Oil

[StormingHonda]

Its getting to that time of year, when the Bikes are up for servicing.

I know this might be a stupid question, but I have an open bottle of oil which I opened on septmenber 2010 and an unopened bottle from about the same time, would these still be ok to use?.

Does oil have a sell past date?, I looked at the oil we use in work and I think it was something like a 5 year use by date ( not that oil lasts any longer than 1 day where I work before its in an engine ).

[VTRDark]

It might even have a sell by date. I have never heard of one before with oil but I could be wrong. Unlike Brake fluid that turns to water after a couple of years. I'm sure it will be fine, just don't go mixing brands and type of oil.

(:-})

[tony.mon]

It'll be fine.
Compared to the environment in which it exists inside the engine, sitting in a plastic bottle won't cause it any harm at all.

[oldbikeman]

Hi
The only oil that goes off standing is plant based oils like castor or vegetable.Synthetic and mineral should be OK for many years although the makers often give a short shelf life so you'll keep replacing it and not save money on bulk.If the lid is OK then damp and dust can't get at it.

[edds11]

all the above correct, apart from Brake fluid, it does not turn to water as mentioned earlier, it absorbs water out of the atmosphere. This is why it is so important to keep on top of the service schedule for your break fluid

[VTRDark]

I stand corrected I knew it was something like that. Cheers Edds.

(:-})

[StormingHonda]

all the above correct, apart from Brake fluid, it does not turn to water as mentioned earlier, it absorbs water out of the atmosphere. This is why it is so important to keep on top of the service schedule for your break fluid

My Harley uses DOT 5 ( not 5.1 ) and as far as I am aware it is not Hydroscopic like DOT 4,3 etc, so only needs replacing when you think about it, after a few years.

[tony.mon]

all the above correct, apart from Brake fluid, it does not turn to water as mentioned earlier, it absorbs water out of the atmosphere. This is why it is so important to keep on top of the service schedule for your break fluid

My Harley uses DOT 5 ( not 5.1 ) and as far as I am aware it is not Hydroscopic like DOT 4,3 etc, so only needs replacing when you think about it, after a few years.

It's hygroscopic, not hydro, but anyway I'd still recommend changing all hydraulic fluids every year if the bike's used regularly and stored dry; every year if used infrequently and kept outside.
Weekly if racing.....

Agree with edds11
Moisture is gradually absorbed into the fluid.
Although water is almost as incompressible as brake fluid, and so works fine in a system as a hydraulic medium, if it reaches boiling point, or close to it, any water will turn into steam.

That high pressure steam will:
1, apply the brakes a little, but
2, be very compressible, so you won't be able to exert more than a very small fraction of the braking force.

If you're lucky you'll coast to a halt outside the pub AFTER the one you wanted.

That high pressure steam will be needed on your underwear, though.

Lastly, PLEASE don't mix different specifications of brake fluid; if it has 5.0, refill and flush with 5.0, don't get it into your head that 5.1 is better and top up or flush through with that.
http://www.braketech.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=79

[StormingHonda]

thanks for correct my Engrish lol, yeah I know about the 5 and 5.1, I had that drummed into me when I spoke about the it, basicly some people have accidently used DOT 5.1 in their Harleys and learned the hard way.

I think theres some confusion with this, I looked it up, it seems that it has a very high boiling point and is less prone to boiling. Some sites still maintain that DOT 5 its not hygroscopic, to be fair I would believe you more than some site on the net.

Dry boiling point Wet boiling point
DOT 3 205 °C (401 °F) 140 °C (284 °F)
DOT 4 230 °C (446 °F) 155 °C (311 °F)
DOT 5 260 °C (500 °F) 180 °C (356 °F)
DOT 5.1 270 °C (518 °F) 190 °C (374 °F)

[tony.mon]

[quote="tony.mon"
Lastly, PLEASE don't mix different specifications of brake fluid; if it has 5.0, refill and flush with 5.0, don't get it into your head that 5.1 is better and top up or flush through with that.
http://www.braketech.com/index.php?opti ... &Itemid=79[/quote]

The main point of what I was trying to get across is that you shouldn't try to use silicon based fluids or anything too exotic, as the whole system needs to be thoroughly purged and cleaned before a change can be made; you shouldn't mix them together.

Perfectly happy to go along with Jonesy's recommendations for fluid , pads, mc etc, as his bike always stops better than mine

I've never actually seen a definitive test of one fluid vs another, measuring braking distances.

That would be interesting......surely all the manufacturers must have tried to prove that theirs is best?