Oil Served Cold?

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by GavJ, May 26, 2025.

  1. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    47
    18
    Scotland
    Watched a video on line the other day where guy was discussing if you should warm the engine before an oil change or do it cold?
    So warming the engine makes the oil thinner and flows better so flushes the engine better?
    Doing cold means the bike has been sitting for a while so more oil has drained into the sump so less old dirty oil left in the engine to contaminate the new oil?

    Anyway, dont expect that there is a right or wrong to this but after always warming before, I tried a cold drain. Once dripping stopped I poured in about a quarter of a litre of fresh oil I had left over from a previous service, let it run out as well maybe dragging out some sediment?

    So on the refill the bike took the full 4 litres to get the level 3/4 up the sight glass so appears to have drained more old oil out than normal.....

    Anyone else tried this?
     
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  2. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
    3,462
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    Personally, the only time I'd do a cold oil change is after some form of dismantling, like an engine rebuild etc. The last time was after a BEB change on the SUV where I let the oil drain overnight to minimise the oil drips when working underneath the thing.
    For me, hot changes are the way to go. Any oil left in the system after, say, a 5-10min hot drain will be negligable.
    If you have sediment in the sump you have an engine/oil/filtration problem IMO. Either that or previous oil changes have been neglected. There should be none.
     
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  3. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    47
    18
    Scotland
    Thats one vote for doing it hot.... I still like the idea of getting as much of the old oil out before fresh goes in..
     
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  4. MightyBoosh

    MightyBoosh Senior Member

    Mar 29, 2023
    388
    113
    Uk
    All the manuals say do it with hot oil, I've had a variety of vehicles which have done high miles on this system, TBH I don't really see much point going against what every manufacturer and my own empirical experience have shown me to be effective on the basis of some Youtuber out for clickbait, as is likely here. But that doesn't have to stop you. ;)
     
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  5. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    47
    18
    Scotland
    To be fair to the you tuber, he wasn't for or against, just raising an interesting topic... well I found it interesting.... Ive been doing it hot for forty years as well.. but was suprised at the extra amount of oil that came out cold.
     
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  6. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
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    The "extra" oil that comes out is what's drained down from the top end and some of the galleries, meaning a slightly longer time to full pressure on startup, especially if there's also a filter change involved, plus it will be a cold start and any engineer/mechanic/petrol head will tell you that up to 90% (figure debatable) of engine wear happens on cold starts.
    I'll stick with the hot changes thankyou.
     
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  7. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    47
    18
    Scotland
    All valid points, but just what happens everytime you start the bike for the first time that day.... (filter was charged before fitting)

    Was hoping that someone could offer a positive to hot draining? Must be a reason if its recommended by manufacturers..... always thought it was because hot oil flowed faster so more would come out, ie top end would drain as well and flushed contaminates out at the same time.
     
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  8. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
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    I've mentioned the positives for a hot drain but can't think of any for a hot drain and cold refill. Assuming you're sticking to manufacturers drain intervals as a minimum I don't see the draining of a small amount of extra oil as a positive. If the oils been in there for years and many K's of miles then maybe.
    I don't know if you've ever rebuilt an engine but accepted good practise is to disable the ign and fuelling and spin the engine over on the starter with the plugs out to prime the oil system, "wet" the components and build initial pressure.

    If you need only one reason to do a hot drain and refill, do it because the manufacturer recommends it but what do they know?:joy:
     
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  9. GavJ

    GavJ Member

    Jul 7, 2024
    47
    18
    Scotland
    Yea, always cranked the engine with coil disconnected after a rebuild, on ford pinto engines we would watch the cam spraybar to make sure oil was getting to the top.....

    Im wiling to accept the manufacturers recomendations but I have always been wired to ask why? Sometimes technology changes but habbits dont..
    I know a guy that still pumps his accelerator before starting his fuel injected car :) just what he was told by an expert...
     
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  10. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
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    Yes, technology changes but not necessarily for the better.
    We now have engines running variable pressure oil pumps where you have to get oil back in within 10-15mins as the pump cannot self prime, cue catastrophic engine failure.

    "Wet" cambelts where the belt runs in the oil!! Most of the new ICE "innovations" are aimed at one thing, increasing efficiency, making acceptable power while reducing emissions rather than targeting longevity. .
     
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  11. Munchen

    Munchen Well-Known Member

    Oct 1, 2018
    139
    83
    Germany
    If a cold oil change allowed a significant amount more old oil to escape then I'd do it. I think it's more likely to have a greater significant benefit for larger car engines though, especially diesels.

    I consider that refilling oil in to my bikes is usually directly in to the sump at the bottom whereas with cars the fresh oil is poured in to the valve cover at the top.
     
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  12. Pegscraper

    Pegscraper Elite Member

    Jun 12, 2020
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    When I drained the SUV oil overnight the drips had almost stopped after 1 hour so I put the sump plug back in. When I removed the sump next morning to change the BEB's the amount of oil in the sump was, maybe around 1/2 L at most. This is on a large diesel engine that takes almost 11L on an oil + filter change. A big cast iron engine block like that will also hold heat, helping oil flow, much longer than a comparatively small bike engine.
     
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