Skip the filter change?

I know some of you might bite my head off for even suggesting such heresy, but does anyone actually follow the manufacturers recommendation and only change the filter every 6000 miles. I'm considering it as it is that way in the book, and after having this bike 4000 miles, I have a lot of faith in the Yamaha engineers. Now if I rode off road a lot, I wouldn't even consider it, but I typically baby the engine, I don't run it much at 70mph, I don't rev it all the way out very often, and I don't ride off road much. I've never even rode in mud. So my flame suits on. I know its only $12 but I am pretty cheap.

Nope. Stupidity.

I change oil and filter together.

I do go between 3000 and 4500 milers between changes though.

Seems really stupid to change oil, but not change filter.
Regardless of what some dumb manual says.

motokid wrote:

Nope. Stupidity.

I change oil and filter together.

I do go between 3000 and 4500 milers between changes though.

Seems really stupid to change oil, but not change filter.
Regardless of what some dumb manual says.

I ride dirt, run the engine pretty rough, pull no punches. I change the filter every second oil change. However, I change my oil every 1,000 miles or so, usually less. So my filter goes out every 2,000 miles, give or take. I figure even if there's a relatively small amount of deteriorated oil in the filter, it'll mix with the new stuff. Not a big deal from what I've read - an oil expert can correct me if I'm wrong. approx. 9,000 miles and counting.

You're suppose to change the oil?

rsteiger wrote:

You're suppose to change the oil?

  

I wondered how long it would take an oil thread to come up on this forum.  At least he didn't ask which oil is 'best'. 

Now that we've learned that the oil must be changed at some point, I will second the other guy's advice to change the filter with the oil.  It doesn't matter how clean the oil is if it can't be pushed thru a dirty filter.  $12 bucks or so, and a few minutes to swap filters.  What's the gripe? 

Oil and filters are cheap insurance. Guess you answered your own question.....

Well in the first 4000 miles I think I did 5 oil changes... most of those due to the fact that I went swimming with the bike.

Normally I would change oil at around the 3500 to 4000 mile mark and toss a new filter in there each time. I usually order several filters at once and keep them on my WRR Goodie Shelf. With the other bikes I have owned once I got down to one or two filters on the shelf I would start looking for deals and when I found one I would usually by about 4 and some other crap to get the free shipping.

Now to start the real trouble.. I have found that my WRR like the Rotella 5W-40 stuff and that is what I have been feeding it. Probably would like the Rotella 15W-40 stuff too but I haven't tried it yet since I tend to by the oil in bulk and the 5W-40 was what I had on hand during the oil changes.

Unless you count the swimming lesson in CO. Then I was putting what ever 10W-40 (without the friction modifiers) I could find to flush the system out.