Oil Change Frequency - 2011 450 EXC

[Vulgar 450 EXC]

I have purchased a 2011 KTM 450 EXC. This is the first bike of any kind I have ever owned. I am confused as to how often to perform critical maintenance. The dealer has told me I must change the oil, oil filter, and clean/change the air filter every 3-5 hours of use. A friend of mine told me about the same and said that KTM's are high maintenance.

In the owner's manual it states within the service schedule that the above mentioned items only require attention every 15 hours. I checked the owner's manuals for 450 EXC's back to 2003 and they are the same.

Can anyone who owns one of these bikes, or anyone who can confidently help me with this question please give me your thoughts?

[carlgoebel]

I bought a new 2010 530 EXC and the dealer told me NOT to change the oil for the first 400 miles because of some special "break in fluids" that KTM adds. I think he is full of ****.

[Vulgar 450 EXC]

Originally Posted by carlgoebel

I bought a new 2010 530 EXC and the dealer told me NOT to change the oil for the first 400 miles because of some special "break in fluids" that KTM adds. I think he is full of ****.

That is definately not correct. I have cleared this up for the most part. The service schedule wants the oil changed every 15 hours of engine running, however this is not enough. The dealer has recommended I change the oil a MINIMUM of twice every 15 hours.

It will really come down to the type of riding, the type of oil, and how fast that combination wears/breaks down the oil. I (we) should be watching the oil carefully for signs of it needing a change and get used to the amount of time our oil will last before requiring change.

As the mechanic at the bike shop put it: "Oil is cheap, motors are not"

Makes sense...

I will be changing my oil about every 7 1/2 hours to start, but keeping a close eye on it. If it seems that it needs to be sooner, I will adjust the frequency as needed.

[bajadog]

Just my two cents.

After break in, I did the interval oil change method (taught to me by
a fellow dual sport rider that had 36K on his 1999 640 Adventure (original engine parts).

He would change oil and filters every 3000 miles, and then between that (at 1500 miles), he would just drain and refill his oil (no filter change).

This is what I have been doing on all my four strokes since he told me that.

Off course if you going by hours, you need to compensate.

[MJC]

just bought a 450 EXC myself on friday and the dealer told me 3 hrs for the 1st service. do both engine and gear box. replace oil filter as well.

[pedrazaa]

The recommendation of KTM "full synthetic oil and change it every 15 hours with the filter.

I change it every 20 hours with the filter, and use ELF MOTO 4 XT TECH 10W50, never a problem.

1- Wich is your Oil Change Frequency?
2- Do you change always the filter each time?
3- Wich Oil are you using?

[Neka79Oz]

Originally Posted by bajadog

Just my two cents.

After break in, I did the interval oil change method (taught to me by
a fellow dual sport rider that had 36K on his 1999 640 Adventure (original engine parts).

He would change oil and filters every 3000 miles, and then between that (at 1500 miles), he would just drain and refill his oil (no filter change).

This is what I have been doing on all my four strokes since he told me that.

Off course if you going by hours, you need to compensate.

Hi Baja,

No disrespect intended here, but im curious as to the service intervals on a 640 Adventure?

The reason i ask this is cos ive always been a roadie rider, and always managed to get 6,000km out of oil on my bikes by using good oil, whereas some ppl only get 3000km..

Anyway back on topic, i notice a lot of the bikes in your list are either 2 smokers or lower maintenance bikes like TT/ XR...

How did ur 450 EXC stand up to the maintanance??

Ive just picked up an 07 450 exc and all my research points to anywhere between 5-30 hours for oil changes.. i think ill be aiming for 10hours if i can, or 5 if i cant (5 hours means a days ride really)

boy now i think of it, thats a lot of servicing...

[Neka79Oz]

also i was going to ask if any of the members have seen/used those washable/re-usable stainless oil filters ??

i kno guys who use them on road bikes and swear by them, and if im gunna pay $30 in filters every time i ride, i may consider buying these reusable oil filters...

[bajadog]

Originally Posted by Neka79Oz

Hi Baja,


How did ur 450 EXC stand up to the maintanance??


also i was going to ask if any of the members have seen/used those washable/re-usable stainless oil filters ??

i kno guys who use them on road bikes and swear by them, and if im gunna pay $30 in filters every time i ride, i may consider buying these reusable oil filters...

I ended up with about 11,000 miles on my '03 450 using that oil change schedule, before I rebuilt the top end. Mind you if I did a super hard dusty off road trip, I drain the oil afterwords ahead of schedule.
Honestly, if you keep your AIR filter very clean, the oil filters
stay clean.


Also I do/did run the Scott stainless filters in my last 2 KTMs.
Just spray the out with carb cleaner, and blow them out
with your air compressor.

[pedrazaa]

This will be the first time I use a brand new PC Racing FLO Drop In Stainless Steel Oil Filter Steel PC167 sold by Powersport Superstore, Inc. $23.58 each.
Any previous experience with this? Planning to change Oil every 17 hours.

KTM 450 EXC 2009