oil, what to use.

[prometheus578]

You've started "THE DEBATE OF DEATH". (or is that tires?)

[Pat Kelly]

Our bikes need oil? I thought they were shaft-drive. I figured the tires got enough oil from the center strip of the lane. The oil on the road that gets on my tires (what's the best tire to use, round ones?) is why my shaft-drive bike can't wheelie.













[all in jest]

[Crazcnuk]

Well, the problem is people actually believe there is a difference between brands.

There isn't.

What is important, is the lable that tells you the specs on the oil.

Any oil, that has the right specs for your vehicle, is perfectly fine. Doesn't matter if it's made by Timmy in his garage, or Penzoil.

You are better off with a 99cent oil and change it regularily, than spending $3/litre, and changing it on the same interval as the cheap stuff. Both will do the job, you're just wasting money with both.

Some people still believe that Name Brand means quality, but I am sad to say, this just isn't so, anymore.

Basically the mfg industry has gone away from 'mine is better than yours' to a 'lets all make it as cheap as possble' philosophy. Sine too many people will buy the cheapest brand on the shelf, all the manufacturers have to compete with that.

Also, with ISO quality controls, there simply isn't that much variation in quality from company to company.

Last, Canadian Tire, Walmart, K-Mart, etc DO NOT MAKE OIL! They buy it from the same same brand guys that make the more expensive products. Contrary to popular opinion, these Mfgs do not sabotage the oil they send to these discount stores, it would cost MORE to do that....

So as long as the jug of oil you are looking at has the right SE/SF/SG ratings, and is the right viscosity you will be fine.

[Yamdaha]

hhmmmmm.....

http://www.conncoll.edu/offices/envh...Oil-10w30.html

napa is valvoline or valvoline is napa ???????????

[Yamdaha]

Originally posted by prometheus578
You've started "THE DEBATE OF DEATH". (or is that tires?)

darn straight...it's one of the biggest arguments we get in the dealership. oil, tires, and helmets. that said, after 13 years as a parts manager, i still run valvoline durablend 20w50 in all my xs bikes (650,850 and 1100)

[vanhump]

oil what to use

Here is a factory sped sticker from inside my air box cover. It has oil and fuel specs.


.

[xs650mike]

Originally posted by bigb9582
i use Shell Rotella 15w-40 in mine with no problems. a 4 quart jug at walmart is like 9 bux.

I too am using Rotella and have been for a couple of years. Designed for wet clutches. I too am a cheapskate.

[Flatlander]

AMSOIL

Any amsoil input? I have herd there is NOTHING better!?! Can someone talk molecules.

[fredintoon]

Hi Guys,
what's that alphabet soup additive that they aren't putting in automobile oils anymore so that the catastophic perverters will supposedly last longer and never mind the oil don't lube as good any more? Do you suppose that stuff is still in the Canadian Tire house brand 20W50 motorcycle oil that I put in my bike?

[TopCatGr58]

Re: AMSOIL

Originally posted by Flatlander
Any amsoil input? I have herd there is NOTHING better!?! Can someone talk molecules.

Well, I don't think I have the "herd" mentality!

Here's a snip from AMSOIL's web site, note the bolded text with regards to our concerns regarding clutches!

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
AMSOIL Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil (MCV) is a premium oil designed for those who demand the absolute best lubrication for their motorcycles. AMSOIL MCV is the result of extensive research, and it is specially formulated to excel in all areas unique to motorcycles, including high temperatures of air-cooled engines such as Harley Davidson® V-Twin, wet clutch lubrication, extreme pressure regions of gears and chains and rust common to short trips and storage.

AMSOIL MCV is multi-functional and fulfills the requirements of both domestic and foreign motorcycles. It outperforms other conventional and synthetic motorcycle oils.

Provides Excellent Wet Clutch Performance
AMSOIL MCV contains no friction modifiers and promotes smooth shifting and positive clutch engagement. AMSOIL MCV controls heat and prevents slippage and glazing, and its high TBN resists acids that can degrade clutch material, helping improve clutch life.

