On the road oil changes

[snookers]

So for all you do it yourselfers..... Do you change your engine oil while on extended road trips and if so where do you do it ?

 

[glenfiddich]

I never did on my cross-country trips. I'd change oil and filter before leaving and upon getting home 2-3 weeks and 6-9000 miles later, but my feeling was it was short trips, not sustained runs, that were tough on the oil. When I retire and am on the road 3-4 months I'll look for change options, but as long as I'm a working stiff...

 

[PGlaves]

I have done it at Walmarts with an auto center. Ask nicely and they will loan you a drain pan and will dispose of the oil for you too, of course. I have also done it at an Auto Zone. This time I had to provide my own 89 cent foil turkey roasting pan to drain into.

 

[bikerfish1100]

I've done oil changes at bike shops, friend's garages, rallies, etc. When it's time, it's time.

 

[6322]

I never did on my cross-country trips. I'd change oil and filter before leaving and upon getting home 2-3 weeks and 6-9000 miles later, but my feeling was it was short trips, not sustained runs, that were tough on the oil. When I retire and am on the road 3-4 months I'll look for change options, but as long as I'm a working stiff...

I agree. Generally I start out with everything fresh and do service again when I get home. Needless to say I've never had a failure due to lack of maintenance and I've done 99% of my own maintenance on all of my bikes and others since '75. Ride easy,
gp

 

[Texpaul]

The Anonymous Book is a good place to look for members who have a place to work on bikes and would be willing to let you change your oil there. Just look for listing with the WS (space to work on motorcycle) code.

 

[roger 04 rt]

So for all you do it yourselfers..... Do you change your engine oil while on extended road trips and if so where do you do it ?

Probably not, but that would depend. If I'd just hit 6000 miles on the oil and had 1000 miles left on the trip, I'd just keep going but if there was 6000 miles to go I'd probably change the oil unless I was running synthetic oil. If you're running synthetic, at 6,000 miles, it's probably in very good condition.

Murphy's law is "What can go wrong, will go wrong". Why tempt fate by servicing your bike when you need it most? Save that for when you're home, have all your tools, and have the luxury of time.

 

[rangerreece]

Murphy's law is "What can go wrong, will go wrong". Why tempt fate by servicing your bike when you need it most? Save that for when you're home, have all your tools, and have the luxury of time.

And torque wrenches.

 

[paul_f]

And torque wrenches.

and bike lift.

 

[paul_f]

Seriously, if you leave home for a tour with clean oil and filter, being a thousand or two thousand miles over the suggested oil change interval should not be an issue. More than that, i would consider stopping somewhere and either changing as Paul suggested or having it changed by someone who has the torque wrenches. I don't have the proper touch to "feel" the correct torques.

I like the idea of using the Anonymous Book to ask a member to use their garage for changing my oil.

 

[04r1150rs]

did quite a few oil changes doing the TAT a few years back. Nothing to worry about, just any auto parts store parking lot, buy and recycle the oil there. No problem, just grab some extra paper towels when recycling oil, they usually have some near the recycle container.

 

[pauls1150]

Some gas stations - Chevron specifically comes to mind - will give you a free paper funnel.

 

[jconway607]

I did it one time many years ago on my airhead, behind a Kmart, and I can still remember what a messy headache it was. Plus the hauling of the filter, gaskets, etc, that I would need. Looking back, it was pretty dumb on my part. I could have just put fresh oil in before I left. I wasn't going over 3000 miles which, as I distinctly recall, I religiously adhered to back then. (Babying the bike.) Now, as folks suggest, if absolutely necessary, I would try to find a member to call for some garage and tool use. This is a very supportive group.