Oil change before/after winter?

[HikerToo_imp]

I'm almost due for my 2nd oil change( coming up on 4500 miles).
If I'm only going to put a few more hundred miles on it before next season.....it will mostly sit in my cold garage for next 3 or 4 months. would you change the oil now or just wait for next spring/season?

I have Honda 10/30 full synthetic, so it could probably go to 5500 miles anyway....

 

[meowguy_imp]

Follow these instructions for happiness with your winter storage.

Honda Official Winter Storage Guide

 

[HikerToo_imp]

So change it is, thanks.
--------------------------------------------------
ENGINE OIL
Change the engine oil.
Even if the oil is not due for a change, combustion byproducts produce acids in the oil that can corrode engine parts. Changing the oil will help prevent corrosion from occurring during storage.

 

[meowguy_imp]

Yes. That's what I did. Then ran the motor for two minutes then shut it down, pulled the plugs, oiled the cylinders and stored.


Posted from my iPhone using Tapatalk.

 

[Jim21680_imp]

Excellent question...I've been meaning to post the same thing.

Aside from the oil issue, I've always thought that leaving the battery on the bike (connected to a Tender full-time) is perfectly fine. I've usually been able to take a ride on the occasional nice days from December through February, and the other 9 months are basically fair-game riding season. For that reason, I'm really reluctant to take the battery out. From what I understand, cold weather will not have negative effects on a battery IF it remains fully-charged.

 

[HikerToo_imp]

meowguys link to Honda pdf mentioned the battery tender too.
Amazon.com

I think it's been hotly talked about before on whether its best to keep battery in bike or out.
I live in same area as you and would like to think I can go for a ride every few weeks even over winter, so would rather keep battery in too.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Follow these instructions for happiness with your winter storage.

Honda Official Winter Storage Guide

Can't argue with that.

However, for the past many decades I change the oil in the early spring. This is because I do ride during the winter. Riding in the winter actually contaminates the oil even more (much more condensation build-up), so why bother putting fresh oil in the fall. Sounds backwards, and it would be if you were not riding in the winter. I have yet to ever have a problem.

Adapt oil change schedule according to your riding conditions.

 

[Houtman_imp]

I also change my oil after the winter , first week in April is changing oil and filter for my bikes . I do ride during the winter , just not as often as in other times.

 

[peterbaron]

Follow these instructions for happiness with your winter storage.

Honda Official Winter Storage Guide

Very wise & professional tips

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Follow these instructions for happiness with your winter storage.

Honda Official Winter Storage Guide

Very wise & professional tips

Very wise & professional tips
I reckon Honda really does not have a choice but to issue a formal guidance because there are many who don't understand minimum routine maintenance, the concept of any maintenance, or the possibly the consequences of ignoring maintenance.

 

[Nortoon_imp]

Winters in my area are 6 months long, so I always remove the battery and place it on a shelf in a heated basement. I have never owned a battery tender. I owned a Goldwing for 9 years and never replaced the battery. My VW Rabbit convertible battery lasted longer than that.

The batteries in cars that I drove in the winter seldom lasted more than 5 years even though they were always parked in the garage at night. So if you are only going to ride once or twice in the winter, I would remove the battery. You can put it back for that unexpected winter ride in less than 10 minutes.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

... a cold storage battery will keep well too just as long there are no significant loads running off the battery during storage.