I ride a HD Softail, in Michigan. Winter storage: Nope, I kep riding every 3/4 weeks or so when temp is abve freezing. My Question: I changed oil at 10,000 miles just before winter. Is it advisable to change oil again as cold weather is subsiding. I may have put in 200 miles thru the winter. Also I store my oil quarts and brake fluid etc in my garage which is not heated. Any comments on that?

 

I don't see why you should change your oil. If you just change at the number of miles that your manual says (5000 miles, I suppose) or once a year if you don't do that mileage, that's enough.

Regards,

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Javi

 

OMG, change your oil immediately. I hope you have NOTdone too much damage yet. Also, store your oil in the bedroom, preferably in or under the bed, somewhere close, so you can keep an eye on it. Keep the temp between 68 and 72 degrees and the humidity should stay at a constant 50% humidity. If it goes below this, throw the oil away immediately.

 

Your oil is fine...run 5000 miles or 1 year whichever first.

As for oil storage I have asked this question to Pennzoil regarding their platinum synthetic oils and they state that shelf life of oil stored in an unheated building/garage is 18 months whereas storage in a heated building/basement is 60 months. This holds true for most lubricants that have a petroleum base. Has something to do with cold/hot cycles cause waxes to build in the base oil stock (way over my head). But the people at redline said the same thing if you plan to store any quantity of oil or lubricants. Note: once the container is opened the shelf life also drops about 33%. Brake fluid once opened should be used within 2-4 weeks.

SO when I buy oil in bulk like the buy one get one sales, I keep it in my basement...ask my wife..she thinks I'm crazy...But she doesn't see the value of getting synthetic oil for $2/quart.