Stirrin the Pot

[SilvrT]

As a followup to at least one other thread, I thought I'd stir the pot a bit because I just don't see the point of "over maintenance".

 

Specifications for the RSV say... change oil @ 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) and change final drive oil @ 16,000 miles (25,000 kilometers). So, that means every second oil change, change the final drive oil.

 

Some folks here feel it necessary to change their oil sooner... 3,000 miles, 5,000 miles ... overkill in my book ... "old school mentality".

 

Some folks here also feel that, since they are changing their oil, why not change the final drive oil as well. To me, that is a waste of time and money. At least one person stated that, when they changed their final drive fluid (at the same time as changing their oil), it was BLACK and smelled BURNT. Now, assuming their changing their oil at the 8,000 mile mark (or sooner), then to you I say "you have a problem with your final drive" because under normal circumstances (and even at 16,000 miles intervals) it should NOT be black and smell burnt.

 

I last changed my final drive oil at 18,852 kilometers. (Yes it was done at the 1,000 km service). I changed it again today at 28,076 kilometers (a difference of 9224 km or 5,730 miles) and well before the recommended interval of 16,000 miles.

 

Here is a picture of what it looks like. As you can see, the old oil is definately not black and I can tell you that is certainly does not smell burnt. In fact, it looks perfectly normal to me.

 

[ATTACH]49615[/ATTACH]

 

My point(s) here being...

 

If you are changing your final drive oil at every oil change and that is at 8,000 miles or less, then you're wasting your time and money. Do you have your differential oil in your car/truck changed at every oil change??? (I think not) Then why not I ask...if you do it on your bike... why be different with your cage?

 

If you're changing your final drive oil at every oil change and that is at 8,000 miles or less, and it is coming out smelling BURNT and is BLACK then something is WRONG and you need to find out what that is.

 

Everyone is entitled to doing their "own thing" and I'm not discrediting anyone for that but quite frankly, I really don't see your reasoning for changing oil at 1/2 (or less than) the recommended intervals.

 

Having said all of the above, I hereby admit to changing not only my bikes engine oil & filter but also my final drive oil at considerably less intervals than what is recommended.

 

(WTF..???) :witch_brew:

[LilBeaver]

Yet again:http://www.davevmagic.com/forumpix/popcorn.gif

[Drreb]

Ok what's that all about????????:rotfl:I'm going for a swim...

[wizard]

Well, ok. Thank you.

[dingy]

This will be a good one.

 

I do love a parade.

 

I agree with SilvrT btw.

 

Gary

 

http://i1007.photobucket.com/albums/af193/gdingy101/kangaroo.gif

[etcswjoe]

My final gear does not look anything like yours it came out gray, no burnt smell or anything. I just changed it with the last oil change because I did not know when the previous owner changed it. I take it the gray oil is Dino oil? Any precautions to take switching to synthetic?

[Sleeperhawks Mechanic]

My final gear does not look anything like yours it came out gray, no burnt smell or anything. I just changed it with the last oil change because I did not know when the previous owner changed it. I take it the gray oil is Dino oil? Any precautions to take switching to synthetic?

 

Nope

[tufftom4]

I am not going here, this guy has no idea what oil change means it is not so much about the oil but the filter can only catch so much and if he only changes his oil every 8,000 miles I don't want his bike.

[Rocket]

Specifications for the RSV say... change oil @ 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometers) and change final drive oil @ 16,000 miles (25,000 kilometers). So, that means every second oil change, change the final drive oil.

 

 

I am not going here, this guy has no idea what oil change means it is not so much about the oil but the filter can only catch so much and if he only changes his oil every 8,000 miles I don't want his bike.

 

You don't trust Yamaha's service specifications???

[SilvrT]

I am not going here, this guy has no idea what oil change means it is not so much about the oil but the filter can only catch so much and if he only changes his oil every 8,000 miles I don't want his bike.

 

You didn't read my post very well, did you??

 

The truth is, the MAX mileage interval that I've changed oil (and filter as I change the filter every time I change the oil) is 5600 KILOMETERS.

 

I am worse than most of you guys according to that LMAO!

 

BTW, you ain't gonna get my bike.

 

(I knew I'd stir this pot LOL)

[friesman]

I am with SilvrT on this one,theres no real need to change the oil before the recommended specs if it looks ok when changed.... BUT, IF my oil or final drive oil looks burnt or seems to have a lot of particulate in it I will change earlier next time and monitor stuff to see if I can figure out what is going on. (eg running rich, water getting into final drive etc)

 

BUT, with that all being said mine very seldom gets to 6000 kms before it gets a change.

Brian

Edited August 29, 2010 by friesman

[Brake Pad]

for some of use that really ride our bikes, my oil goes in amber colored and comes out jet black after 6000 miles.

[MikeWa]

I don't know what book you are looking at but mine says change the oil every 4,000 miles or six months.

Mike

[SilvrT]

I don't know what book you are looking at but mine says change the oil every 4,000 miles or six months.

Mike

 

I'm looking at the Yamaha owner's manual.

[Jercoupe]

Another vote for the SilverT side! The fact that they put a 5 year warranty on that motor (with some bikes reaching 100k miles in that time) I believe they would want the lesser interval if they knew it would make a difference on the longevity of the motor.

