Austrian 450s Cost of Oil Changes

seth505 wrote:

Side note/off topic BUT I just recently noticed that my 250f manual lists using 10w-60 rather than 10w-50 for increased performance. Kind of bummed I have...

Side note/off topic BUT I just recently noticed that my 250f manual lists using 10w-60 rather than 10w-50 for increased performance. Kind of bummed I have so much 10w-50 on hand.

SPYGUY wrote:

I’ve sent a few used oil samples to Blackstone for analysis and the reports I get back have made me very comfortable extending my oil change...

I’ve sent a few used oil samples to Blackstone for analysis and the reports I get back have made me very comfortable extending my oil change intervals well past what many are saying in here.

Crash81 wrote:

This. I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his...

This.

I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his engine oil analyzed because the analysis was free for him. I can't remember the interval we went, but it was insane how long he would go between oil changes in his personal vehicle.

Please stop changing your oil every ride or every other ride guys. You're pouring perfectly good oil down the drain and just polluting more. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendation. They know what they are talking about.

TeamGreen wrote:

Love this thread. Thanks for sharing the info. Here’s something I’ve found by accident a while back while looking for stuff @ RMATVMC… [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/12/08/521707/s1200_E6082A47_59A3_42D8_B4E6_4559EFE2E9FC.jpg[/img] For the...

Love this thread. Thanks for sharing the info. Here’s something I’ve found by accident a while back while looking for stuff @ RMATVMC…

For the record, that’s a “Tusk” oil filter and crush washer (I know some of you are gonna say,”no” to that!). There’s another oil change kit that comes with OEM oil & filter and even adds gloves for more $.

About oil “life”/change frequency: on The Rip to Cabo we go DAYS…long Gnarly DAYS on the same oil. From Husky 350s, CRF450X -&- 250Xs, KLX450R, XR650R, KX450…etc. I’ve run oil for 20-30 hours on these rides with NO PROBLEMS. Oil ranged from Lucas to BelRay to Kawasaki to Honda to VP. ALL…no problems.

Also, even on my SXF or other dedicated race bikes, I do not change the filter with every oil change. Learned that during an OEM test. Also, I remember my older/earlier KTM manuals (2013/14…) having Rotella listed as the recommended oil.

Sandusky26 wrote:

Do you know when KTM started selling Motorex? Im thinking they quit recommending Rotella at the same time.

Crash81 wrote:

This. I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his...

This.

I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his engine oil analyzed because the analysis was free for him. I can't remember the interval we went, but it was insane how long he would go between oil changes in his personal vehicle.

Please stop changing your oil every ride or every other ride guys. You're pouring perfectly good oil down the drain and just polluting more. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendation. They know what they are talking about.

philG wrote:

Spot on A friend used to work for London Transport, They had a test bus that was supposed to have oil changes every 5000 miles.. they...

Spot on


A friend used to work for London Transport,

They had a test bus that was supposed to have oil changes every 5000 miles.. they went to the analysis route and they got to 90000 miles, just checking levels and topping up when required, fair to say it did use some , so none of the oil they started with would have been left, but it proved the point. .

But just cos it doesnt deteriorate , doesnt mean it doesnt need topping up..

Crash81 wrote:

This. I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his...

This.

I used to work in hydraulics a lot, and I've talked with 2 major manufacturers. One guy in particular with Eaton used to have his engine oil analyzed because the analysis was free for him. I can't remember the interval we went, but it was insane how long he would go between oil changes in his personal vehicle.

Please stop changing your oil every ride or every other ride guys. You're pouring perfectly good oil down the drain and just polluting more. Just follow the manufacturer's recommendation. They know what they are talking about.

philG wrote:

Spot on A friend used to work for London Transport, They had a test bus that was supposed to have oil changes every 5000 miles.. they...

Spot on


A friend used to work for London Transport,

They had a test bus that was supposed to have oil changes every 5000 miles.. they went to the analysis route and they got to 90000 miles, just checking levels and topping up when required, fair to say it did use some , so none of the oil they started with would have been left, but it proved the point. .

But just cos it doesnt deteriorate , doesnt mean it doesnt need topping up..

FGR01 wrote:

Yeah.. no way am I doing long ass extended change intervals on my bikes or any vehicle I care about. The testing may confirm the continued...

Yeah.. no way am I doing long ass extended change intervals on my bikes or any vehicle I care about.

The testing may confirm the continued lubricity and serviceability of the oil, but the main reason for changing oil is not because the oil itself is bad. It's because it's full of contaminants that can only be removed by dumping the oil. It's been proven time and again that extended change intervals cause particulate, fuel contaminants, and condensation to be recirculated through your engine. These are the issues that cause ring sticking which leads to blow by which continues and increases the vicious cycle and also oil sludging or varnish build up.

