How many miles between oil changes ??

[Hummingbird]

I bought my 2007 Venture used and the previous owner said that he had been using Amsoil. My question is - How many miles is the norm when using synthetic oil ? I understand with everything else I own that oil should be changed every 3000 miles ( give or take a few miles).

 

It doesn't make sense to me to use synthetic and still change it as often or am I not getting the full picture ??

 

BTW - I bought my Venture about a year ago and am just now approaching 3500 miles and need to know if I need to change it before MD.

 

Thanks

[Freebird]

I use synthetic in everything I own. I use Mobil 1 for motorcycles in my RSV. Old habits are hard to break so I still often change the oil in the motorcycle at 3,000 but have no problems at all going to 5,000 if I get behind on it.

[Hummingbird]

I never thought about synthetic in my truck or my wife's car. I always have them changed at our local garage/repair shop and not even sure what oil he uses. Neither one uses oil between changes so I always just figured all is OK.

[RandyR]

The owners guide I have calls for 4,000 mile intervals for maintenance, including oil changes with Yamalube, which is a syn blend.

 

I don't have enough miles on my RSTD to have a good feel for how dirty the oil gets. But in my car's Mercury V8, full synthetic oil is barely dirty at 5,000 miles.

[Bob Myers]

Oil that is dirty in appearance is only relative to how well it has been changed in the past. For sure fire knowledge on what the oil is really doing save about 3 or 4 ounces in a clean bottle of some sort and have it analyzed. We used to do samples on the trucks at 5k and would schedule changes according to results.

[flb_78]

I change mine between 3-5000 depending on when it's handy for me to change it.

[Scooter Bob]

I've been running Amsoil 10w40 motorcycle oil since the second oil change at 4,000 miles. The nearest Yamaha dealer is 30 miles away, but I can buy oil and filter at the Fleet Farm 4 blocks from where I work. I change somewhere between 5 and 6,000, when it's convenient. I've never had to add any oil between changes and it now has over 52k. I think the amsoil did some good to quiet the gear whine in the drive train. Come think of it, it's about time to change again.

 

Just my , Scooter Bob

[loehring]

I use Rotells-T Syn with a Pure 1 filter. It's rated to be changed every 15k but I change the oil and filter every 5k. I've never had it analyzed but I feel pretty good changing it that far below what it calls for. I do think it's important to change the filter EVERY TIME you change the oil though.

[jfoster]

I bought my 2007 Venture used and the previous owner said that he had been using Amsoil. My question is - How many miles is the norm when using synthetic oil ? I understand with everything else I own that oil should be changed every 3000 miles ( give or take a few miles).

 

It doesn't make sense to me to use synthetic and still change it as often or am I not getting the full picture ??

 

BTW - I bought my Venture about a year ago and am just now approaching 3500 miles and need to know if I need to change it before MD.

 

Thanks

 

If your only putting 3500-4k miles on year on it...I would change it once a year. As stated before, the manual recommends every 4k miles. But, from everything I've read. I would stay with the synthetic. It's suppose to keep the cylinders and other internal parts lubricated longer than conventional oils especially if the bike sets up alot. Me personally, I ride on average 11k miles a year and use rotella, to me synthetics aren't worth the money if I'm gonna drain it every 3-4 months.

[M61A1MECH]

I been running AMSOIL in my 07 Venture, started at about 2500 miles, I change the filter every 3,000 miles and change the oil ever 6,000 miles. I have 30,000 miles on it now and no issues.

[wild hair 39]

i run shell 5w40 syn,oil change oil 8-10,000 mls,165,000,on the 89 vr,139,000,on the 94 voy,no use of oil eather blke

[Semi-retired]

I been running AMSOIL in my 07 Venture, started at about 2500 miles, I change the filter every 3,000 miles and change the oil ever 6,000 miles. I have 30,000 miles on it now and no issues.

 

I'm really curious to hear your filter/oil change regimen; especially since, if there's a different frequency for the filter than there is for the oil.......isn't it usually the OIL that gets changed twice as often as the filter?....rather than the other way around, as you appear to be doing?

