Checked oil at 5,000 miles - impressed

[VStarRider]

Just checked the engine oil at 5,000 miles, as I am preparing for a 700 mile trip around the Empire State. Still looks like brand new. I was very impressed. It has been changed only once.

One of the reasons I bought this bike over others is the fact that it is basically maintenance free...especially for someone like me, who is not obsessed with the paint!

[STRaider]

Just checked the engine oil at 5,000 miles, as I am preparing for a 700 mile trip around the Empire State. Still looks like brand new. I was very impressed. It has been changed only once.

One of the reasons I bought this bike over others is the fact that it is basically maintenance free...especially for someone like me, who is not obsessed with the paint!

I'm new here, but isn't it recommended for the oil to be changed at 400 and 4,000 miles? I just finished a trip that put me right around 4,000 miles, and I was thinking I was needing to change the oil. Is this not the case?

[Sonny]

4000 as per manual on first oil change. I did mine at 1000.

[willtill]

This Goldwing engine is tight. I like that. :yes:

[VStarRider]

The manual says to change the oil at 4,000 miles, then every 8,000 miles afterwards.

I am sucker for service "recommendations" and my dealer suggested changing the oil at 700 miles, not 4,000. I went for it. :shhh:

My bike now has 5,700 miles on it and I am not changing the oil again until the season ends, which will put me right around 8,000 miles anyway.

Honda recommends the 8,000 mile oil / filter change and looking at the condition of the oil in mine, I see why. They are the ones who have to cover all these engines for three years, and probably another 10% for an additional four years (those who purchase the extended warranty). Honda knows they could have bikes out there with 150K miles on them and with their recommended 8,000 mile oil change intervals, and still stand behind them ... this is proof enough for me that a once per year (7-8,000 miles for me) oil and filter change is sufficient.

[Greg O]

I did my first oil change at 1000 miles will do the second at 5000 miles, then I will switch to synthetic oil and change every 5000 miles from then on. It's cheap insurance.

[VStarRider]

I did my first oil change at 1000 miles will do the second at 5000 miles, then I will switch to synthetic oil and change every 5000 miles from then on. It's cheap insurance.

Greg, obviously do what makes you comfortable, but I would think that 10K miles is reasonable with synthetic. This is not a particularly high-tech engine with a lot of stress on it.

What is the best synthetic oil for the big six? If it means improved shift quality, I am in.

[willtill]

Greg, obviously do what makes you comfortable, but I would think that 10K miles is reasonable with synthetic. This is not a particularly high-tech engine with a lot of stress on it.

What is the best synthetic oil for the big six? If it means improved shift quality, I am in.

You are most probably right with the 10k mark... though I like 5K as well for the interval with this engine. Easy to remember. And is applicable to other vehicles that we (I) own as well.

Change everything at 5k :icon_cool:

[opas ride]

Greg, obviously do what makes you comfortable, but I would think that 10K miles is reasonable with synthetic. This is not a particularly high-tech engine with a lot of stress on it.

What is the best synthetic oil for the big six? If it means improved shift quality, I am in.
I run the Rotella T-6 synthetic and change every 3500/4000 miles...Shifts are fine and I am satisfied so far with the T-6..At less than $20 at Walmart for a 4 qt. jug, I choose to change it as said above and leave others to "each their own"....Ride safe

[Jimmytee]

I've found that 3-n-1 oil works well. Takes a lot of those little cans though.:icon_rolleyes:

[six2go]

Canola oil won't clog the passages either.

[ShanghaiDan]

I've found that 3-n-1 oil works well. Takes a lot of those little cans though.:icon_rolleyes:

I know I sound like a broken record, but if you REALLY want the best, then there is no substitute:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/93/7e/bf/937ebfeb8914d4d2c7eed851af8eef41.jpg

Pure whale oil (preferrably sperm whale) is the ONLY option.

[Ayres]

Since I bought my bike with 7500 miles on it and I don't know the oil change history I changed it when I got home from picking it up. That was at about 10500 miles. I was not at all happy with the clunky shifts but within 200 miles of changing to Rotella full synthetic it is a different sounding machine. It will get changed once a year from now on. :yes:

[Felloverboard]

I change somewhere between 4k--5k and would never go the 8k. Why? Because this is not just engine oil but transmission oil also. Rotella full synthetic and either the purolator 14612 or the ST 6607 filter. I have about 22k on my bike and a 7 year warranty. Instead of mileage only I also go by the way I feel the transmission shifting. Most only change oil once or twice a year. Don't be so cheap as to not spend the extra $6-$10 per change for synthetic once or twice a year and then put on a $400 windsheild or $900 exhuast. Synthetic improves the shifting longer before the clunking starts.

[opas ride]

I change somewhere between 4k--5k and would never go the 8k. Why? Because this is not just engine oil but transmission oil also. Rotella full synthetic and either the purolator 14612 or the ST 6607 filter. I have about 22k on my bike and a 7 year warranty. Instead of mileage only I also go by the way I feel the transmission shifting. Most only change oil once or twice a year. Don't be so cheap as to not spend the extra $6-$10 per change for synthetic once or twice a year and then put on a $400 windsheild or $900 exhuast. Synthetic improves the shifting longer before the clunking starts.

+1 on your post...I agree with you and have a similar pattern...."Too each his own as they say".....Ride safe

[Phantom]

Just a 3 year old thread about Rotella …. many of us have been using it for a long time and our engines continue to operate flawlessly

http://hondaf6b.com/showthread.php?225-Maintenance-Schedule-600-or-4-000-Miles-for-First-Service/page2&highlight=rotella

[STRaider]

Just a 3 year old thread about Rotella …. many of us have been using it for a long time and our engines continue to operate flawlessly

http://hondaf6b.com/showthread.php?225-Maintenance-Schedule-600-or-4-000-Miles-for-First-Service/page2&highlight=rotella

Just changed mine today for the first time, used Rotella. I have 4,200 miles. The bike had 2,300 miles when I bought it, and the oil still looked great, but I didn't know what was in it and wanted to change it at 4,000 anyway. I used The Rotella in my ST1300 and never had an issue.