APPLICATIONS
AMSOIL Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil is recommended for air or liquid cooled 4-stroke engines. It meets SAE 90, API GL-1 gear oil requirements and is recommended for transmissions and primary chaincases. AMSOIL MCV is recommended for Harley Davidson®, Buell®, KTM, Ducati®, Aprilia®, BMW®, Triumph® and other motorcycles where 15W-50 or 20W-50 engine oils or SAE 90, GL-1 gear oils are used. Not recommended where an API GL-4 or GL-5 gear oil is required.

I'm not an AMSOIL user or promoter, just providing info I found!
I have heard that synths also tend to leak past seals and gaskets more easily than dino juice!
T.C.

[gerkenbruce]

Oil only failes from lack of ti

XSively
Bruce

[prometheus578]

"Oh, this one took me a while to figure out."

(I'm sittin' here trying to figger out every word that begins with "ti" that would fit the sentence. I don't know... maybe he was typing and had a stroke or something...
Then it hit me, like my old english teacher used to do....

How about...
"Clear understanding only fails from lack of proofreading."

I believe he meant:
"Oil only fails from the lack of it."

[Crazcnuk]

DOh, it's from do re me fah so la ti doh!

Man, don't know your Julie Andrews or what?

As for molecules, under a microscope all oil molecules look like little rollers, that, under pressure fall neatly into place to 'roll' and this reduces friction.

Synthetic oil molecules look the same, but they are smaller.

So by itself, you get more synthetic oil 'rolling' where it counts and this reduces friction over standard conventional oil.

However, if you mix your oil 75% conventional, with 25% synthetic, the smaller synthetic rollers fit perfectly in the holes between the conventional rollers, and as a result, you get LESS friction using the combination, than you do using synthetic by itself.

The other selling point of synthetic is that it has a much higher melt point, higher than you can do in any internal combustion engine, so it will not break down from heat in the same way as dino oil. However, my assertion is that unless your racing at redline in the desert at high noon, this likely isn't an issue.

The other point to synthetic is you can run it 4-5x longer AT LEAST in your motors. Since hardly anyone here has the guts to do that, it makes spending money on synthetic a waste of time.

When I run synth in a car engine, i change it every 25,000kms, but I change the filter every 5000kms.

SInce I change the oil in the bike every spring, regardless of mileage, unless I start putting 30,000kms per year on it, synthetic would be a waste of money.

[xsilerating]

I am using Motul 5w-50 semi-synthetic oil. That's what has been used since the bike was put into service and, I think, the results speak for themselves.

Also, for XStreme temperatures, such as we experience here in the 'Great White North' (don't know what's so great about it...) i.e cold in early Spring and in the Fall, to XStreme heat in Summer and, the high temperatures at which these XStremely fabulous machines run, the range of this oil meets or XSeeds these demands.

With respect to vanhump's bikes factory specification sticker, I note that the gasoline grade specifies "Regular (Leaded)" which is no longer available in North America (not sure around the rest of the globe). However, the interesting aspect is the "Research Octane - min. 91" which, in the unleaded world, translates to 'premium grade'.

I recall a thread/poll a while back, which questioned what grade of gasoline that people were using and, I believe, the majority stated that they used 'Regular Unleaded' which, according to the above, would not meet the required octane rating.

Personally, I use premium in the MNS (that is what I was told to use by the long-life bikes mechanic) and regular in the Standard, which is what had been used by the PO.

Any comments???

[egsols]

I am using Motul 5w-50 semi-synthetic oil

No clutch slippage problems with semi-syn?

My buddy just bought an 07 KLR650 and decided to throw in some syn. Later that week he came over to me and complained about major slippage (clutch). I suggested it may be due to the syn. He drained and refilled with Kawi's recommended type and after another week the slippage (clutch) dissappeared.