 

Out of "curiosity", the factory manual recommends an initial change of both oil and filter at 600 miles, then at 8,000 miles, then every 8,000 miles thereafter. (I'm surprised no one referenced THE MANUAL!)

 

Mike

Smart riding saves lives........loud pipes cause deafness and piss off your neighbours!

[cb1313]

I am a new owner of a used 2005 Venture with 4500 miles and have been wondering about oil myself. I have used Moble 1 in my 1992 GMC Typhoon with 115000 miles with oil changes every 5000 miles. I just change oil when the clocks gets to a 5 or a 0. That way i do not have to keep track of any miles. I have also put Molbe 1 in my Volvo, wave runner and even my john Deer. Synk oil may get dirty but rearly will it ever break down. I have on car that needs oil changes every 7500 and I do change that oil a 7500 but still with Moble 1.

 

Cb

Mountain Home, Arkansas

[frogmaster]

If Autos and Trucks and 18 Wheelers can run SYN Oils 15,000 miles I see no reason my Shell Rotella-T 5w-40 SYN (Blue Jug) should have no problem going 8,000 miles and a new Purolator Gold at 8k too.

 

Here is some Oil & Filter Info Links.

 

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Consumables.html

 

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

[KiteSquid]

While the bike is under warranty, go by the manufacturer's recommendations, or you might have problems if you have a warrantable issue.

 

After warranty, use an OUTSTANDING filter like the Purolator PureOne or Amsoil EaO and let your consuce be your guide.

 

 

Myself, I will probably change my oil and filter every 4,000 miles to make the engine/clutch/transmission last longer.

 

REMBER our bikes have a wet clutch, so the "friction material" that gets worn off, ends up in the engine oil................just a thought.

[frogmaster]

i run shell 5w40 syn,oil change oil 8-10,000 mls,165,000,on the 89 vr,139,000,on the 94 voy,no use of oil eather blke

 

 

Niiiice a REAL LIFE Testimony.

[YamaDuck]

I'm really curious to hear your filter/oil change regimen; especially since, if there's a different frequency for the filter than there is for the oil.......isn't it usually the OIL that gets changed twice as often as the filter?....rather than the other way around, as you appear to be doing?

 

Out of "curiosity", the factory manual recommends an initial change of both oil and filter at 600 miles, then at 8,000 miles, then every 8,000 miles thereafter. (I'm surprised no one referenced THE MANUAL!)

 

Mike

Smart riding saves lives........loud pipes cause deafness and piss off your neighbours!

My manual also states every 8,000 miles. I have a 2000 RSV. Maybe the RSTD is different as someone else said his manual says every 4,000 miles. My manual also states to use Yamalube or any SAE 10w30 or SAE 15W40 motor oil that meet SJ (I think) requirements. It does not differentiate between synthetic or conventional motor oil. So if you follow the instructions in the manual it doesn't matter what kind of motor oil you use you change it every 8,000 miles. But like most of you I don't follow the manuals recommendations, I change my oil filter every time and I chande conventional motor oil every 3 - 4,000 miles and I change synthetic every 6 - 8,000 miles.

[M61A1MECH]

I'm really curious to hear your filter/oil change regimen; especially since, if there's a different frequency for the filter than there is for the oil.......isn't it usually the OIL that gets changed twice as often as the filter?....rather than the other way around, as you appear to be doing?

 

Out of "curiosity", the factory manual recommends an initial change of both oil and filter at 600 miles, then at 8,000 miles, then every 8,000 miles thereafter. (I'm surprised no one referenced THE MANUAL!)

 

Mike

Smart riding saves lives........loud pipes cause deafness and piss off your neighbours!

 

The owner's manual I downloaded from Yamaha says; Change oil & filter @ 600 miles, then change oil @ 4000 miles and the filter @ 8,000 miles and repeat the 4K & 8K routine.

My normal routine with regular oil is to change oil and filter every 3K to 4 K, when I switched to AMSOIL I decided that I would maintain the 3k filter change , but take advantage of the longer life of the synthetic oil and change it at 6K.

