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Cruiser
Posts: 244 Lindale, TX | Not being a mechanic, I have a question. When preparing to change my oil in my Vision, why is it necessary to warm my engine up? I would think all the old oil is pooled in the oil pan when it's cold and I would be getting more oil in the drain pan. When it's hot, isn't some of the oil trapped in the heads? |
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Visionary
Posts: 3773 Pittsburgh, PA | i dont heat mine up... |
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Tourer
Posts: 411 Dallas, Texas | Manual states: Start and run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature. Stop the engine.
Edited by iluvink 2011-06-26 8:54 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 1632 Jasper, MO | I think the theory is that starting the engine and warming and circulating the oil will re-suspend anything that might be lying on the bottom of the crankcase and it will then go out with the old oil.
I've changed my oil both hot and cold; I don't worry about it. Changing the oil and filter is what is important, as far as I'm concerned.
Ronnie |
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Cruiser
Posts: 130 Houston, Tx | My only thought is that after it has reached operating temperature it would come out easier. Simply a dumb guess on my part as I've never changed my oil when cold...whether it be the bike or the cages. Simple example, think like a syrup bottle... comes out slow and steady when cold but flows easier when warmed up.
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Cruiser
Posts: 144
| You guys forgot another reason. Because of the way the oiling system works it will take a short amount of time for the new oil to start pumping through the motor but if you warm it up first there will be oil still on the moving parts inside insted of all at the bottom of the pan. This is why you do this so its not a dry start every oil change. Dain |
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Visionary
Posts: 1359 New Bohemia, Va | it is important to just know it is best to change oil hot/warm. Technical reasons are warm oil flows better, particals are mostly suspended in the oil, not on the bottom, and clearance is greater to allow better distribution for the oil. No big deal if you don't warm it up, the adverse affects will happen with the next owner. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027 Brighton, TN | For those with the dry start syndrome, dip your finger and hold upside down so gravity takes affect. Then let me know how long it takes for your finger to become dry. Even the extreme condition, rub your thumb and finger together until you rub all the oil off.
I don't know about ya'll but if I get oil on a tool and let it sit for weeks in the same spot without moving, I have never seen it dry, still have to wipe it off with a rag. Just thinking out loud again.
this is almost as controversial as a regular oil thread. One of the members needs to become an Engineer who can study this for us. Since, we came up with the idea, I'm sure we can get a government contract to do the study. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027 Brighton, TN | Capn what are you clearing "clearance is greater"? Good explanation, I just don't understand, may have to push my "I believe!" button.
Edited by pollolittle 2011-06-27 7:56 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 1359 New Bohemia, Va | bearing clearance on crank, ever so slight |
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Tourer
Posts: 492 Indianapolis, IN | Here's the reasons for heating up the oil before changing: If you change the oil cold any particulates that have settled in the engine probably will not drain out. Yes one of the reasons for changing is to get new oil and filter installed. But the most important reason is to get the "dirt" out. In theory if you could capture all the dirt in the filter and only pump clean oil through the engine you could extend your oil change interval to many additional thousands of miles. On the other hand if you don't get the dirt out, adding new oil to to a lot of dirt trapped in the engine equals marginal protection from the get go and a lot of wear that could be prevented. Hot oil drains better. If you started the drain process in two bikes at the same time, one hot and one cold, the hot oil will drain out faster and more completely way before the cold one. I know this is probably no big deal if you are taking your time on the weekend, but again you are likely to do a better job of doing a complete change if you don't have to wait 10 extra minutes for the oil to drain out. Most of the time we like to get done and get on the road. Yes there is oil throughout the engine after it has been running, but being hot it tends to drain out quickly. You will get a more oil out hot than you will cold. I know for most of us the above points aren't worth worrying about, but this is why you should change oil warmed up, preferably after at least a mile or so of riding to really get it running at full flow. Will the bike last for many years without being picky? Sure it will. It's just a matter of principal. Some people like doing things by the book, for good reason. Others don't like to sweat the details. The person that sweats the details (all the details) will in general have more worry free time in the saddle without unexpected down-time. And the lucky person that ends up being the next owner of the bike will really benefit as well. I know the type of person I prefer to buy a used bike from. It's not that big a deal, it's your bike, pick your method then and focus on riding. Good luck. PS - I type slow, most of what I said was said above while I was typing. So to that I say, Ditto. My wife always tells me that I'll take you all the way around the block when I'm trying to explain something.
Edited by hoosiervic 2011-06-27 8:11 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 273 Midlothian, Va. | I always warm my gal up first, she likes it a lot better when I do. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244 Lindale, TX | Thanks for the answers. I will continue to warm the bike up. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238 SF Bay Area | I just like to hear my bike run... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 40
| Yeah I like to hear mine run too! |
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