Synthetic Oil

[Sandy H]

I would like to know if there are any more benifets for changing to synthetic.
I have owned a 83 xj1100 now for 4 yrs.Changed the oil once.
Before that it sat for 7 yrs.I have done a lot of work on it,it purrs like a kitten.
The big reason I am asking? We are going on a 3000mile trip this summer(besides all the short tours) Is it worth changing?

[trbig]

There are many many many many oil threads if you do a search, but what it comes down to is MOST of our bikes aren't compatible with the synthetic oil because of our wet clutches.. makes them slip. Some have reported success.. but those are rare cases.

As for the 3k mile trip... that's what most people change theirs at anyway. If you feel the need to change it anyway mid trip.. you only need to replace the filter every other change, so buy a cheap drain pan, drain it out, put new in, and there's a ton of places that will take the used oil.

Tod

[DiverRay]

I have owned a 83 xj1100 now for 4 yrs.Changed the oil once.

Dyno oil NEEDS to be changed ONCE PER YEAR!! The oil collects water, acid, sludge, etc. and this ALL needs to be removed from the crankcase. I would not let synthetic go for over a year, much less dyno oil.
JMHO

[CatatonicBug]

Dyno oil NEEDS to be changed ONCE PER YEAR!! The oil collects water, acid, sludge, etc. and this ALL needs to be removed from the crankcase. I would not let synthetic go for over a year, much less dyno oil.
JMHO

Agreed. Even for cars, they say 3 months OR 3k miles. Newer oils can go a bit longer, but you get the idea. These bikes need more maintenance than a car. Even if the vehicle is sitting in the garage, the oils still needs to be changed regularly. I would suggest making it part of your spring or winter maintenance routine. You can change it right before you leave on your long trip, and at minimum, as soon as you get back. If you want to do it mid-trip, I don't think anyone would complain.

[Crazcnuk]

The schedule in cars and bikes, is a scam. Those schedules were made back when filtration was terrible, or non-existant, yet we use the same schedules.

The Honda Shadow 1100 recomended changing the dino oil every 12,000kms and it has a lot tighter clearances than any other motor I've owned.

As to the acids and what not: How many bikes here were parked for 5-20 years, with old oil in them? Have we ever heard of one with severe acid damage in the oil pan?

The old VW Beetles, vans, Karmann Ghias, etc, HAD NO OIL FILTER! Yet they ran for over 100,000miles routinely.
VW had to stop a program where they gave away a watch if you hit 100,000miles with no major repairs. They were giving away too many watches.

I think we drivers should lobby the EPA into doing so REAL long term testing to see how long oil REALLY lasts. Using less oil can only help, right?

[snowdog51]

oil

amsoil mc oil nothing better no slip that you don'tneed amsoil is bad a-- oil

[Crazcnuk]

Have never had any slip with $.98 oil either....or any other problem.

[snowdog51]

oil

i'll take 10 cases of 98 cent oil