Winterizing Thread.

[Amber Lamps]

Not to argue with G-man but I've never done anything to "winterize" a motorcycle in all my years of riding. Apart from lubing the chain and putting it on stands. I normally go out and start it every week on two and that's it. I've never had any problems whatsoever with any bike because of this.

I do have one question though...how will water "get into your motor" from starting it? It's a "sealed system" for the most part. I can see the water already in the crankcase condensing but not how you'll add water to your oil. Lastly,I don't "Summerize" my car/truck that barely gets driven for 8 months of the year..... a motorcycle isn't any different than a car as far as I'm concerned.

[Gas Man]

Is your oil pan completely full of oil? Nope. There is air in there. And what does air do when it goes from extreme to extreme? It will create condesation, same goes for your rocker boxes. The oil pump system is sealed as it needs to build up pressure but when the oil leaves the pump system and just gets flung around moving parts in the heads and such or returns to the oil pan... BAM there it is... AIR

Damn how did that get there!!

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Is your oil pan completely full of oil? Nope. There is air in there. And what does air do when it goes from extreme to extreme? It will create condesation, same goes for your rocker boxes. The oil pump system is sealed as it needs to build up pressure but when the oil leaves the pump system and just gets flung around moving parts in the heads and such or returns to the oil pan... BAM there it is... AIR

Damn how did that get there!!

Um Chris,that air is already in there, right? So any moisture is already in your engine. How will it increase is my question? Besides,does that mean I shouldn't start my car when it's cold? Aren't both engines the same in that regard (I know the differences between a bike engine and a car). IDK all I'm saying is I've followed my procedure every year for about 20 and have never had a problem. In fact,I've never had any engine problems with a bike (knock on wood).

Anyway,believe it or not I'm not questioning YOU but mostly questioning the practice. Before,people would talk about gummed up carbs,who has carbs now? Injectors won't get "gummed up" if you run the bike every so often,besides gasoline is much better quality than 100 years ago when this "ritual winterization" started. I'm not sure it was ever necessary but it's should be even less necessary now in my mind...

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

Um Chris,that air is already in there, right? So any moisture is already in your engine. How will it increase is my question? Besides,does that mean I shouldn't start my car when it's cold? Aren't both engines the same in that regard (I know the differences between a bike engine and a car). IDK all I'm saying is I've followed my procedure every year for about 20 and have never had a problem. In fact,I've never had any engine problems with a bike (knock on wood).

Anyway,believe it or not I'm not questioning YOU but mostly questioning the practice. Before,people would talk about gummed up carbs,who has carbs now? Injectors won't get "gummed up" if you run the bike every so often,besides gasoline is much better quality than 100 years ago when this "ritual winterization" started. I'm not sure it was ever necessary but it's should be even less necessary now in my mind...

It's not that the air changes or anything, its that the air gets warm. The air outside is cold, so when you turn off the engine and the inside air quits moving, the cold air on the outside causes condensation to form on the sides of the oil pan etc. thus causing the possibility of rust.
My question to those that do it... Why start it every couple weeks?

[dubbs]

I ride, unless it's snowing, snow on the ground, or ice..

Winterizing is for pussies..

[Gas Man]

Your car is different because you actually drive it daily...

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Your car is different because you actually drive it daily...

Ok,well I don't drive my car hardly ever and it sits for weeks at a time. I had my truck,in Michigan,and when I turned it back in after the lease it had under 20,000 miles. I've seen motors that have sat for over a year start up and run,. Anyway,I really don't want to argue,I was just curious as to why you people do it. Now I know,you're afraid that the water vapor that is already in your motor will condense,like it does anyway,from changes in temperature. I've heard all the normal reasons before so....

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

It's not that the air changes or anything, its that the air gets warm. The air outside is cold, so when you turn off the engine and the inside air quits moving, the cold air on the outside causes condensation to form on the sides of the oil pan etc. thus causing the possibility of rust.
My question to those that do it... Why start it every couple weeks?

Doesn't that happen anyway? I mean won't the water vapor condense when the temp gets low enough anyway? Isn't it better to move the oil around every so often to keep everything coated with oil and displace the water if only temporally?Oh and I start my bike to keep the battery charged and the fuel injectors clear of any possible clogs. Plus, I get to keep a connection to my bike through the Winter.

[NONE_too_SOFT]

i winterize because its something for me to do with my bike while i cant ride it. Im sure it'd be fine if i just took the key out and let it sit all winter. i could probobly put urine in the gas tank and it'd start right up, its a freakin honda.

[jeeps84]

Originally Posted by NONE_too_SOFT

i could probobly put urine in the gas tank and it'd start right up, its a freakin honda.

Try that and report back to us in the spring.