Oil change

Rnewkirk · 12-11-2022, 06:12 AM

How often should I change the oil on my 250 hawk ? I do mostly street riding.

Vlad87 · 12-11-2022, 07:21 AM

I saw CSC SG250 manual (it has the same engine as Hawk), and it recommends to do oil change every 2500 miles. I think it is way too few and far between. Something around 1000 miles (1600 km) should be fine. Also, it's a good thing to take a look now and then at oil viewport at the right side of the crankcase to check oil level and condition. I usually change oil every 1000 km (around 600 miles), but we have inferior gasoline quality compared to US, and i'm a bit overanxious about keeping the engine in good condition.

And please note that we're talking about post-break-in period.

The reason for such frequent oil change is because our engines don't have a cartridge oil filter - instead they have a strainer for large fractions and a centrifugal filter (and to access the latter you need to disassemble the crankcase. So, it's just easier to keep the engine oil clean by frequent changes). A big oversight of Honda engineers, in my opinion, and it contradicts with the whole CG engine philosophy

TominMO · 12-11-2022, 07:38 AM

Agree with 1000 miles. Plus it's easy to keep track of with the odometer.

Zapkin · 12-11-2022, 12:54 PM

I changed my oil about every 500 miles on my GY-5 and when I look back on it now having read many of you guys comments on the topic I realize that many times I was throwing out good oil. Also, I only remember seeing shavings the first time I changed the oil in that bike. I am really curious to see how this all plays out with my X-pect. I know one thing, I will be a heck of a lot gentler on her than I was her great grandma. I broke that bike in hard and I think in the end there might have been consequences that lucky I avoided by selling it.

Megadan · 12-11-2022, 02:56 PM

Depends on the oil you use and where and how it gets ridden. Crawling around in the dirt off road with lots of low speed abuse will tend to require more frequent oil changes than somebody who is on highways and country roads maintaining fairly constant speeds.

Once out of the break in period you should be able to go at least 1k miles between oil changes. I do every 2k or so but my bike is used a lot on highways and I have an oil cooler (and I use a synthetic oil). If I don't change the oil that year I just change it once a year regardless of miles.

12-11-2022, 06:12 AM	#1
Rnewkirk Join Date: Oct 2022 Posts: 4	Oil change How often should I change the oil on my 250 hawk ? I do mostly street riding.
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12-11-2022, 07:21 AM	#2
Vlad87 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Eastern europe, Republic of Moldova Posts: 37	I saw CSC SG250 manual (it has the same engine as Hawk), and it recommends to do oil change every 2500 miles. I think it is way too few and far between. Something around 1000 miles (1600 km) should be fine. Also, it's a good thing to take a look now and then at oil viewport at the right side of the crankcase to check oil level and condition. I usually change oil every 1000 km (around 600 miles), but we have inferior gasoline quality compared to US, and i'm a bit overanxious about keeping the engine in good condition. And please note that we're talking about post-break-in period. The reason for such frequent oil change is because our engines don't have a cartridge oil filter - instead they have a strainer for large fractions and a centrifugal filter (and to access the latter you need to disassemble the crankcase. So, it's just easier to keep the engine oil clean by frequent changes). A big oversight of Honda engineers, in my opinion, and it contradicts with the whole CG engine philosophy __________________ "My life is falling apart like a chinese motorcycle" 2020 Viper TXM200R - A clone of 1982 Honda CM125C, powered by 200cc CG thumper. Mods: Windshield, leather panniers, kickstand, LED Headlight & Fog lights. Last edited by Vlad87; 12-11-2022 at 09:07 AM.
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12-11-2022, 07:38 AM	#3
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,871	Agree with 1000 miles. Plus it's easy to keep track of with the odometer. __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
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12-11-2022, 02:56 PM	#5
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,028	Depends on the oil you use and where and how it gets ridden. Crawling around in the dirt off road with lots of low speed abuse will tend to require more frequent oil changes than somebody who is on highways and country roads maintaining fairly constant speeds. Once out of the break in period you should be able to go at least 1k miles between oil changes. I do every 2k or so but my bike is used a lot on highways and I have an oil cooler (and I use a synthetic oil). If I don't change the oil that year I just change it once a year regardless of miles. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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12-11-2022, 12:54 PM	#4
Zapkin Join Date: Sep 2022 Location: Ohio Valley Posts: 686	I changed my oil about every 500 miles on my GY-5 and when I look back on it now having read many of you guys comments on the topic I realize that many times I was throwing out good oil. Also, I only remember seeing shavings the first time I changed the oil in that bike. I am really curious to see how this all plays out with my X-pect. I know one thing, I will be a heck of a lot gentler on her than I was her great grandma. I broke that bike in hard and I think in the end there might have been consequences that lucky I avoided by selling it.
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