Modern Vespa

As some may recall I just bought a 2006 LX150 with 196 miles. It has the original oil in it. Should I change the oil and filter or just run it until the 1st maintenance ? Any experts know what I should do with a 4 year old scooter that's not seen much action ? It seems to run just fine but this is my 1st Vespa. Thanks as always !

It's synthetic oil. As long as the bike hasn't been exposed to lots of moisture, like sitting out in the rain all the time, I wouldn't hesitate to run it for another 400 miles for the first service. As long as the oil is up to level and doesn't smell like gasoline, have water droplets or any other visible contaminants in it, I would ride as is. Try to accumulate the miles in a timely fashion and then arrange for the first dealer service...oil and filter change, gear oil change and a general once-over of critical fasteners and complete systems check. That package will probably cost about $150.

If you are not going to ride your scooter in the winter, I would change the oil at the end of your riding season. I would also put some fuel stabilizer in the tank. If you change the oil yourself, an oil change is not that expensive and is probably the best preventive maintainence for any vehicle. I change the oil once a year, when I put my scoot away for the winter. I don't ride in Pittsburgh winters, Cleveland winters are probably bad, too. If your scoot is in Florida, what winter??

I would change it myself. just sitting for 4 years . yup I would change it just for my peace of mind. easy to do at the house a fliter, wrench for drain plug and an oil pan. and a couple quarts of 5-40 synth. jaso ma oil. oh and 20 min of your time.
Then when you hit the 600-700 miles yeah you could take it in for a service and inspection.

I'd change out the brake fluid as well - or at least check it was still as clear as a bell with no hint of darkening.

If it was mine wouldn't change it. It's coming out in a couple hundred miles anyway.

If you do change it, DO NOT use synthetic oil -- rings won't seal.

Bluecloud, Why not synthetic ? Isn't there synthetic in there now ? I know the owner's manual specifies synthetic. I'm confused. Do you know something ?

The "conventional wisdom" has always been that breaking in a new engine using synthetic oil would prevent the rings from ever seating properly, and that manufacturers deliver new vehicles with a dino-based break-in oil.

I've never seen reputable confirmation of that assertion, though, and sure would like to. With both of the scooters that I have kitted, I used synthetic oil to break in the new cylinders with no problems whatsoever, and I don't recall seeing any warnings in the instructions that came with my Malossi kit not to use synthetic for break-in.

I'd be okay with letting it go another 400 miles until the 1st service if I were putting ~100 miles per week on it. If you plan to hit 625 miles sometime next year, do the oil change before putting the scoot away for the winter.

Here's a link to an interesting summary of opinions on a bike magazine website that addresses the issue of synthetic oil for break-in. You can make up your own mind:
http://www.roadcarvin.com/tech/synthetic-oil-during-engine-break-in

Use fully synth. None other, please.

maybe on a 1965 triumph but not on anything in the past 10 years.

Only get one chance to break it in right.

My experience comes from working for a Alpha Romeo dealer in the early 90s -- we had to warranty several motors for oil consumption. Verdict -- synthetic factory fill.

Impressed me enough that I won't use anything but synthetic in my engines -- AFTER break-in.

Do you think maybe things have changed in the last 20 years?

I've always understood the primary difference between "natural" and "synthetic" lubricants to be one of tolerance to heat and pressure, as stated by J.P Powers.

Since break down over time is probably negligible during the first several hundred miles ("break in" period), the benefits of synthetic's higher "durability" would not necessarily come into play. From a manufacturer's cost perspective, why spend 2 to 3 times more for synthetic if it doesn't offer that much benefit, if any, during break in?

Now, if we are talking about a higher-end vehicle, the "image" benefit of using a "higher grade" oil, along with any advertising consideration from the oil supplier would explain why some cars come with synthetic in the first place.

After all is said and done, I haven't seen any literature on lubricating property differences between the two early on in use and under similar (normal) operating conditions. They both have to meet the same standards.

So, concluding that many new vehicles are delivered with petroleum based oil means that it is better for break-in is a bit of a stretch. Saving $2 on each of 75,000 vehicles is a nice piece of change.

Don't mean to say that synthetic shouldn't be used. Just saying that the idea that petroleum based is "better" for break-in is very questionable.

I have heard that they come with "Break-in oil", as if it has some magic property. If there is anything to that I would call the local dealer, or a motorcycle dealer if a Vespa dealer isn't handy, and see about getting some of the magic elixir.

There have been several demonstrations and articles about the increased lubricity of synthetics over dyno. If that is true it would make sense that an entire engine (not just rings) would break in more thoroughly with a little rubbing going on between the new parts; more lubrication might mean less breaking in.

[Isn't there a rule against oil threads?]

They don't - they come with the specified fully synth.

I would change it. And as JimC states check the brake fluid too. Change it your self, its no much money, and it will give you the opportunity to fully inspect your bike.

I hope you'll be wintering in Naples with the scoot, it is the best time to ride down here. :-!