09-04-2014, 12:29 PM
(09-04-2014, 11:59 AM)Oldtimer_imp Wrote: In reading the maintenance schedule, Honda says at 600 miles you need to change the filter only. Apparently there is no such thing as break in oil anymore.
Actually there never used to be such a thing as "break in oil" until the EPA got involved and mandated the reduction of certain compounds that have been deemed to be major pollutants and to be removed from oil. The problem is those compounds (ZDDP = Zinc and phosphorous) also provide a major part of the lubricating properties of motor oil. With the elimination of the flat tappet camshaft and corresponding lifters (tappets) with their roller counterparts, the EPA found that is was viable to institute the mandate now that more than 95% of vehicles on the road no longer required those compounds to survive.
Thus the introduction of break in oils on the market. In reality all these are are oils that use the old formulation so that flat tappet engines can survive. Some engine builders even specify these for the break in procedure of roller type engines even though they are not required after break in.
Back to the bike......the 600 mile interval for the first service is to remove and shaving that have accumulated in the filter or the oil pan during the break in period, and to do an inspection on the bike just to make sure that no issues have cropped up during that time.