Welcome, Guest
Username: Password: Remember me
  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2

TOPIC:

6000 miles between oil changes?? 09 Sep 2019 20:46 #810615

  • Zaddict
  • Zaddict's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Enjoying my Zaddiction!
  • Posts: 318
  • Thank you received: 48
That’s what the owners manual for my 1990 zr550 recommends. I’ve been changing oil every 3K miles, but now I’m wondering if that’s overkill. Then again, I do thrash the poor thing pretty regularly...

1990 Zephyr zr550 B1
Factory Pro Stage 1 jet kit
zx550 cams
SPII ignition system
Kerker stainless steel race exhaust with 1.5" competition baffle
K&N Air Filter...
Attachments:

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 10 Sep 2019 06:53 #810632

  • TexasKZ
  • TexasKZ's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 7166
  • Thank you received: 2043
Probably overkill if you are using a high quality filter. Modern oils are much better than oils of old, especially if you are using a synthetic.
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by TexasKZ.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 10 Sep 2019 09:34 #810643

  • Zaddict
  • Zaddict's Avatar Topic Author
  • Offline
  • User
  • Enjoying my Zaddiction!
  • Posts: 318
  • Thank you received: 48

TexasKZ wrote: Probably overkill if you are using a high quality filter. Modern oils are much better than oils of old, especially if you are using a synthetic.


Yeah, that's what I'm gathering from googling. I think the older z's recommended more frequent changes, but maybe those would be fine with longer intervals as well given improvements in oil technology.

My bike is also burning quite a bit of oil at this point, 1/2 liter per 1000 miles, so I'm adding fresh oil to the mix pretty often. I could probably go even longer than the recommended interval, but I'd rather not chance it.
1990 Zephyr zr550 B1
Factory Pro Stage 1 jet kit
zx550 cams
SPII ignition system
Kerker stainless steel race exhaust with 1.5" competition baffle
K&N Air Filter...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 10 Sep 2019 16:46 #810659

  • bluej58
  • bluej58's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • The chrome don't get you home
  • Posts: 2484
  • Thank you received: 511
I think that as oil breaks down it gets thinner and gets past the seals easier.
Are you burning or leaking?
What type of oil are you using?
78 KZ1000 A2A

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by bluej58.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 10 Sep 2019 17:36 #810662

  • TexasKZ
  • TexasKZ's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 7166
  • Thank you received: 2043
I think your usage is within acceptable limits.
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 10 Sep 2019 19:01 #810670

  • Nessism
  • Nessism's Avatar
  • Away
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 7257
  • Thank you received: 2659
I'd change it sooner than 6k unless you are using a high tech synthetic. I've got no real technical explanation for this opinion other than after changing the oil in my bike it feels smoother.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 11 Sep 2019 07:05 #810692

  • martin_csr
  • martin_csr's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 7976
  • Thank you received: 1620
Not that I know anything about it, but I would have thought the longer intervals were more to do with better engine designs & improved mfg techniques. The Zephyr does have 4 rings per piston & maybe by then Kawasaki was able to make the cylinders & pistons n stuff to higher tolerances? Some KZs as early as at least 1983 had 4 rings, the 83 650-CSR for example. The first ZX600s had 4 rings & I bet just about every Kaw street bike since then.

...

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by martin_csr.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 11 Sep 2019 08:43 #810697

  • 650ed
  • 650ed's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 15344
  • Thank you received: 2828
A few quarts of oil and a filter is much cheaper than rebuilding an engine. I wouldn't go 6,000 miles between oil changes even though the manual shows that as the oil change interval. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 11 Sep 2019 09:08 #810700

  • TexasKZ
  • TexasKZ's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 7166
  • Thank you received: 2043
Kawasaki recommends an oil change interval of 6,000 km (3,728.4 miles) for my water cooled 2000 ZRX1100. It does have a three-piece oil control ring and tighter tolerances than your typical air-cooled four banger.
What I also find interesting is that if I follow the oil change intervals in the fsm on the miles listed rather than the km, the oil change interval varies from 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
1982 KZ1000 LTD parts donor
1981 KZ1000 LTD awaiting resurrection
2000 ZRX1100 not ridden enough

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by TexasKZ.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 14 Sep 2019 11:48 #810836

  • hugo
  • hugo's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • '92 Zephyr 750
  • Posts: 276
  • Thank you received: 65
Depends on how long one is planning on keeping any vehicle. If you trade vehicles every 5 years, who cares? (I do)

The manufacturers only recommend what is enough, not what is best.

I plan for the long, long haul on all vehicles therefore I change oil every 3K miles on all, even though their recommendation may be 5K miles or even 7K miles....and use expensive synthetic oil at that.

.....recently changed valve cover gaskets in my 20 year-old truck and the rockers looked shiny pristine. Have seen same rockers in same other engines as old as mine and the rockers looked dark brown, full of thick sludge. I'll keep my 3K miles intervals and driving/riding same old vehicles.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 14 Sep 2019 13:56 #810842

  • Dr. Gamma
  • Dr. Gamma's Avatar
  • Offline
  • Sustaining Member
  • Posts: 1221
  • Thank you received: 664
Being air cooled motors, the oil is used for lubrication, but also for some amount of cooling too. If you spend a lot of time in stop and go traffic, city traffic, or run your bike hard, I would change oil more often than what that manual suggest.

In all the Kawasaki motorcycles I owned or had as demos I NEVER ran the oil and filter more than a 1,000 miles before I changed it. Most of my friends that still have Kz's in their collection would never think of running more than a 1,000 to maybe 1,500 miles before they change it!!!!! The factory Porsche shop manuals for the air cooled flat 4's and 6's (356, and 911 models) recommend the oil be changed at 1,500 kilometers. Which is a bit less than 1,000 miles I believe!!!!

This is the Spectro oil I have been running since back in 1986. My Kz1000 motors show ZERO wear on cams, shim buckets, or cam bearings!!! On my GSXR750 motors, ZERO wear on the cam lobes and the rocker arm pads!!! Which are a major wear problem on that type of motor.


Good $hit Maynard!!!!
1972 H2 750 Cafe Racer built in 1974.
1976 KH400 Production Road Racer.
1979 Kz1000 MK. II Old AMA/WERA Superbike.
1986 RG500G 2 stroke terror.
1986 GSXR750RG The one with the clutch that rattles!

Up in the hills near Prescott, Az.
Attachments:
The following user(s) said Thank You: 650ed, urankjj

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by Dr. Gamma.

6000 miles between oil changes?? 14 Sep 2019 14:16 #810843

  • 650ed
  • 650ed's Avatar
  • Offline
  • User
  • Posts: 15344
  • Thank you received: 2828

Dr. Gamma wrote: .................... In all the Kawasaki motorcycles I owned or had as demos I NEVER ran the oil and filter more than a 1,000 miles before I changed it. ...........


Thank you! I was beginning to think I was the only one who changed the oil & filter in the KZ that often. Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
The following user(s) said Thank You: Dr. Gamma

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

Last edit: by 650ed.
  • Page:
  • 1
  • 2
Powered by Kunena Forum