Miles Between Oil Changes

NC Triker

200+ Posts
Jul 9, 2012
221
212
Supply, NC
Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?
 
Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?

I personally think it is, with a quality full synthetic & a filter made for it, but keep an eye on it for proper level and just the general appearance of the oil. It should look closer to honey in color & not molasses. The new M8 we have holds a lot of oil. Make sure it's not overfilled & keep an eye on the tranny fluid & make sure it's not going down. I plan on doing the tranny & differential at 10,000 miles & see how they look. I changed them at around 3.250 miles with Lucas & checking the condition at 10,000 will give me a good indication.

It all comes down to what your comfortable with. As stated earlier, you will get enough opinions to make your head spin.:xzqxz:

I'm a fairly decisive person & am pretty much set on what I plan to do, but try to stay flexible for any needed adjustments to my schedule. I have heard the differential will get dirty due to the clutch, so I plan on watching it.
 
Mine was done at 1k, again at 5k and every 5k since, with HD synthetic in all 3 holes. Most of my riding is highway crusing, not a lot of in-town. Maybe more town/city miles might require a change sooner, I don't know.
 
Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?

Its your ride, you decide

If I run mine hard, say on a road trip I will change sooner( When I run to MN from Fla I change oil and filter sooner, I run hard usually set the cruise @85) 24 + hours of riding

I rarely go over 3000 miles on my oil just my way;)
 
I'm one of those old dogs that can't (won't) change. Even with synthetic (Amsoil), I change the engine oil every 2500 and the transmission/primary (Redline/Formula +) every 5000 miles.

Scott Smith
 
I was doing all 3 holes at 5,000 with Syn-3, but got lazy at the 15,000 one and only did engine oil. I also don't wait until it is exact, it could be 5,500 or it could be 4,500, it just depends on where I am at and what I am doing.

I've had two different dealers tell me that as long as you are always within 1,000 miles of your scheduled oil changes it will never interfere with your warranty.
 
Syn = 5K~6K

Dino = No more then 3K

Filter each time.

Amsoil 20-50 (preferably) but will use any brand name oil that's on sale = engine

Amsoil 75-140 Gear oil = trans

HD Formula+ = primary

If the engine oil is clear at time of change = it's NOT working.
 
With a full synthetic it is fine go to 5K miles on engine oil change, as long as the oil has not been subjected to temps in excess of 270* F.

If there has been a lot of riding where the temps are over 270*, oil, even synthetic, will begin breaking down.

If you have more top end noise, say at 3000 miles, than you did right after an oil change, that is because the oil has begun breaking down and it would be a good idea to change the oil at that time.

.

My schedule: (my TG is set up so the oil never goes over 250*)

Every 4-5K miles on engine (Full synthetic + Petron additive)

Every 8-10K miles on Primary (Syn3)

Every 16-20K miles on Transmission (Full synthetic + Petron additive)

When I was running non-synthetic oil I changed every 2-3K miles

.

Twin Cams and M8's, in stock condition, usually run the oil well over the 270* mark. This is not good for the engine, or the oil. Here is a LINK to a report on why & how to cool it down.

Kevin
 
I change all three holes in the fall. Then every 5k if I get that far. usually only ride around 4k.

5K is a good number on full synthetic oil.
 
Changing oil is so easy and simple (talking Goldwing here) if you do it yourself, I usually replace every 3,000ish miles (if yea have your dealer do it for you, then that's another story, very expensive then..Always replace BOTH filter & oil at the same time...

A couple of years ago, I had cut open a oil filter on one of my service trucks, I was just curious to see what it looked like after 5,000 mile...Well there was so much gunk in there that it would be hard to flow , all plugged up! That turned me into a true believer to replace oil/filter at the same time, and at a 3,000ish interval...



I purchase oil and filter(s) when I happen to see it on sale, I have approx. 8 to10 filters left (for my wing) unopened in my garage along with a case of mobile one synth, oil just ready to be used.....

PS: I just changed my plugs along with oil/filter last week on my bike getting her ready for this spring rides..(if it will ever get here:mad::mad:)

Ronnie
 

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