Winter storage oil debate...

[stoinkythepig]

I have an 86 Concours engine that's been sitting under my garage work bench for 4+ years. The oil within it, Mobil 1 15W-50, had more than 6000 miles of use, a very strong "used oil" odor, and a dark brown color. It's well used. Yesterday, I split the case and removed the crank, rods and pistons. There was no corrosion of any sort inside my engine. The bearings and their mating surfaces were in perfect condition.

I stand by my advice to change oil based on mileage and not worry about storing an engine with used oil (with acid buildup) in it.

[Tabby]

Well, I'd have to agree. My old gixxer had over 76,000 on the clock when it got tore down for more fun stuff. I don't do the winter oil change ritual either. Not once did Pat Doyle{at New England Performance} come to give me hell about corrosion inside my engine, because I didn't change my oil every winter for storage. There wasn't any corrosion. MAYBE there are some extreme conditions where that might occur, but I haven't encountered them.

[KB]

I will second that motion. Motion carried! That is an old wifes tale I think.

KB

[FastJohnny]

LOL.. It didnt make enough sense to warrant changing oil with 1000 miles on it before I put the bike up for the winter. Actually all i did was put a cover on my bike, disconnect the positive battery terminal, and stuff a rag in the exhaust. It's a short winter anyway.

[Tricky Mike]

Yup.
I used to change it... the more I think about it the less I care that I didn't do it this winter. The engine parts sit in oil of varying degrees of dirty-ness for their entire life. If it was that corrosive it would be a major problem the other 9 months as well.

[Awesome]

You're supposed to change oil?

[OreoGaborio]

my de-winterization process I just did today.

took cover off bike.... got race battery from inside the house... used that to jumpstart my street bike.... pushed it through the snow in my back yard... rode to work.

runs great.

[selltekk]

I asumed that if you used synthetic rather than dinosaur oil, you wouldn't have any issues with oil over the winter storage months...

My bike certainly SEEMS to run better with full synth.