[when to change oil?] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

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when to change oil?
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Posted by: cyba888

My 400EX is 3 years old and I only rode it for no more than 3 hours total on it. Most of the time it just sits on a stand in the garage. I bought the quad new. Here is my question, I havent change the oil yet since I bought it but I do warm it up and run it up and down the block a few times but that was it. But I would at least warm it up once a week and I also have a battery tender attached to it. So basically there is no more than a total of 3 hours on the bike if not 4 hours. Do I need to change the oil because the manaul says every certain miles or hours on the bike, forgot the numbers but will check. Do you think I need to change it? Thanks

Posted by: Chef

You shouldn't have to change the oil yet...it shouldnt even have changed colors yet!

Posted by: Jumbo747

no, but you need to ride it & not let a completely good ex waste

Posted by: cyba888

I dont know about the oil color changing since I havent even opened up the oil cap. The reason I didnt ride it much was I was out of the country and now that I moved to Taiwan I will be riding it more but the dam weather is so hot here so gonna ride it more during the winter. I think there is only 2 400EX in this country

BTW this is not like America where you can just go out and buy a trailer, these things are rare and the places to ride is nothing compared to the states. Man I wish I could move back one day

Posted by: Doibugu2

If it has been sitting that long you should change the oil. I have read in several places that you should change the oil if your going to store something (boat, car, quad) for a long period of time. The oil doesn't stay good forever, and after you take it out, you should also change it.

For a $6 oil change it's better to be safe than sorry.

Posted by: cyba888

gonna look at the oil and see how bad it is. What kind of oil should I get, is it ok to get motorcycle oil because im sure thats what they have here. Is synthetic oil fine?

Posted by: JOEX

I'd change it at least once a year, maybe twice. Synthetic is used by many people, as long as it is 4 stroke oil any brand will be fine.

Joe

Posted by: cyba888

What type of oils do you guys use like the weight, 10W or whatevers you call it.

Posted by: JOEX

I use 20/50 in the warmer weather and 10/40 in the cooler weather. Usually lean more to the heavier weights.

Joe

Posted by: stupid driver

i use full synthetic 20/50 all year round.

Posted by: Jumbo747

im thinking about dstarting to use mobile 1 20/50 fully synthetic all year round now...it wont mess anything up will it?

Posted by: stupid driver

quote:
Originally posted by Crazy400exMan
im thinking about dstarting to use mobile 1 20/50 fully synthetic all year round now...it wont mess anything up will it?

no, the reason being, synthetics heat up much quicker than conventional oils, therefore can be run in colder weather. Just be sure to warm your quad up good n' well before you take off