Crash81 wrote:

Don't act like you know what you're talking about when you've never seen an oil analysis report

Crash81 wrote:

Don't act like you know what you're talking about when you've never seen an oil analysis report

FGR01 wrote:

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis. Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my...

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis.

Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my personal vehicles.

Crash81 wrote:

Don't act like you know what you're talking about when you've never seen an oil analysis report

FGR01 wrote:

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis. Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my...

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis.

Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my personal vehicles.

Crash81 wrote:

A proper analysis report has iso 2/5/15 micron particle counts. They also check all of the things you claim they don't check like water content.

FGR01 wrote:

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis. Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my...

Thanks for that. I've seen them. I actually have worked with fleet vehicles before and processed, submitted, reviewed analysis.

Not applying fleet vehicle logic to my personal vehicles.

Crash81 wrote:

A proper analysis report has iso 2/5/15 micron particle counts. They also check all of the things you claim they don't check like water content.

FGR01 wrote:

Gee.. glad to know there's particles there.... after I already circulated them through my engine. Guess what, the average guy is better off adhering to reasonable...

Gee.. glad to know there's particles there.... after I already circulated them through my engine. Guess what, the average guy is better off adhering to reasonable change intervals since he's not going to get his oil tested on his dirt bike.

Yeah, testing finds water.... that is actually in the sample when it was sent in. Which has nothing to do with condensation that was in the oil before, got circulated through your engine and subsequently burned off.

Moto520 wrote:

i pull the oil every 6 hours or after about 3 rides. I do it that often because i'm paranoid about my bike failing on a...

i pull the oil every 6 hours or after about 3 rides. I do it that often because i'm paranoid about my bike failing on a jump face (it's happened) and i want to have some assurance that everything is good with my motor. Particles from the clutch plates can wear off and who knows what happens from there. I can afford a $10 oil change but i can't afford another broken bone or concussion.

I recently changed my oil and found some metal particles in the oil. Turns out...the little sleeve that goes on a clutch basket while using a Rekluse torque drive kit had got misplaced. If i hadn't have checked the oil with the frequency that i do.....the bike could have locked up and created more damage. As it was.....i messed some shit up and had to spend a boatload to fix.

For me....it's all about accident prevention. That's why i do the changes more often than normal. I am, however, considering going with longer intervals....

Moto520 wrote:

i pull the oil every 6 hours or after about 3 rides. I do it that often because i'm paranoid about my bike failing on a...

i pull the oil every 6 hours or after about 3 rides. I do it that often because i'm paranoid about my bike failing on a jump face (it's happened) and i want to have some assurance that everything is good with my motor. Particles from the clutch plates can wear off and who knows what happens from there. I can afford a $10 oil change but i can't afford another broken bone or concussion.

I recently changed my oil and found some metal particles in the oil. Turns out...the little sleeve that goes on a clutch basket while using a Rekluse torque drive kit had got misplaced. If i hadn't have checked the oil with the frequency that i do.....the bike could have locked up and created more damage. As it was.....i messed some shit up and had to spend a boatload to fix.

For me....it's all about accident prevention. That's why i do the changes more often than normal. I am, however, considering going with longer intervals....

Crash81 wrote:

Don't act like you know what you're talking about when you've never seen an oil analysis report

LungButter wrote:

Rotella every 10-12 hours. No need to make it any more complicated. Don't flatter yourself....you ain't as hard on that motor as you think you are...

Rotella every 10-12 hours. No need to make it any more complicated. Don't flatter yourself....you ain't as hard on that motor as you think you are

LungButter wrote:

Rotella every 10-12 hours. No need to make it any more complicated. Don't flatter yourself....you ain't as hard on that motor as you think you are...

Rotella every 10-12 hours. No need to make it any more complicated. Don't flatter yourself....you ain't as hard on that motor as you think you are

Bruce372 wrote:

Lol.... did you hear the one about vet riders needing their pro specification suspension to be serviced every 10 hours?

mxtech1 wrote:

I just can’t comprehend how some folks argue with the OEM recommendations. If KTM says 10hrs, believe your ass they spent thousands of hours testing and...

I just can’t comprehend how some folks argue with the OEM recommendations.

If KTM says 10hrs, believe your ass they spent thousands of hours testing and Hundreds of thousands of dollars to get to that CONSERVATIVE recommendation.

ThePizzaCobra wrote:

When I read the 10 hr interval in the manual of my first KTM a few years ago, I thought “No friggen way”. The Suzuki I...

When I read the 10 hr interval in the manual of my first KTM a few years ago, I thought “No friggen way”. The Suzuki I was coming from would drain black oil after 3 hrs. First oil change on a KTM was at 3 hrs, and the oil looked brand new. Then I lengthened it to 5 hrs - same thing. Two 350 KTMs, and over a hundred hours later, and 10 hr intervals have been perfectly fine. Bikes are different. Trust the manufacturer’s recommendations.