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A reader with a Honda Africa Twin recently asked if they should change the oil before winterizing the bike. The lube had 1,200 miles on it, so it was still fairly fresh. Did it still need to get replaced before the motorcycle was parked for the season?
Not quite fresh enough for long-term storage, at least according to Honda. Big Red (and most other manufacturers) recommend an oil change prior to parking your bike for the winter. That’s because oil can become slightly corrosive as the sulfur and phosphorus in the oil form acids as they’re exposed to combustion byproducts and moisture that’s always present in the air.
Thankfully, motor oils contain acid-neutralizing additives referred to as the Total Base Number, or TBN. The TBN gets used up as oil ages, even if the bike isn’t running, so the advice to change the oil before storage is based on the idea that you will begin your bike’s hibernation with the maximum acid-buffering capability.
Still, low-mileage oil should be okay, right? In this reader’s case, yes, the oil is almost certainly fine, but the only way to know for certain is with a laboratory oil analysis. Short of that, there are a few things to consider to help assess if you still have enough TBN working for you.
The main factors are mileage, moisture, and duration, in that order. Obviously the oil gets worn out in myriad ways as the bike gets ridden, so if you’re more than halfway due for an oil change, it’s a good idea to just knock it out before you put the bike to bed. That way your motor is protected and you have one less thing to do before hopping on the bike next spring.
Second is moisture, which is a big culprit in depleting TBN. If you ride in the rain a lot or live in a humid climate like the Pacific Northwest, know that your oil is working harder to stay neutral than oil in a dry climate like the Southwest, and that’s whether the bike is being ridden or parked.
The final factor is duration. Will your bike only be parked for a few months until the daffodils pop up, or are you leaving the country for a year? The TBN is depleted slowly when the bike is on the sidestand, but it’s still getting used up.
In the end, storing your motorcycle with new oil that has a full charge of TBN is the best option for your bike, but it’s not a rule. Personally, I’m confident I’m going to wear out my bikes well before microscopic etching on steel parts is an issue, so I stick to regular mileage intervals, regardless of elapsed time.
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