End of Season Oil Change Question?

[kamakazie]

I just got a chance to get up to my cottage last weekend to summerize my sleds. I stablilized, fogged, greased and cleaned them all. My question for all you four stroke guys is, "does the oil really need to be changed now or can I change it prior to the riding season?" The reason I ask is that the sled has just over 700 miles on it now. I had the 500 mile check and oil change done. I only put 200 miles on it after that. Should I worry about not changing the oil till the fall? Thanks [/b]

 

[msatow]

I would say you could get another season out the 200 mile oil thats in their now before you need to change it.

 

[watersuper]

Oil changes are not needed each season. The owners manual states at what intervals you need to change oil. After the first change, it could be years before you have to change it again.

 

[kamakazie]

Does the oil not break down after so many months? I know the oil that the dealers use is semi-synthetic but it would have to be changed at some interval even if you are not using the sled correct? Thanks for the input guys!

 

[easylord]

I think you are all set for another season. You could lube the skid for piece of mind. Its easy. Other than that , I think you're done. The initial service package was the important one.

 

[Smokey]

Read an article once on what to do when you lay up vehicles. Single most important thing they say is change the oil. It has nothing to to with oil break down. Used oil builds up acids and when the crank etc is not turning the acids can etch the bearings and other parts. Not sure with that few miles you have anything to worry about but if it was mine I would change it for piece of mind.

 

[ecopter]

Leave it. We baby these things too much. Instead of lasting 40,000 miles, if you don't change it, it might last to 39,500. The oil companies have everybody brainwashed.

Jon

 

[Sled Dog]

I would change it and be done with it until next spring.

 

[craze1cars]

Does the manual not say something like "every x # of miles OR once a year, whichever comes first?" That's a pretty standard recommendation from most oiled machinery. For your low mileage, I'd go the once a year route. Conventional wisdom says end of season is usually best to remove any and all contaminants in the oil before it sits all summer and rots various things in the motor, but after 200 miles you don't have enough contaminants to cause a problem.

Confucious say...If ignore problem long enough, it go away....

 

[SledFreak]

It says once a year or every 2000 miles. Your good for another season, I would not bother changing it untill you have atleast 1500 - 2000 mileson the odo and then put full synthetic in for the next oil change.

 

[msatow]

Now arn't you totally confused now. Everyone has their own opinions and they can do what they want. Your oil dosent have enough miles to even change color let alone be broke down and attack any metal. Thats why you fog a motor also. Your fine, you did good, stop the panic.

 

[Iceman57]

Fogging will only coat the head. It’s not like a 2 stroke where the fogging oil enters the crank area of the engine (lower half). Contaminants get into the oil from blow by of raw fuel and water vapor. A lot of fuel gets past the rings during starting and warm up. At this point most engines run very rich and fuel doesn't vaporize well in a cold engine. Condensation, the natural result of combustion, is washed down through the cylinders and into the oil. Especially if you live in a cool climate and your EFI system goes rich on cold start to dump more fuel, trust me, some ends up in the crank case. I do agree that not enough gas blow-by and moisture could have contaminated your oil creating a high pH level (pH = acid). I only had 500 miles on my oil prior to storing my sled. But the piece of mind that $25 and 45 minutes of work would give me, I decided to change it. Next season I won’t have to worry about changing it when it’s inconvenient or cold, just gas and go. Maybe I’m just over cautious but one thing is certain, it won’t hurt anything. JMO.