On a side note, I have a friend in the vending business and he uses nissan, toyota, ect trucks in his fleet. Buys a new truck, Changes the oil the first time then never again! . He replaces the trucks at 150k and has very little problems with them. So you wonder what happens to the poor fool that buys them? One of his employees bought one and now has 275k miles on it! So much for regular oil changes..

[SilvrT]

for some of use that really ride our bikes, my oil goes in amber colored and comes out jet black after 6000 miles.

 

And you're suggesting that I don't "ride" my bike from zero to 6000 miles??? c'mon .... how do you think it get's 6000 miles on it? ... sitting on a stand?

 

[SilvrT]

Guys, seems some are getting off topic... my post was primarilly related to the rear drive.... NOT the engine oil.

[MikeWa]

I'm looking at the Yamaha owner's manual.

 

Me too. Section seven 'Periodic Maintenance and Minor Repair' calls for 600,4000,8000,12000,16000,20000 miles then repeat from 8K. Mine is a 2008 manual. What is yours?

Mike

Edited August 29, 2010 by MikeWa
add pic

[Jercoupe]

Guys, seems some are getting off topic... my post was primarilly related to the rear drive.... NOT the engine oil.

Take everything i said about the oil and warranty on the motor and apply it to the rear end.. It still makes sense to me! The train is back on the track now!

[V7Goose]

Early RSV owner's manuals did specify 8,000 mile oil change intervals. I do not remember exactly when they changed to 4,000 miles, but I think it might have been 2004. You can download each year owner's manual directly from the Yamahaha web site and check it for yourself. Personally, I'm guessing they had some specific issues show up with the early bikes that caused them to change to the 4,0000 mile intervals, so that is what I would recommend for all Royal Stars.

Goose

[SilvrT]

Me too. Section seven 'Periodic Maintenance and Minor Repair' calls for 600,4000,8000,12000,16000,20000 miles then repeat from 8K. Mine is a 2008 manual. What is yours?

Mike

 

I'm looking at your clip and from what I can see... oh wait... where's the engine Oil ... I don't see it...

 

OK, as per V7Goose's post, I was looking at a downloaded copy so I went and got my manual out of my bike and.... (humble apologies), you're right... every 4,000 miles for the ENGINE oil .... BUT... that just makes my point about changing the rear drive oil more valid as it does say every 16,000 miles so, those who are changing it at 4,000 mile intervals are doing it unnecessarilly AND, as per my other point, if they are seeing BLACK oil that smells BURNT, then there is a PROBLEM...

[Bummer]

... Personally, I'm guessing they had some specific issues show up with the early bikes that caused them to change to the 4,0000 mile intervals, so that is what I would recommend for all Royal Stars.

Goose

 

Thinking of the carb sync instructions, I'm going with typo. Also, looking at the owner's manual I find that the engine oil simply has a check mark (routine: change) every 4,000 miles. Rear gear oil uses a check for checking and says CHANGE every 16,000. The shop manual, both the pdf and the paper one, lists oil check (routine: replace) at 8k mile intervals.

 

I'm thinking these books were translated by a Japanese guy who doesn't speakie engrish. He sits there and stares off into space, then types something into Babelfish, then copies and pastes what he gets back. (I look off into space and wistfully remember computer manuals from the late 70s and early 80s and think of the Japanese-Engrish dictionary they must have used. Days were the those happy, ahhh.)

 

... those who are changing it at 4,000 mile intervals are doing it unnecessarilly

 

Hard to argue with that.

 

AND, as per my other point, if they are seeing BLACK oil that smells BURNT, then there is a PROBLEM...

 

Hard to argue with that too.

 

As a followup to at least one other thread, I thought I'd stir the pot a bit because I just don't see the point of "over maintenance".

...

 

Because I like to tinker?

 

I don't change rear gear oil with every oil change. I do, however, change it at least once a year. Why? Well, I average at least 15k miles a year. I usually ride some into December, and start again by early March. I change the gear oil, and do the other 16k stuff some time in January of February. That way I don't wind up riding twice around the block then have to tear the bike down and do a bunch of stuff when I start my personal season. On the other hand I usually wind up doing a valve check every other winter, which is a little bit long.

 

Contrary to the manual, I change filters every time I change the oil. I like it like that. I also blow ten bucks a year on exotic grease. I intend to change from Moly60 to Krytox when I can get some. Why? Because I can. Nobody loves my ride as much as I do.

 

Actually I don't feel I over maintain my bike, but you did mention :stirthepot:

[V7Goose]

The shop manual, both the pdf and the paper one, lists oil check (routine: replace) at 8k mile intervals.

The shop manual was created for the 1999 model year and has never been updated since the original printing; that was when the RSV Owner's Manual also specified 8,000 mile change interval. The Owner's Manual is updated every year, and all of them from 2004 on specify a 4,000 mile change interval.

 

I doesn't make a bit of difference to me what interval someone uses (unless I am considering buying their bike) - I'm just letting y'all know what the books say and why.

Goose

[Dano]

If I was checking or changing my rear diff GEAR LUBE, and saw it coming out gray, I would be concerned about the amount of metal coming off my gears..........

[bongobobny]

Man, you sure did dtir the pot!! Makes me wonder just how many authorized Yamaha experts we have on this site after all...