Race Bike Oil Change and Analysis || How Does Racing Effect Your Oil
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
- After some research and gathering thoughts and reasons on why we as track day junkies and/or club racers change our oil so often, I decided to test my current oil and share the results with you!! If you're changing your oil after each trackday, or each race weekend, or every six months because you feel like you need to this video may help change your mind. We took a sample on oil with approximately 1200 miles on it, which included 6 track days, a two-day race weekend, and was about 18 months old, and sent it off to BlackStone Labs for analysis. Many of the responses I received on why we change our oil more often than most riders interested me because I didn't know how much data was driving those decisions. So, I decided to leave it up to the experts and see what they would tell me about the oil that was currently in my bike, and most likely well over used since I had done much track riding/racing while also still riding the bike on the street!! The results were shocking to me and it was nice to get a feel for the overall health of the engine I am about to race next year!!
If you're interested in performing your own sample to send off for analysis, the link for a free test kit is below!!
www.blackstone...
Live by - oil is cheap engines are expensive 😅 This is a nice refreshing content as usually there's 2 extremes - change oil once per season and the other is top racing level where oil might be changed even after each session 😆Good effort 👌
Definitely gotta be a good mutual point where you're not using up all your money on oil, but you're still treating the engine well enough to keep it alive for a normal life.
It is refreshing to have some real evidence to back up an opinion on the internet. My only suggestion is to edit your videos down to 5-10 minutes max.
@@ducsunlmtd appreciate the feedback! Thank you!!
Thing about the averages is the averages is collected from people sending their oil in early. So what was the average miles 2000 or so I think was said. So if you run longer than the average your metals will be higher as the mileage is higher. That doesn't mean the engine is wearing sooner. Even for street bikes people have sent samples away at 3000 miles and get told the oil could last longer but they don't actually run the oil any longer. What is an actual shame is it's really unfortunate they have such low averages to base recommendations on. For street bikes people really need to go by the manufacturers recommendations say 7600 miles then we'd actually have a database of what we really should do. Either stay at 7600 because any sooner is a waste or drop it to say 5000 miles. Thay being said I've seen a few oil analysis of people doing manufacturers recommendations and the oil still being good. Obviously this is for street bikes and not track bikes. But really on the whole the answer is yes. People are most definitely changing their oil way too soon.
@@aidenlothian9642 good points!! Definitely agree that it would be nicer to have averages to compare too that weren't also everyone else's way too often oil changes! I personally don't think there is as big of a difference between a "race/track" bike and street bike and we often think we need to do superbike level maintenance when we have completely different engines and bikes compared to sponsored race teams.
So, oil change frequency depends more on the type of oil used. The frequency manufacturers give you are based on regular use. Track use is not regular use for a street motorcycle. So you should absolutely be changing oil at a higher frequency if using factory recommended oil. Now, if you use a race oil like 300v, then you will need to change it even more often than that.
It also depends on the climate that you run the bike in.
Also depends on modifications to engine.
There's a lot of factors to get the "correct answer," whatever that may be.
The biggest factor in oil break down is heat. He will cause more issues than anything else. But, it also depends on the type of oil you are using yet again.
I know what was recommended to me by motul for 300v on my 750. Around 1500 miles, or 500 miles on the track at sustained high rpms.
I think I agree now that the oil definitely needs changed more often when being used for track use and racing! The biggest question is how much more often and then why does everyone seem to overshoot that? The info you put about that reduced frequency is great!! Thanks for adding the information for everyone to see.
there are online reviews of v300 preforming better (street or track) lasting longer in high miles oil changes.
@@JKMotoEntertainment I do agree that people seem to change it much more often than needed. I think this video really nails down on that. I even see some people will change oil every track day but change the filter every other.
Arguably, the filter is the more important thing to change.
@@androidoszpsz5873 300V does not last long in a race application. It loses viscosity in short order. I have been running it for years, and have sent it off for oil analysis twice now. At about 200-250 track miles (R6 here), the viscosity comes in under spec. I actually just recently decided I am going to switch to Castrol Actevo since I am changing oil so often anyways.
@@MakaylaGerald-f6x curious on your reasoning behind the filter being more important
There is no such thing as "too often" when it comes to oil changes. As a racer, track day advanced group rider and street rider, here is why i say what i say. I arrive at every event with fresh oil
1. Engine oil is the single most important maintenance item for the longevity of the engine and performance. All engines experience continual performance degredation over the lifetime of the parts.
