The manual says to do it at 7,000 miles; I do it at 7,000 miles. People are always saying to do it at 1,500, 2,000, 3,000, etc.
The Kawasaki engineers didn't just pull this number out of their asses. No, there's not some conspiracy for owners to use the oil for too long so the engines blow up and Kawasaki can make more money.
Besides, oil doesn't really start "working" at its full potential until about 1,500 to 3,000 miles.
-Will
__________________ KEEP CALM AND CHIVE ON "Trust me; I'm a pilot."
Yea....that's kinda what I thought when I read this but I had always been with the mindset of "oil change = 3k miles". I'll just do it when it hits the 7K mile going forward.
An oil is starting to wear out when the shifting is not as smooth. The factory bases their oil change interval on lab testing for the used oil, and they want you to buy a new bike sooner instead of later for more profits. They also usually write you should change the oil filter every other oil change.
For Rotella 15w-40, I would only use it about 2 or 3000 miles. Rotella 5w-40 (T6) will last maybe 5000 miles. Amsoil or Maxima or Mobil1 synthetic 10w-40 goes to about 7 or 8000 miles. For more punishing racing style riding or in dusty air, changing the oil more often is probably safer for the transmission and the clutch.
I found that 2 quarts of Amsoil 10w-40 and the rest Rotella 15w-40 works better than all Amsoil or all Maxima, but maybe it is just my left foot.
__________________
"He had never counted on anything except surprise and unpredictability and danger" from Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble novel (2007)---------------
"There's always the chance I'll screw up. That's what keeps it from getting boring."
from Dean Koontz's The Eyes of Darkness novel (1981)
Location: Chesapeake, VA '06 ZZR fighter, 05 VTX-1300
Posts: 14,616
God dammit Jeff, stop telling people to mix their fucking oil. Especially two different brands. You're not smarter than the engineers that make these machines. Actually, you're not smarter than anybody.
DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS TROLL. He has zero good advice. This is a warning to all new riders looking for information.
Choose one oil and stick to it. It's not rocket surgery. Each company uses different additives in their oil, so don't mix them unless it's an emergency, or if your name is Jeff and you're mentally handicapped. In which case do whatever you like, but don't recommend to others to do the same crap.
Ha, more oil threads here too.
I have to say I've never heard of mixing oil and who can say it works better than all Amsoil or all Maxima?
Who would even attempt that?
To the op, do whatever you feel comfortable with. You won't be doing anything wrong by changing early other than spending a bit more money than you need to.
I change my oil at least once a year no matter the mileage or when I'm bored but I admit to not going the 7500 mile interval that the manual recommends.
Mixing oil is definitely a minority opinion. Oil companies do it all of the time to make a semisynthetic, but they prefer to overcharge you for their mix rather than have you experiment with your own mix, and maybe blame them for any bad results.
I agree with Mark Lawrence at his Calsci motorcycle site (a quote is below), after my own testing for shift and clutch feel and oil longevity. Note that I change my unusual mix at least every 3500 miles even though it is a semisynthetic:
"I'm sometimes asked if it's ok to blend your own oils. Yes, it is. Oils are all made out of pretty much the same chemicals, and nothing really bad will happen. If I wanted to blend my own oil, I expect I would use something like 25% Motul 5100 10W-40 and 75% Chevron Delo 15w-40, which would get me both the advantages of a lot of diester stock (5100 is pure diester [I think he meant 7100]) and the diesel additive package. In the winter, however, I would use 25% Motul and 75% Rotella synthetic, to get the superior low temperature performance. In fact, I just run Rotella synthetic in everything I own, year round: ST1300, DL650, Superhawk, Chevy Silverado, motorhome."
Larry constantly attacks any idea he does not agree with.
__________________
"He had never counted on anything except surprise and unpredictability and danger" from Lee Child's Bad Luck and Trouble novel (2007)---------------
"There's always the chance I'll screw up. That's what keeps it from getting boring."
from Dean Koontz's The Eyes of Darkness novel (1981)
Frequency of Oil Change
Linear Mode
