can be downloaded from Martin's website:
http://www.martinpoll.dk/div_april.htm

ReggieGasket · #3 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:50 pm

Yes, am aware of the service intervals in the manual. He said ignore them. I think he was some kind of race engineer, so he may be right when dealing with an engine used in track conditions. Anyway, I won't be doing it every 2000 miles!

fastasfcuk · #4 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 2:13 pm

as andy says, 2000 mls is over the top.

and expensive.

wavey · #5 Post by **wavey** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:08 pm

I'm in Liverpool, but I don't know any 'guru'. Have you got his name?

I would agree with 2000 mile changes if track daying, but in normal use stick to the manual.

ReggieGasket · #6 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:50 am

No, can't remeber the name. I think he was based in Birkenhead. I don't see changing the oil as expensive though. I recently bought some Total oil from Opie Oils at about £20ish. Plus £5 for a filter. So if I chose to change the oil every 3000 miles rather than 5000 miles, this would be a small extra cost over a 2 year period, for example. I do get some pleasure from changing the oil too. Also, If I can evidence that I'm over the top with oil changes, I may be able to charge a little more for the bike when selling it.

Filling the bike up with fuel is expensive though!

vonDutch · #7 Post by **vonDutch** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:31 pm

Way too much. I never heard of such intervals. It not a duc that needs special attention when it comes to oil. Just poor whatever goob you can find into it and it'll keep running anyway. Thats the general message that I get on forums that is... I also change the oil when the bike tells me so.

ReggieGasket · #8 Post by **ReggieGasket** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:52 am

I guess a lot of this is personal feeling. I suspect it's very difficult to test alternative oil changing schedules. My brother bought a 2000 Blade new and did 55,000 hard reving miles in 5 years. He changed the oil regularly and used very good Castrol oil. The engine was still perfect on the day he threw it down the road and it burst into flames.

This makes me think careful oil changing can keep an engine in good nick. However, I guess you would need to be doing serious mileage to notice the diffierence. I don't know what the average mileage is for most people, but I guess the standard schedule is going to be fine. I suspect I may do it a bit more regularly, but it will depend how busy I am and how cold it is in the garage. I also liked the smell of the racing Castrol oil when he flew past me.

HisNibbs · #9 Post by **HisNibbs** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 10:42 am

I've always taken the recommended oil change interval as a maximum value. Typically I've changed the oil on the Falco from about 2.5K to 5K. I always start the year circa March, with an oil change after the bike has been comparatively idle for three or four months. I think I can feel the difference fresh oil makes and like VonDutch says when it gets to about 3K the bike is telling me its about time to change it again.

Firestarter · #10 Post by **Firestarter** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:04 am

I've never worried about doing this early, when the service indicator comes on, then's the time. I'm sure the manufacturers have built in enough tolerance to take the extra amount of dirt & debris in the oil over the anticipated lifespan of the engine - that's what the filter is for, after all.

But, personal preference at the end of the day

D-Rider · #11 Post by **D-Rider** » Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:16 am

I don't like to exceed service intervals but it's a bit like sell by dates .... they are set conservatively so that there is little chance of comeback on the manufacturer.
So my feeling is that as long as used "normally" in a "normal" environment, you are quite safe in following the prescribed schedule.

However if you stray outside those norms, then things change .... indeed the workshop manual states:

NOTE Perform the maintenance operations with doubled
frequency if the vehicle is used in rainy or dusty areas,
on uneven surfaces or on racetracks.
(*) = In case of use on racetracks, change every 3750 km
(2343 mi).

The starred items for the racetrack use are oil and oil filter.

I think the double frequency for rainy or dusty environments is probably mainly targeted at bits and pieces you grease and oil - the chassis, brakes and controls etc that are exposed to the elements and can rust up of gunge up with dust.

Obviously more frequent oil changes will hurt nothing (other than your bank balance)