Oil is one of the key things a dirt bike needs to keep the engine running well and avoid damaging the engine. It’s necessary to change the oil on dirt bikes. Today, I will explain how often you need to change the oil on a Honda dirt bike.
As a general rule, every 6 months, or 600 miles (1,000 km), whichever comes first, according to every Honda dirt bike owner’s manual. But, for brand new Honda dirt bikes, you need to change the oil and oil filter after the first month, or 100 miles (150 km), whichever comes first.
Then every 6 months or 600 miles (1,000 km) after that. Changing the oil on a Honda dirt bike is not overly difficult, especially after you do it for the first time.
Below, I will explain what happens if you don’t change the oil on a Honda dirt bike and how long oil can sit in a Honda dirt bike that doesn’t get used or is put in storage. As well as whether a Honda dirt bike can be stored for a while with no oil in it.
How Long Can a Honda Dirt Bike Go Without an Oil Change
If the oil is not changed on a motorbike or car, it will get dirtier and dirtier over time. This causes the fine sediment and engine dust in the oil to create increased wear and tear on the engine. But, how long is too long before you do an oil change on a Honda dirt bike.
On average, 6 months or 600 miles (1,000km), whichever comes first. If oil is not changed this often, it will contain sediment and engine debris which will cause increased wear and tear on your Honda dirt bike and cause the engine to fail faster.
Honda dirt bikes also come with a manufacturer’s warranty. It covers if a part in the engine fails because of a manufacturer’s fault.
The warranty length is typically 6 months and can be extended for another 4.5 years to make a total of 5 years. However, if a part of the engine fails because the oil was not changed, the repair will not be covered under warranty.
Most people report after an oil change that they get more mileage out of their fuel,
- The engine runs smoother
- Acceleration is improved
- The overall sound of the engine also improves
There are a few different Honda dirt bike models, and I looked at some of the most popular Honda dirt bikes, the CRF250H and the CRF450X. Both of these owners’ manuals state that the oil and the oil filter should be changed after the first month, or 100 miles (100km).
Then every 6 months, or 600 miles (1,000 km), whichever comes first. They provide a table that shows when it should be changed, and here’s an easy-to-read version to see how often you should change the oil on a Honda dirt bike.
| Oil Change | When to do it according to Honda’s dirt bike manuals |
|---|---|
| 1st | 1 month or 100 miles (150 km) |
| 2nd | 6 months or 600 miles (1000 km) |
| 3rd | 12 months or 1200 miles (2000 km) |
| 4th | 18 months or 1800 miles (3000 km) |
| 5th | 24 months or 2400 miles (4000 km) |
With all of these time frames, you should do whichever comes first. For example, some people ride their dirt bike a lot, so they will get to the miles (km) limit before 6 months has passed. Whereas people who hardly ever ride their dirt bike will reach the time limit, such as 6 months or 12 months before the mile recommendation.
How Long Can You Leave Oil in a Honda Dirt Bike
In some regions, winters are very cold, and the snow and ice make it virtually impossible to ride a dirt bike. Therefore, leaving a Honda dirt bike in a garage can be necessary. However, there are a few issues with leaving dirt bikes sitting for long periods without being used, so here’s how long you can leave oil in a Honda dirt bike.
As a general rule, 3 to 5 years, provided you don’t ride your Honda dirt bike. Oil for dirt bikes has a shelf life of 3 to 5 years. But, if you ride your Honda dirt bike, you need to change the oil and oil filter every 6 months or 600 miles (1000 km), whichever comes first.
People have reported leaving their motorcycle sitting in a garage for 3 years with oil in it. And it has started up with no problem. Here’s a quote:
“I bought a virtually new motorcycle ( 900 km on it ) that had been sitting unused in a garage for 3 years. Charged the battery, and she started no problem. Got her at half the new price!.”
Also, here’s a video that explains how to store a dirt bike long-term:
Can a Dirt Bike Sit Without Oil
For one reason or another, you may decide to completely drain the oil out of a dirt bike. Oil in a dirt bike is necessary to lubricate the engine; without it, the engine will break down quite quickly. But, if your dirt bike is just sitting, here’s whether it needs to have oil in the engine.
As a general rule, a dirt bike can sit without oil. The oil in a dirt bike engine is only used when the engine is running. When you turn off a dirt bike, a thin film of oil remains on the engine, and the rest drains to the oil tank. This thin film of oil remains if you drain the oil from your dirt bike.
However, if storing your bike for long periods, it’s a good idea to make sure the oil is clean and it isn’t due for an oil change. All of the accumulated debris and engine dust in the oil will sink to the bottom of the oil tank. When you start it up, it can mix unevenly, and large amounts of it can get into a particular part of the engine.
