No oil change in 13 years - should I care?

[5thElefant]

I've been offered a very low mileage 1996 Firestorm. 2500 miles.

It hasn't ever been serviced - never had an oil change (beyond the initial 600 mile service).

It's been kept garaged so will have been in dry conditions.

Will the oil have turned to crap and those 2500 miles have been nasty ones? Will the engine be clogged with mayonnaise?

Am I being a pussy and should I just buy the thing?

[Jbrebel]

I think i'd want it changing after that length of time as a matter of course

[5thElefant]

I think i'd want it changing after that length of time as a matter of course

Yes. I'd want it changed every 12 months as a matter of course...

What's bugging me is how likely is there to be damage from internal rust and/or oil starvation given it has been used every year for ~250 miles a year on the same oil for 12 years.

[Jbrebel]

If your getting the bike cheap enough (like Mike says) just have a good once over and get everything fettled.

If it was anything like a Ducati or similar i'd steer clear, being as its a VTR it should be OK:D

[tony.mon]

Assuming it's just been stored under cover, and not run regularly, then the least you'll get away with is a strip of the carbs, fuel tap and tank.

I'm currently playing with a ZZR6 that's been neglected the same way, and the inside of the tank's rusty as hell, but not holed. Looks good from the outside, though.

You can use Petseal, after you've been in with a pressure washer and shaken it with a length of old chain in (not bike chain, flimsy stuff from hanging baskets or similar works fine, or a large handful of old nuts and bolts. This scours the loose rust out before you use the Petseal.

Petseal sets really quickly; l needed two lots to get a good coat all round. Mix it quickly, less than 30 seconds, and tip it straight in. That way it's still liquid enough to slosh it around.

The petrol will have turned to black sludge all through the system, float bowls, tap, lines, filters and bottom of tank. Brake cleaner dissolves it just as well as carb cleaner- (I suspect they might be the same chemical?)

Oh, and fit an in-line fuel filter to catch the loose bits you will inevitably miss, one for each fuel line.

You'll need a new battery.

Apart from that, if the oil doesn't look emulsified or sludgy, I'd be tempted to get it running, then do a full oil and filter change once it's been hot- say after 25 miles?

And check that the brakes work, and release the discs after each use, as you'll wear the pads and discs and possibly distort the discs if they're gripping instead of releasing properly.

The chain will probably have tight spots in it form being in one position for a long while.- check, renew if necessary, or you could try the old boil it in oil solution, as it won't have been worn much at that mileage.

Lastly, slap the owner on your way out for not riding it.

Wuss.

[Seven Of Nine Firestorm]

Would also lube up the chain and wheel bearings / shafts etc if you can and some fork spray to lube the fork seals front and back.

[Beamish]

Take oil and filter with you, buy it, change oil and filter then ride it home, change CCTs for manual type then ride it for 10 years plus. People get too hung up on bloomin servicing, like has already been said its not a belt fed Ducati so it will be fine. If it runs like s*it then strip the carbs otherwise just enjoy the bloody thing

[Pete.L]

Am I being a pussy and should I just buy the thing?

So I think everybody just called you a rude name.

Get on with it man, there's nothing a bit of tlc can't sort out :wink2

Pete.l