For those of us who live in northern regions, taking a timeout is a good thing. Motorcycles need to rest during the cold months of winter... but they have to be prepared for it. There are important decisions to make and work to do.
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The engine oil is corrupted and contaminated due to contacts with combustion gases. |
Step 1Here are a few tips and recommendations based on my long experience with motorcycle hibernation. I'll start with one of the most frequently asked questions: when is the better time for an oil change, before or after winter?
Well, the answer would be at the end of the season, when you're about to put your bike away in the garage. After a hot riding season (that sometimes stretches a few weeks into the fall), the engine oil is corrupted and contaminated due to contacts with combustion gases. As a result, the leftover fuel no longer has the same properties, which jeopardizes its chances of staying still for 4+ months without deteriorating or oxidizing.
If you decide to wait until next spring, what will be the consequences? There's a 50-percent chance that the internal parts made of steel will rust and that you will experience mechanical problems when starting your motorcycle. Parts such as cylinder liners, valves, piston rings and the like are especially at risk.
Of course, the warehousing location is important. If the humidity level is high and temperature often fluctuates, major problems are more likely to happen. The best advice I can give you is to change all fluids and lubricants when readying your bike for winter.
Please note that it is not recommended to start your engine in the middle of the cold season. It doesn't have enough time to warm up, which can be pretty bad for the various fluids as they will lose their protective properties and all your efforts to get your bike ready for winter will go to waste. Starting an engine in cold temperatures creates condensation inside; moisture then spreads and attacks the engine components. Expect grease or rust build-up as a result.
Air pressure can also force ambient air into the exhaust system or air filter. Again, if the humidity level is high, virtually all parts of the combustion chamber will oxidize. Change the engine oil and filter; then, restart your engine to make the oil flow through the system.
There's another solution: using a spray can, inject some foaming lubricant into the intake ducts while the engine is running after an oil change. The foam will spread through the upper section of the engine and protect it against oxidation during the entire warehousing period. A thin layer of lubricant is applied to the valves, cylinder(s) and piston rings. The foam even gets to the exhaust pipes. Come springtime, this oil will disappear upon starting your engine without causing any problems. Just to make sure, you might want to replace the spark plug(s) to prevent potential ignition failures.