When To Change Engine Oil in Bike (New Bike & Old Bike)

Do you want to know when to change the engine oil in bike?

It’s important to keep the bike’s engine running smoothly by regularly changing the oil.

However, knowing exactly when and after how many kilometers the oil should be changed can be difficult.

In general, after every 3000 to 5000 km, you should change the engine oil of your bike, but it depends on which engine oil you have.

If you want to know about this in detail, then continue with this guide.

When To Change Engine Oil in Bike

First of all, I would like to answer this question for those bike owners who have recently bought a new bike.

When To Change Engine Oil in New Bike

According to the companies, the recommended oil change interval for the new bike is either one month or between 500 to 750 kilometers.

But here my opinion is slightly different.

This suggestion is for riders who frequently ride long distances.

However, if you only ride a limited amount, for example, 100 to 150 kilometers per month, then there is no need to change the oil during the first service.

The engine of a new bike doesn’t require oil changes as frequently as it does after it has been run for a certain amount of kilometers, usually between 500 to 750 km.

This is because the engine doesn’t experience as much wear and tear in the initial 200 km.

If you don’t ride frequently, I recommend waiting until the second service, typically done after three months, to change the oil in your bike instead of doing it during the first service.

When To Change Engine Oil in Old Bike

Now that the first oil change of your bike has been done, after how many kilometers should you change the oil?

The answer to this question depends on two aspects.

• Owner’s Manual
• What Engine Oil Are You Using?

Let’s first talk about the owner manual.

Owner Manual

When you buy a new bike, you get the owner’s manual along with it, and there are some suggestions related to oil changes.

In most cases, you’ll be better off following the suggestions in that owner’s manual.

For example, when I bought TVS Apache RTR 160 4V, I got the owner’s manual in digital form, which clearly mentioned that the first oil change should be done at 500 to 750 km and then every 6000 km.

Since my ride was very less and I hardly rode 250 km in the first month, I did not feel the need to change the engine oil in the first service.

But suddenly, the plan had to change.

I planned some trips for the next two to three months, and the bike’s engine oil was not allowing me to do so as my total trip during this time was going to be around 800 – 900 km.

So I had to change the engine oil during the first service, even though I had ridden the bike for only 250 km.

In short, if your monthly ride is limited to 100 or 150 km, it is better to change the oil during the second service.

On the contrary, if your rides are more, then definitely change the oil during the first service.

However, if you do not have the owner’s manual, I have done some research and compiled a list for you.

This list shows which brands recommend changing the engine oil of their bikes after how many kilometers.

Rider’s Note:- The table labeled ‘Top up’ in the list above displays the certain number of kilometers at which oil needs to be refilled; also, there is no need to top up in Honda, KTM, Suzuki, Jawa and BMW.

Let’s move on to the next aspect.

What Engine Oil Are You Using?

The time to change the bike’s engine oil also depends on which oil you are using.

There are mainly three types of engine oil available in the market:

• Mineral oil
• Semi-synthetic oil
• Fully synthetic oil

It is recommended to change mineral oil every 2000-2500 kilometers.

For semi-synthetic oil, it is best to change it at intervals of 4000-5000 kilometers; for fully synthetic oil, it should be changed every 7000-8000 kilometers.

Rider’s Note:- Often, people use mineral oil to save money, but if you use fully synthetic oil, then you will not have to think about getting the oil changed for 7000 km.

What Happens if You Don’t Change the Engine Oil

Some people ask that if they do not change the engine oil on time, will it affect their bike’s engine?

The simple answer to this is yes.

Due to not changing the engine oil on time, you can see many side effects in the engine, which are as follows.

High Viscosity

When you do not change the engine oil on time, the oil’s viscosity starts increasing.

Viscosity tells us how thin or thick the oil is; thin oil’s viscosity is low, while thick oil’s viscosity is high.

High viscosity slows down engine oil flow, leading to reduced energy efficiency, higher operating temperatures, and hard starting.

Warranty Issue

Suppose you notice some fault in the bike’s engine, and as it is in the warranty period, you take the bike to the service center.

Now, if you have not changed the engine oil on time, it is obvious that its condition has deteriorated, in which case you may also be denied warranty benefits.