2. The mfg recommendations are for street riding, not racing. If you have much experience racing you will know the huge difference in the abuse you are putting on that engine compared to the street riding.
3. The metal in your oil will speed up engine wear.
4. The metal in your oil indicating higher wear may present you with enough reason alone to change more often. This should be a red flag to you regardless of the other analyzed factors you presented.
5. My very frequent oil changes are done to preserve the most performance possible through the life of the engine. It is not done to avoid "blowing up" the engine.
6. Have you ever seen brand new natural oil after 1 track day? It goes from golden to dark black. My current 2015 r1 racebike uses synthetic oil and although this oil has a longer life than natural mineral oil there is still a very noticeable difference in color after each 1, 2, or 3 day event.
The racers i compete with and against change their oil between each event.
As far as engine health, I don't think there is such a thing as "too often" but when it comes down to the cost of an already very expensive sport I think there can definitely be some money saved on oil changes if you're doing them more often than needed. If you have the means and that's where you feel is best to spend them than I can't argue with that.
2:16 “I don’t have a degree in oil” 😂
Just busting your balls hahaha. No hate!
This is a great topic for a video. Was recently thinking about it myself. Really interesting results. Thanks for posting!
@@660xV7 lol a degree in oil would probably have made all this much simpler! Thanks for the comment, glad it was helpful!!
One thing to consider is the highest wear on a properly functioning engine is the first start after an oil change. After draining the oil, there is significant air in the system from the oil filter and the oil pickup and pump draining. It,s been tested, but I can''t remember where i saw the test. It was a fresh oil vs on time oil test on two engines. Both engines were low hours performance builds, one ford and one chevy both over 500 bhp and both fully broken in. It was all done engine out on a dyno.
@@WilliamSudek good thought and absolutely true, getting the system refilled after an oil change definitely means some moving parts without lubrication for that brief moment.
How could this even be tested? They take apart the engine and check for wear, fill it with oil, start it, and then check for wear again? I can’t imagine there would be any noticeable wear.
@@biscuit3755 They did an oil change, ran them to operating temp the drained the oil and sent it to be analyzed. Both the Ford and Chevy had significant bearing material in the new oil. I believe that they did both engines twice each to be sure that the results weren't erroneous. It was a year ago that I saw it and can't remember the exact details. But the oil that had many full power runs as they added more and more power with different carbs and fuel injection and superchargers up to around 600 bhp, all that running and moding didn't have any extra forbidden metal in the samples vs cold start on oil change. I can't remember if they tore down the engines at the end.
I disagree. Draining oil from bike does not take any more oil off the pistons, rings and cylinder walls than letting the bike sit with a full oil pan. When the motor is off all the oil sits in the oil pan and not in the cylinders with the exception of the residual and trapped oil coating the parts. Draining the oil from the oil pan does not affect the amount of oil on the pistons, cylinders, rings, crankshaft or rods
@@TopSpeedTommy when you drain the oil from anything, the pickup and part of the oil pump drain. That creates an air pocket that must purge. It's okay to disagree. But it doesn't mean you are right.))) there also isn't any way to fully fill up the oil filter. Also an air pocket. Air isn't the best lubricant for highly stressed main bearings. In the case of my Panigale, it's impossible to fill the oil filter even a little bit.
Another cool fact. Moto America race teams are chaining their oil in every bike daily on a race weekend. They will also change the oil after the race weekend before packing up the bike and change the oil after unpacking the bike (this bit I only know to be true for a few teams, but id imagine most teams are doing it this way).
Race teams definitely change their oil quite quite often, but it does also get a lot easier to make the decision to just go ahead and change it when the oil is provided by a sponsor.
How often do you change oil and how often do you change brake fluid?
@@dizzicz oil I'm still figuring out how often I actually want to. But in the past I usually went for every 6 track days. Brake fluid is once a season or once discoloration is obvious.
@@JKMotoEntertainment I'm with you on this topic. I've asked @makaylaGerald-f6x as it looks like that he is missing that all this is about the balance between performance and cost/time.
Thank you for the video.
For sure!! Thanks for the feedback!
I had a similar metals report on a liter bike.
Which bike?
@ 2015 bmw s1000 similar change interval and total mileage.
@@darrenr67 Was this a recent oil analysis? I'd be curious to know what your samples look like further along in engine life.
