Running engine for short period of time

[LeonardoNYC]

Currently doing alternate side of the street parking here till a spot opens up in a garage across the street. Most of the time when I move the bike to different street I will ride it for 6-10 minutes but sometimes it can be less than two minutes if I am running late. Is there any potential for long or short term damage to the engine by running / riding it for less than five minutes?

Thanks.

[boxermoose]

I'd cut the oil change interval in 1/2 as I'd consider it severe service

You'll get some condensation in the oil during the cold months -you'll see some creamy coating in the oil window - make an effort to ride it (Not just idle in place)for a while at least once a week to help burn off the water

[BoxerSteve]

Short trips are not good for your engine and should be avoided whenever possible. The following is from a car site but the discussion applies to any engine.

Short trips of less than 10 minutes can be particularly hard on a car, resulting in excessive wear and tear. During a short trip, your car's engine never has a chance to reach its full operating temperature.

So what? Here's why it matters: One of the byproducts of engine combustion is water. When an engine reaches its operating temperature that water turns to vapor and is expunged, either out the tailpipe or the crankcase ventilation system. On a short trip, however, that water stays inside your car's engine and exhaust. Unfortunately, water is one of only three ingredients necessary to make rust (you've already got the other two, oxygen and metal), and rust kills. Look at any of my brother's cars.

A further complication of condensation and water is that it dilutes your oil, which then does a poorer job of lubricating the engine. If you can't avoid taking lots of short trips, we recommend you change your oil frequently, such as every 2,000-3,000 miles.

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp ... ff=cartalk

[pistonbroke]

hi leonardo nyc
if your engine is warm and been used ,i would not worry to much , as the others say it the cold and heat that does them in for condensation inside the motor , if the weather is warm its a bonus , i won't even wash mine when the engine is hot , imagine the cold water going onto a hot motor and all the metal contracting so sudden , not all in one place either ... more of a concern for 2 minute start ups is the poor old battery, it takes about 6 miles +to get the charge in for just one start up . my gs 1200 has had 3 batteries in 2 years. think they are ***** anyway plus all the stop starting on it . they do not seem that powerful , then owners put spotlights on them ,heated jacket etc. my battery on the r1200 r is a new one ,its been replaced already ... now all my bikes have trickle chargers on them when not being used and that includes after work to the next morning .
piston

[pistonbroke]

hi boxersteve
good article that , well worth a read ...... salt , makes me shudder with the thought , i live 250 yrds from a beach and the cars and bikes get sand on them when its windy ,cannot remember if i read not to use hot water , hot water activates the salt even more , just like liquid acid then .people use washing up liquid for washing their cars and bikes , its full of salt . the spray oven cleaners are evil too ,good for moving oil marks off the drive .
everything i own gets a oily rag to the metal.
piston .

[ammolab]

" i won't even wash mine when the engine is hot , imagine the cold water going onto a hot motor and all the metal contracting so sudden"

This should not really be a problem.. I have plunged many times into a TEXAS THUNDERSTORM on a HOT interstate highway. I have seen no issue over the last 40years of BMW riding with water on that hot engine.

[pistonbroke]

hi ammolab
is the weather warm in texas with warm rain .here in the uk the air temp in january and feb can be down to around minus c to plus ten c .in the summer here i would not bother about warm rain and warm air temps , i used to wash a ktm 1000 after a cold and wet winter ride home with heavily salted roads,you could here the motor clicking when the water hit the motor ,steam everywhere and it used to play havoc with the oil in sump , looked like milk with all the water emulsifying . since not washing bikes while hot most of those problems went a way .
piston