Oil Changes on a long tour

[rustygman]

Hi, first post for me here. Back on a Guzzi after a 30 year gap (never stopped riding though).

I am planning a couple of long trips from my home in south east England over the next couple of years (virus permitting of course). First will be Morocco in April 2022 and either 2022 or 2023 up to the very northern part of Europe. Both trips will probably be up in the 5-6000 mile mark. If I was setting off on my Japanese bike I would put in fresh oil and not worry until I got back. Now the idea of finding somewhere to dump oil in either the Sahara region or the unspoilt beauty of Northern Europe strikes me as a PIA. Obviously I won't be the first Guzzi to do this length of trip so what do you people do. Skip the change or do a change whatever it takes?

The bike is a 1100i Cali with only 5,500 miles when I picked it up (seems genuine). Just bonding with the bike before winter hits (though I do keep riding). I also have a Yamaha XJ900 Diversion (Seca in the USA I believe) which would handle either of these trips as well and won't need an oil change. Prefer the Guzzi though.

[Dirk_S]

Welcome! The trips sound awesome.

I guess my first question is--why are you only considering dumping the oil into the environment? Will you be avoiding people/cities the entire time? Oil changes aren't hard, as you well know. I'd just include it as part of the adventure.

[bad Chad]

For that bike I would start with a high quality 20w50 synthetic bike oil.  Oil of that nature should be good for 5-6000 miles, since that's what you anticapte, you can then change it at you connivence when you return home.   There is no need to change the oil at 3000 miles any more, that's an old hold over from the dark ages of 1970s era dino oils.

[rustygman]

I wouldn't dream of dumping oil in the environment but yes, I would be trying to avoid cities except some of the Moroccan ones. My question really was how people felt about leaving oil in for longer than the 3,000 miles specified by the manual. I did think maybe a synthetic would be good for missing an oil change on a longer tour.

[Motormike]

I'd be more concerned about tire wear/replacement on a trip of that length.  I wouldn't worry about an oil change if using a good synthetic oil.  Just carry a spare liter of the proper viscosity in case you need to aid a bit along the way.  Safe travels.

[SmithSwede]

Skip the oil change.  Running long distances every day on an extended tour is very easy on the oil.   I would just start the trip with fresh oil and filter and then not worry.

[pete mcgee]

Change oil and filter before you go with either a full or semi synthetic oil.
Modern oils are bloody good.
My current dailey ride is a 2020 triumph tiger 900, 10,000km service interval on castrol power 1 10w40 semi synthetic, the triumph tiger 850, same engine less bling etc has 16,000 km oil change intervals,  same oil, so the oils will do it.
Tappet clearences otoh still need to be checked at the required intervals.
Sounds like a great trip.
Enjoy.

[malik]

I've done it - there's a few oil changes in a 30,000km trip. I take along a spare filter (& an air filter & plugs), once used they are replaced at the first opportunity. For oil, I find a source for the oils along the way, & find something to catch the old oil. Easy enough in first world countries, more planning required elsewhere. Do the oil changes in towns, more resources available. In first world places, you can find recycling opportunities, & in second & third world area, I'd hazard a guess & say sump oil has a value & would not be difficult to give away. For tyres, I choose a place along the way, and find a bike shop who will order the tyre in for me. Usually works well. Helps if your schedule is loose, if your OCD is finely honed & rigid, I foresee a series of disasters.

[Dirk_S]

You all are blowing my mind.

My grandfather raised me and was always adamant about making sure I did my oil changes on time.

But then again, I'm sure even he was aware that oils of yesteryear aren't nearly as good as they are now.

[Ncdan]

For that bike I would start with a high quality 20w50 synthetic bike oil.  Oil of that nature should be good for 5-6000 miles, since that's what you anticapte, you can then change it at you connivence when you return home.   There is no need to change the oil at 3000 miles any more, that's an old hold over from the dark ages of 1970s era dino oils.

^^^^^
I second that emotion!

[Huzo]

I have the same issue when in Europe.
I tend to do the first 10,000 k and arrange to be in Como @ more or less the that 10,000 k mark. Agostini’s is handily placed for that purpose so I go there.
Then head off for the second part, it’s usually due again by the time I get back to London, but I change it when it gets home.
If I’m @ 20,000 and want to tour some more, I am fortunate to be staying with Paul Harris so can do it there, but in any case a large city is no problem.
But the same principle can be applied wherever you are. You can find somewhere decent on the ‘net and arrange in advance.
On my recent Australia lap on the 110 I had that issue every 3,000 k, so I arranged ahead and carried my own oil in case there wasn’t suitable in stock.

[rustygman]

Thanks for the replies. Seems I have found a very active forum which is good to know.

I feel relaxed about the oil changes now. I will keep to 3,000 mile valve checks until I have done a few and get to know if they can be stretched.

Regarding the tyre wear I would pretty much hope to find something that is capable of 5-6000 miles on the rear and I always set off on new tyres anyway. Happy to be corrected on this.

Not quite sure why I didn't research all of this before I bought the bike but I guess it was a heart over head purchase.

[John A]

Remember you only need to change the filter every third oil change. Replace rear brake pads before the trip, keep an eye on tires and you’ll be fine.

[SmithSwede]

Not quite sure why I didn't research all of this before I bought the bike but I guess it was a heart over head purchase.

That means you are doing it right.  Follow the heart first (like buying a motorcycle for an epic trip).  Then use brain to figure out how to make the plan work. 

As a Scottish dude once said:  “reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.”

[egschade]

You may want to consider a reinforced (big bike) dual-sport tire vs a pure street. The Pirelli Scorpion Trail II for instance has a thicker, dual compound tread that is more puncture and wear resistant. They performed very well on my Griso.

[twowheeladdict]

You could also carry the specified oil on the trip and have it changed at any roadside workshop.  Oil changes aren't just based on mileage, but on use.  If you are riding in very cold weather oil should be changed more frequently.  If you are running at high RPMs constantly the oil should be changed more frequently.  If you are riding in extremely dusty areas the oil should be changed more frequently and the air filter cleaned / replaced more frequently.

I owned a vehicle that monitored the oil.  It would ask me to change it anywhere from 3000 miles to 7000 miles depending on how I used the vehicle. 

[Huzo]

That means you are doing it right.  Follow the heart first (like buying a motorcycle for an epic trip).  Then use brain to figure out how to make the plan work. 

As a Scottish dude once said:  “reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.”

Yes...
 You can overcome an issue that has occurred because you didn’t obey your brain.
You can’t overcome an issue that has occurred because you didn’t obey your heart.

[Kiwi_Roy]

Robert M Persig would just drain the oil on the ground "Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance"
Actually draining oil on the ground make the bacteria happy, they treat oil as a feast.

[moto-uno]

  I'm curious , just which bacteria are we speaking of ?  Peter

[SmithSwede]

https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/who-thinks-crude-oil-delicious-these-ocean-microbes-do.html

[Kiwi_Roy]

Persig would be proud of SoCal, then. 

Im not a bug guy but I worked for a company that had a patent on a process for treating waste 300 feet underground, blow air down that far and the Oxygen concentration is very high, the bacteria go nuts with oil and lots of Oxygen, I believe its bacteria you could find in a puddle. The local Chevron refinery has a similar plant for treating their oily run-off.

[Vagrant]

DO you suppose full synthetic gives them the "squirts"?

[Bulldog9]

Skip the oil change.  Running long distances every day on an extended tour is very easy on the oil.   I would just start the trip with fresh oil and filter and then not worry.

+1