[YamaDuck]

The owner's manual I downloaded from Yamaha says; Change oil & filter @ 600 miles, then change oil @ 4000 miles and the filter @ 8,000 miles and repeat the 4K & 8K routine.

My normal routine with regular oil is to change oil and filter every 3K to 4 K, when I switched to AMSOIL I decided that I would maintain the 3k filter change , but take advantage of the longer life of the synthetic oil and change it at 6K.

I don't know what the manual you get of the web says but I just went and looked at the manual that came with my 2000 RSV and it says at 600 miles and 8,000 miles and at 8,000 mile intervals. I am curious what the newer model RSV manuals that came with the bike say. The web is obviously different from my manual.

[M61A1MECH]

I don't know what the manual you get of the web says but I just went and looked at the manual that came with my 2000 RSV and it says at 600 miles and 8,000 miles and at 8,000 mile intervals. I am curious what the newer model RSV manuals that came with the bike say. The web is obviously different from my manual.

 

You can download a PDF version from the Yamaha web site, I just checked my owners manual that came with mt 07, it agrees with the web version. Curious that the factory shop manual also says 8K oil and filter change. 8K sounds like a lot of miles for regular DINO oil.

[timgray]

I use whatever cheap synthetic I can get that does not have the energy conserving starburst. I get the bonus of smoother shifting, I mean WAY smoother shifting. I started with Mobil-1 and tried the Amsoil. But ended with the off brand cheapie synthetic for trucks I can get at the local parts store. Value-tech brand. The benefit I get from the cheapie stuff is identical to the high priced amsoil I get and it's 1/2 the price at $15.00 a 5 quart jug. I use $4.95 Wix filters and they work great.

 

I cant tell the difference between the high price stuff and the cheapie stuff. but it is better in shifting compared to Yamalube so I'm sold on the synthetic. If it shifts easier ,then it's making the transmission last longer. I still do the 3000-3500 change interval that is typical simply because I want the thing to last forever.

Edited June 1, 2009 by timgray

[YamaDuck]

You can download a PDF version from the Yamaha web site, I just checked my owners manual that came with mt 07, it agrees with the web version. Curious that the factory shop manual also says 8K oil and filter change. 8K sounds like a lot of miles for regular DINO oil.

Does not surprise me that Yamaha puts out different information on the same subject. So let me see if I have this right;

 

1) The RSV has not changed anything but paint for the last 10 years but the older owner manuals recommend every 8,000 miles and the newer owner manuals recommend every 4,000 miles;

2) The PDF off the Yamaha site recommends every 4,000 miles;

3) but the service manual recommends every 8,000 miles.

 

Got it...I think Clear as mud Yamaha needs a good for this. No wonder you can't get any decent service at a Yamaha dealer.

[V7Goose]

OK all, let's get this straight. I went out to Yamaha's Star site and checked the owners manuals for EVERY year of the Royal Star Venture for specified oil change interval - the results are a little surprising.

 

1999 - the manual is not on line, so I could not verify

2000 - 2003: engine oil change interval 8,000

2004 - 2008: engine oil change interval 4,000

 

I have absolutely no idea why Yamahaha changed the oil change interval from 8,000 miles to 4,000 miles for the 2004 model year and later, but they did. Perhaps they were just correcting a typo in the manual? But they did not produce a second edition of the manual, if that was the case.

 

Anyway, that is why we have confusion over the number - it depends on which owner's manual you are looking at! And the manual does not state what year it is for. The only way to tell is to look at the copyright page for the date - the year shown there will be one year EARLIER than the model year for which the manual applies. For example, the manual that shows April, 2002 is for the 2003 model year.

Goose

[BoomerCPO]

My scoot gets an oil/filter change every 3000 miles period.

 

Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 and a Pureolator Filter.

 

Boomer.....who values his scoot more than some wimmen he has known......and suspects Owners Manuals are written by former politicians.

[YamaDuck]

So if you are following your manual and it does say change the oil every 8,000 and you have documentation on your oil changes and you have an oil related break down does this mean Yamaha will repair it free...I DON"T THINK SO but it would be interesting to try.