@ those are the last two reports current mileage is like 5800
The other problem is the way we, as trackday riders measure oil age. Some do km's but I specifically mean 'Trackdays per change'. Reminds me of the way my mum measures fuel consumption when she gets a new car. 'Fuel Tanks per week' - Now imagine seeing that fuel consumption sticker on a car yard near you. Anyway,
Then, there are some very smooth and flowing tracks out there, with stingy track providers giving 4 sessions a day where the bike does not get stressed. On the other hand, there are track days where I got 9 sessions on stop, start Mario Cart Mushroom Cup Tracks, in either full WOT front wheel in the air, full brakes rear wheel in the air, pinging off 15,000RPM, 35' OAT and 110' Coolant Temp all day
Not saying I disagree with your analysis, but it's always a very difficult topic to get right and with all the money we spend on our bikes, accessories, pads, suits, track days, accommodatation etc... we have to ask ourselves, by lengethening the oil change intervals, are we penny pinching in front of a freight train?
These are some great points, thank you for bringing them up! I definitely agree that measuring oil use by event is not the most accurate way, I think tracking hours would be a little better but that still doesn't change what you mentioned about some tracks being more demanding than others. I think for me the big reason was the math I did to measure money spent on oil changes vs a new engine because that's the reason I heard the most, but there is so much more that goes into life of an engine besides just giving it fresh oil.
If it's brown it's down. Gas in oil from blow-by is corrosive imo.
Gas, water, arguably any contaminants in the oil are bad.
I know that you had a reason for leaving the fill cap on, but a good rule of thumb is to never drain anything until you have removed the fill cap. If that fill cap wont come off and you have drained it...thats a problem.
Definitely agree! Always take the cap off before draining in all other scenarios!!
Higher than normal metals? Time to go MOTUL!!
What's the reasoning behind Motul for higher than normal metals?
The oil can be good but how about the aditives in it ? (protecting from more wear of the engine) i'll admit that some premium oils last longer and protect the engine better then the budget ones.
The TBN in this particular sample showed still very strong amounts of additives left in the oil!
@@JKMotoEntertainment but recommended states : more metal than average. Really wondering what outcome it would be with one extra oil change.
I agree, the next time I send a sample it'll be a lower frequency to see if we get similar results on the metal per mile look.
@@JKMotoEntertainment awesome bro
@@androidoszpsz5873 thank you!
So, i got a question but not regarding the oil. Does the Aprilia have an overflow valve connected to the gas tank on the breather hose? Because if so i'd like to know what type because it obligated to have in Europe.
I'll take a look and put an update to this question when I have a moment to pull the tank up and look.
Take into account that you're oiling not just the pistons/cylinders but also the gearbox/transmission and clutch. Having trashed an engine by tracking the bike and not changing the oil enough I would err on the side of caution and change more often.
There's a great video by The Motor Oil Geek that's worth a watch... th-cam.com/video/2-ECI5uK9eE/w-d-xo.html
@@MrBCRC that is a good point, bikes do get tricky with the clutch transmission and engine all sharing the same sump. I'll definitely check this video out!
Apparently everyone is running rotella like the enduro community 😂. And I was worried I put 10w40 instead of 10w30 in my r6
The rotella t6 thing is very interesting, I tried it once way back in the day and heard some "weird" noises. Don't honestly think they're related but didn't run it again after that.
@@JKMotoEntertainment I haven’t tried rotella in any of my bikes because it has a picture of a truck and I’m on a motorcycle lol
@@moto_guy34 lol I had similar thoughts, after trying it the one time it just didn't seem right.
My engine builder suggested I run rotella t6, supersport build for an r6. Its diesel oil I change the every 2-3 track days
For 35$, I'll just put that the cost towards the oil change and do a visual inspection and good overall common sense. If you see metal shavings then what's the point 👉 🎉.
@@kcclontziv3056 that's an interesting point, and I don't totally disagree. Except that actual testing will show you a lot deeper detail and potential problems that the naked eye won't be able to see until they're much bigger issues.
when motors hit a million miles manufacturers have offered to purchase the vehicle back or exchange for a new one and they ask what the owner did during the million mile journey, and consistently they mention constant oil changes like 1k miles. you do you. prob be fine for 20 30 40 50 years or longer doing you 🧏♂️
google shell rotella t6 and rear the bike forum post if youre buying your own oil
That is some good info, I think on a bike there are also so many other things that can cause premature failure in an engine that even extremely frequent oil changes won't keep up with. It also gets interesting when you dig deeper into what different manufacturers consider "preventative" maintenance.