Just wondering how often people are actually changing the oil in the Recons and Ranchers? I know the manual says every 100 hours, but I think that's way too long. I have a new 2005 Recon and I'm looking for a little insight. I changed the oil initially at 15 hours and am wondering when I should change it next?

AggieVetMed

 

I do well less than 1000 km's a year and I change it 1-2 times a season. Actually more like once a season since I bought a skidoo and stopped using the bike in the winter. I always use synthetic oil from the dealer, its a little more but since It's only once a year its not that big a deal.

 

i change mine almost everytime i go riding but i ride in mud and everyother thing out there and we ride all day and with the air intake on the recon so low you get water in the engine so i just change it to be safe it really just depends on where you ride it and how you ride it

 

First off, Honda has a vested interest in presenting their vehicles as being "low maintainance". So, that 100 hours per oil change in the owners manual is something that would only be realistic under ideal conditions, like no dust, light loads, and the vehicle never works hard enough to get hot. Absolutely none of these conditions are realistic!

I am more **** than most, so I would say I average 20 hours on my autoclutch bikes (Ranchers, Recon, 250EX, and 90), between changes. One thing about the Recon/250EX/90, they doesn't have an oil filter as such, so I baby them a little more than I might a bike with a removable filter.

I highly recommend Maxima Extra oil. It is an ester synthetic, and far superior to any petroleum, or even a PAO synthetic oil.

 

oooh 15 hours for the first change! Did you see all the metal burs that came out in the oil? You let that stuff run in there for about 12 hours too long! imop

 

Well, my "hours" can consist of 10 minutes to 35 or 40 minutes. Every time I start the engine and ride it around, I count that as an hour. Total continous ride time for my first oil change was probably around 5-7 hours, and I didn't see any shavings. However, I didn't break it in really harsh either.

 

all new engines have burs. pour the oil over something white. If you didn't see them then they embedded themselves in your bearings and gears. it's ok though they are made to absorb them.

 

Well, when I changed the oil the first time I didn't pour the used oil over anything white. I just drained it, briefly looked in it/through it, and replaced it. I'm going to change the oil for the second time soon. My total continous "real" riding time would add up to about 11-13 hours at the moment. The honda techs still swear that you can go 50 hours before replacement, but I think that's way too long.

 

I changed my oil after the first tank of fuel and every 3-4 tanks afterwards.
Also I change the rear differential fluid the same time I change the oil.

 

If there is a filter, cut it open and pull out the paper looking for metal, visually and with a magnet. You can wash the filter in Varsol and decant the liquid to see the metal. I do this every time with my large air/oil cooled engine, and send the oil away for analysis, but I can not afford to have that engine(470 cid 6) leave me as a glider. With a filter, 50 hours is max or every 6 months, whichever comes first. Without a filter, then 25 h. Corrosion in the engine from sitting more than a week is the biggest problem.[