Oil change interval

Why does the factory Honda manual state to change the oil and filter every 8000 miles? That seems like a long time. I'm comfortable with 5000, but 8000 is pushing it. I've noticed when checking the oil it always looks very very clean. Much cleaner than car oil after 3000 - 5000 miles.

I'll probably get a million answers here, but I'm wondering what to do. Any thoughts?

 

I change the oil (Amsoil 10W-40) and filter every 6000 miles but wouldn’t be afraid to push it to 8000 if I have to (trip). :biggrin:

 

I don't care where I am or what I'm doing...the oil comes out at 4000 miles. That policy applies to everything I own (OK, maybe not the lawnmower :crazy. It might be expensive, but if that was the case I wouldn't own a motorcycle. My VFR is my baby. Would you wait to change your baby's diaper?

 

I change every 2-3,000 miles but am not running synthetic oil.

 

Amsoil 10W/40. I agree with you, 8000 miles seems like a long time for motor oil, especially considering how hot the VFRs get.

 

Amsoil 10-40 every 2000. Thats why at 38K it looks like new inside.

 

Really?!? How does the oil look when it comes out?

I've been hearing a lot about Amsoil? I was set on using Royal Purple 10W-40when I switched to synthetic at 1000 miles, but Amsoil is getting a lot of "press" on these forums...

 

Well what was interesting is what the service tech said in asking what oil I used, when I had her in for the 32 K service, at first I gulped as wondering what was wrong, nope just the opposite as he said it looked like new. As far as what the oil looks like when I drain it, Dark brown. Can say it is way cleaner than what comes out of the car at 6k and I use Amsoil there too.

 

I think todays oils (most) have werry high standards, and do lube a engine better than oils from 20 years back. I think the 8k (13tkm) is long. I remember my EX500 had 5k interval.
Anyway I change ones a year, I dont ride that much, I guess 2-4k is my change interval.
Still todays cars can have some insane intervals, like up to 18k! (30tkm)

 

I've been going 3K on conventional oil. I looked at how much I spend on oil changes and it was rediculous. Now that I only have a 4 mile commute to work, I might go back to synthetic since it handles the acids better plus I won't be changing the oil nearly as much with the short commute.