Harley Oil Change How Often: Change Your Motorcycle Oil To Get Prime Performance

Do you own a Harley that you take good care of but are unsure about the frequency of oil changes? If so, then you’re definitely in the right place.

Harley-Davidson recommends changing the oil every 5,000 miles for most models, but this can vary based on riding conditions and the type of oil used. Check your owner’s manual for specific intervals.

In this article, you’ll get to know all about oil in Harley-Davidson bikes, does your bike need an oil change every year, when to know that your bike needs an oil change, and Harley oil change how often it needs to be done. Continue reading to know all the answers that you’re looking for.

Harley oil change how often should it be done?

How often should you change your Harley-Davidson bike’s oil will depend on how often you drive it. If you’re always driving your bike at excessively high speeds whenever you ride it, then the oil will more than likely deteriorate faster than a rider who prefers keeping to the speed limit. If you ride your bike for short distances, a regular oil change is definitely recommended.

It is advisable that you should start off by checking the owner’s manual and see what the manufacturer states. The manual will have information on how often to change the oil. The type of oil you’re putting in your bike will also play a key role in determining how often you’re changing the oil.

If you’re using mineral-based oil, you should consider changing the oil once every 2,000 miles. Alternatively, you can also get it changed twice every year if you don’t ride your Harley-Davidson bike regularly. If your bike is running on semi-synthetic motor oil, you should change it after around 5,000-6,000 miles. For fully synthetic engine oil, you should change it after 7,000-10,000 miles. Synthetic oil generally costs more than mineral-based oil options. Moreover, it lasts longer and will save you from the hassle of frequently changing it.

Sometimes, you won’t have to wait to cover all these miles to change your motorcycle oil. If you feel that your oil is dirty or the engine isn’t performing well, ahead and change it regardless. The weather you’re riding in could take a toll on your engine oil. Bikers riding in harsh conditions like dusty environments, extreme temperatures, or heavy loads should have the oil changed more frequently.

The rule of thumb is pretty clear. You need to change the oil once every year, or after you’ve covered around 3,000-5,000 miles with your Harley-Davidson bike. If you’re riding your bike more regularly, conduct oil changes more frequently, regardless of the type of oil you’re using.

How to know when your bike requires an oil change?

Harley-Davidson bikers are always looking to know about ways to improve their motorcycle’s performance. They’re looking to know if they should modify their riding style, add high-tech accessories, or take their motorcycle out only when riding conditions are perfect. The answer is a lot more obvious than that.

BMoreover, you should be using top-quality oil from Harley-Davidson for the best results. It’s very simple, but you should still be informed about how often to change motorcycle oil.

Sometimes, you don’t really need to wait to cover the recommended miles before you change the oil in your bike. If you feel that the oil is affecting your motorcycle’s performance or if it’s dirty, it’s a sign that you’ll need to replace it with fresh oil.  But how does one know the condition of the oil in their Harley-Davidson bike? 

You can visually inspect it while the oil is still inside the crankcase. Depending on the type of bike you own, you’ll be able to inspect the oil level and its condition. Now comes the question of how to check the oil level in your bike’s engine. The process will differ slightly for certain models, but the procedure is the same for most bikes.

1. Put your motorcycle on a jiffy stand on level ground while you wait for the engine to warm up
2. Unscrew the dipstick counterclockwise and then wipe it on a rag or paper towel 
3. Then, reinsert the dipstick into the dipstick oil until the stick is resting on the thread 
4. Now, carefully remove the dipstick and then check the level
5. There need to be two marks on the dipstick, one of them is lower and the other higher, with a cross-hatched pattern between the two
6. If the oil is below the lower line, you’ll have to add more oil
7. If the oil is above the upper line, you’ll have to drain out some oil 
8. If everything looks amazing, you should screw the dipstick back on while ensuring that the threads are properly aligned 
9. If the oil is dark brown or black or if there’s thick sludge or particles present, your bike requires an oil change as soon as possible 

When should you take your Harley-Davidson bike to a mechanic?

If you’re wondering whether to take your bike to a mechanic or a Harley-Davidson dealership, the answer is the latter. It might cost a bit more, and the Harley-Davidson maintenance schedule tends to be much more rigorous than other bikes. However, it’s the safest and surest way of getting the most out of your bike and keeping it running for as long as you can. The Harley-Davidson maintenance schedule actually specifies the biker to have five visits within the first 20,000 miles. The schedules should be after 1,000 miles, 5,000 miles, 10,000 miles, 15,000 miles, and 20,000 miles.

The maintenance visits are incredibly important for all Harley-Davidson owners. However, they’re even more crucial if you love riding your Harley-Davidson bike hard and fast on an open road. The adage is true that an ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure. When working with powerful machines like Harley-Davidson bikes, preventing oil-related issues before they pop can save you a lot of money in future repair costs. This choice is a no-brainer when it comes to getting the most out of your Harley-Davidson bike.

Do you need to change your Harley-Davidson oil every year?

How often does one change the oil in their Harley-Davidson bike? Once a year? Twice? This is one of the most frequently asked questions among Harley-Davidson owners, and the answer is pretty simple.

To an extent, the answer will depend on what type of motor oil you’re using in your bike. Semi-synthetic oil lasts between 5,000 to 6,000 before you need to change it. However, you could stretch it to 8,000 miles under specific conditions. Fully synthetic oil can easily increase the mileage for your motorcycle oil change interval to somewhere between 7,000 to 10,000.

Less frequent riding will not really buy you any extra time. Fresh oil will be key to a long life for your Harley-Davidson bike. It’ll be wise to follow the general rule of thumb and then change the oil twice a year.

Other motorcycle maintenance to carry out

While you’re looking to take good care of your bike, it’ll be best to do total maintenance of your entire motorcycle. It’ll help you ensure that it is in proper shape to run smoothly for a long time.

1. Battery health check on your Harley-Davidson bike

To check up on your Harley-Davidson bike battery’s health, you should test it with a multimeter and ensure that it’s performing as it should. During the inspection, it’ll be a great opportunity to clean the terminals and apply dielectric grease to create a proper connection and prevent corrosion.

2. Brakes on your Harley-Davidson bike

Experiencing soft or faulty brakes during a trip will be a nightmare of a situation. To make sure of your brake’s quality, check the rotors for damage or warping along with the pads. You should be making sure that they aren’t worn down.

3. Check the fluids in your bike

Running your bike during the hot summer days, it’ll be important to have the proper amount of coolant to prevent overheating. The other fluids that you should check include transmission oil, brake fluid, and fork oil.

4. Safety controls on your Harley-Davidson bike

Finally, you should check to ensure your safety controls are working properly. This will help you make sure that your safety along with other vehicles around you on the road. It’ll include your brake lights, front headlights, side mirrors, turn signals, and horn.

While checking these areas of your Harley-Davidson bike, you should take up a few evenings during your week. It’ll be much better than the alternative to have your bike go out of service for a few weeks while it has to undergo major repair work.

Conclusion

Thank you for reading. Hopefully, now you know a lot more about oil in Harley-Davidson bikes, does your bike need an oil change every year, when to know that your bike needs an oil change, and Harley oil change how often it needs to be done. The frequency of oil change in your Harley-Davidson bike will depend on how you’re riding your bike and the type of oil you’re using. If you’re using mineral-based oil, you should change it after every 2,000 miles. If you’re using semi-synthetic motor oil, change it around 5,000-6,000 miles. For fully synthetic engine oil, you should change it after 7,000-10,000 miles.