How often do YOU change your oil?

[johnster]

I was just curious..

-I try to change mine every 2000 miles, but have heard of people letting it go all the way to 4000!! Other people say they change theirs when the oil starts to appear black which seems a bit anal to me..

-It's been 2000 miles since my last oil change and would rather not ride too much until I have time to do it (even though 3000 seems to be the standard).

-So when do you guys do it, and how strict are you about not going over?

[ducpainter]

Once a year...in the fall.

I don't ride many miles on the bike anymore.

[Desmo Demon]

Most of my bikes get changed at 3000 whether they are sythnetic or dino oil. I tend to ride my bikes fairly hard, so I don't mind changing it that soon with synthetic. In the case of my harley, though, I change it every 2000 miles, but it has over 100k miles and tends to run fairly dirty. Typically, my bikes get over 3000 miles on each, per year, so some get one oil change a year, and in the case of my harley, it got four last year.

[Duck-Stew]

Usually every 2K miles but have done it as often as 1000 miles and as many as 3000 miles. 

The oil does a lot of work in an engine with the gearbox attached so I figure it wears more than a regular car engine does.  Plus, I figure that with the additional cost of changing the oil every 2K miles, it's much cheaper than an engine rebuild.

[Spike]

Every 3000 miles with Motul 300V.

[Fresh Pants]

Every 3000 miles on the Monster, every 1500 on the KTM (smaller oil capacity).
We'll see how the new EAO filter works on the monster.
I also have neo-magnets on the oil filters on both bikes, might put some on the car.

[SKOM]

2000 to 3000 kms. I like changing the oil. Not to save my motor but it gives me a chance to spend some time wrenching on the duc. 

[triangleforge]

Every 3,000 miles. Just out of curiosity, does everyone who's doing short interval changes change the filter too?  On cars when I've done changes at well less than the recommended interval, I did the filter every other change.

[ScottRNelson]

Every three years or 3000 miles, whichever comes first.  That's a little more often than once a year on my ST2 and whenever I get new cam belts put on the 888, since it gets ridden less than 1000 miles a year.

Other than flaking rocker arms on some of the 4-valve Ducatis, I don't remember hearing of any oil-related failures on a Ducati engine.

What problem do you think you're solving by changing the oil at 2000 miles or 2000 kilometers?

[triangleforge]

Usually every 2K miles but have done it as often as 1000 miles and as many as 3000 miles. 

The oil does a lot of work in an engine with the gearbox attached so I figure it wears more than a regular car engine does.  Plus, I figure that with the additional cost of changing the oil every 2K miles, it's much cheaper than an engine rebuild.

So would it make sense to do changes more frequently (whatever the interval) on the wet clutch Monster than on the dry clutch ST2, since the oil in the latter isn't subject to the same shear forces? If I remember the long oil thread on the old board, life inside a wet clutch is pretty hard on the mineral-based (non-synthetic) oils, as it tends to rip apart the friction modifiers that they add to make multi-viscosity dino oils.

[johnster]

What problem do you think you're solving by changing the oil at 2000 miles or 2000 kilometers?

None.. Paranoia more than anything..  

I guess waiting 'till 3000 won't kill me (or the bike)  ...

Other than flaking rocker arms on some of the 4-valve Ducatis, I don't remember hearing of any oil-related failures on a Ducati engine.

That's good to know... I wasn't sure if viscocity breakdown was more common in our engines vs. car engines, so I just erred on the side of caution + did it more frequently...

-Same w/the valves... Running the DP SPS Cams in the 916, I felt like I had to get them checked more frequently, which I was quickly told is unneccesary...

[Beattie_Yoo]

I ride every day therefore i keep my oil change intervals quite short. Every 1,500 miles. keeps my mind at peace. and i enjoy doing the service very much. i even slice open my filters to check for particles.

[SKOM]

What problem do you think you're solving by changing the oil at 2000 miles or 2000 kilometers?

I like changing the oil. Not to save my motor but it gives me a chance to spend some time wrenching on the duc. 

[CairnsDuc]

I change mine every 2000 to 3000 km's, For the same reason's listed above, It does work fairly hard in the Air cooled Bikes, It has to lubricate the Engine and gearbox, cool the engine and Gearbox, while putting up with our Summer heat and Humidity here in Northern Australia.

Although it's nice at the moment, Clear days and a nice 20C most days, Awesome riding weather! 

[rockaduc]

Right around 3k miles.  Usually a bit before.