Q8 oils winter tips for motorcycle oil

nope

winter oil

Completely and utterly - WRONG IN EVERY WAY

What an idiot!

What should we be doing?

Don't start the bike unless you intend to ride it 20 miles or so. Otherwise all your doing is loading your oil and crankcase with moisture.
I know it's tempting to start her up over the winter, but it's a machine...it doesn't need to be "exercised". Leave it be...don't touch that button!

Chuckracer said:

Don't start the bike unless you intend to ride it 20 miles or so. Otherwise all your doing is loading your oil and crankcase with moisture.
I know it's tempting to start her up over the winter, but it's a machine...it doesn't need to be "exercised". Leave it be...don't touch that button!

Click to expand...

What he said. Condensation won't form inside the motor if it isn't started.

Advise on proper engine rotation during winter storage.

I agree with what everyone says about not starting the engine during winter storage. Even on short trips there is a large amount of moisture that builds up in the crankcase and especially in the exhaust system. What I'd like to know is what's the best way to rotate the engine every month of so without removing the plugs and turning the engine manually? I usually hook up the battery and just bump the started button a couple of times to get things moved a bit. I would prefer it if the injectors weren't shooting fuel into the cylinders. Is it ok to pull the fuse, or would you disconnect the wiring harness at the throttle bodies?

Change your oil BEFORE putting it to bed for the winter. Used oil has ugly stuff like acids in it.

I had no idea, I've been doing this for years

Mostly 'cause I thought it was good to get fresh gas into the injectors. I try to ride it every month, but once the salt and sand are out I sometimes can't do that.


I start my generator every month too.

Went out on my SS today, fourth time this week? Hard frost this morning, just above freezing all day? Not warm by any standard, but I got out on my Doocat.

Keep your oil level low, less oil will warm up quicker (a full kettle takes longer to boil ), & tape up the front of your oil cooler, foil duct-tape and a cardboard cutout blocks the front of mine - your oil has no thermostat as such & is open-circuit right from this minute you hit the starter, taping the cooler up will stop it getting cooled before it is warm??

Take the long way home - Im trying to get at least a few miles in with the temp over 100deg C to see off any water goop in the oil - and remove the oil filler plug when you get back to let out any condensate in the cases.

Keep the plug in an old aerosol lid on top of your fuel cap, this will stop you forgetting to refit it & riding off to waterproof your right boot.

I was surprised on a few thing the guy said about engines and oil in winter time. Maybe they have a different view of things in the UK. They ride their bikes all year round over there. One thing I don't do now is start my 999 up for the heck of it. It sits unless I can go out for about 40 minutes' It seems 40 minutes of spirited riding will not leave the oil sight window condensed.