Who Uses Synthetic

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there FabriquePrecis,

There's no real special tuning required, you can go back with stock intake and exhausts, or you can modify as desired. I was already running 4-1 when I put mine in, and then added the Indy filters, and that's what caused the need for rejetting, not the big bore kit itself. It is recommended to use the high octane stuff since you get a comp. boost to about 10.25:1 vs. the 9.0:1 OEM ratio, that's the 80-81 ratio quoted there!

And....many of us selected to do the smaller big bore, the 1179 due to thinning the cylinder walls NOT as much as the 1198, and if you need to rebuild later, then you still have room for the 1198!

[kenkrieger]

Always used 20W50 Castrol GTX I bought the bike with 14 K on it and have 47 K on it now, still with the same clutch never had a problem so far. Bike is still running fine.
This is on my 81 Special
81 XJ550 has 23 K and the same story,same oil, good stuff.

[jetmechmarty]

oil & heat

I've read here that some of you folks switch to in the summer or use 20W50 and are concerned about heat. Remember 50 is thicker that 40 and creates more drag. More drag = more heat.

FWIW, I'm using ROTELLA 15W40. I like synthetic, but found I was extending drain times due to the price of the oil. Synthetic oil has higher film strengths, so it should run slightly cooler and provide better fuel economy in theory. I couldn't tell in practice, either in the car or bike.

[missinglink]

After reviving my 80G I loaded it up with Yamalube and a new filter. Engine was noisy (thinking about changing the valve shims) and shifted unusually hard. Just gotta break it in again I thought. After putting about 350 miles on the bike and reading the threads on the various oils I decided to try out the Shell Rotella Oil - mineral based. Engine quieted down, shifting got much easier (like I remember it) and I wound it out in the gears ('til I got scared ) with no slippage anywhere. Maybe the yamalube was old, like me......I am going to try the Rotella Synthetic next.

[don07tncav]

After reading the Rotella posts, I decided to try it this last oil change.

Much quieter than the Castoroil GTX and no slippage what so ever so far. I've already put 400+ miles on the new oil since this Saturday.

[flb_78]

I use Mobil Delvac 1300 oil right now. (i can get it for free....sshhh....dont tell the boss) I have seen both the Rotella and the Delvac work in Semis, (work at a truck stop) and I sell more Delvac oil changes than Rotella, seems to be a better oil, reports of less burnoff from customers. Next oil change will also have 1 pint of synthetic Lucas with the oil change. Made my ole Buick run smoother and burn less oil. 248,000 miles on it, original engine in the Buick.

[Chaluska]

What i use is Lucas oil stabilizer and regular good ol oil.. After 5000 miles, my oil looked like regular oil after 2000 miles... the stabilizer REALLY helps in my opinion

[DeanR]

Just had Motul oil highly recommended to me. Anybody ever use this? I put Rotella in this spring and it seems to be working well.

[xs650mike]

Interesting thread. There was a similar discussion on the XS650 list and it got quite heated. Lotsa folks on that list using Rotella T, some have over 100k miles on their bikes. Most buy it at the ag store. I used Mobil 1 (from Walmart) in my XS650SJ for over 25,000 miles until I holed a piston (not oil related) despite dire warnings that it would cause clutch slippage (it didn't). About to change oil on my XS11 and will use Rotella T ($2/qt. at K-Mart). Dunno what the PO was running but it had been changed just before I got the bike. Bike has just turned 47,000 miles (2,000 mine)...no mechanical problems.

[Yamaniac]

I have used the Castrol Actevo 10w40 in my 650 and now in my 79 sf, but will be switching to Amsoil at next oil change.

[xs650mike]

Going to change oil and filter tomorrow (Shell Rotella T). Will switch to Amsoil the next oil change now that I've got a wholesale price source (already have the Rotella).

[MikeFromMT]

I'm running Amsoil, for more info on why you can go here http://www.amsoil.com/performancetests.aspx
forget the hype, check the facts. I ran dino oils for years then made the switch, things that were truly noticeable for me were 5-10% better fuel economy in my diesel truck (from 19 to 21 mpg) easier starting (MN and MT winters) and of course extended drain intervals (yes you can!) for you sceptics you can get "oil analysis" done by a lab to determine oil quality. I was using Rotella for years, good but not as good as the synth. BTW there are other benefits to running synth but I'm sticking to the bigger-obvious reasons. I've just purchased an '82 XJ1100 with 35000 miles, the previous owner also ran Amsoil and the bike runs like new, excelent compression in all cylenders, plugs look great etc. I can't talk of any issues with this bike (regarding oil changes) because I just bought it. One issue I had on an older bike and truck was that the new synth "broke down" deposits that resulted in seal leakage, it seems plausable so I'm always a bit nervous making the switch on an older-high milage vehicle.

[xs650mike]

I had an XJ750RH and ran petroleum based oils for years. When some stupid cager ran into it and totalled the bike at 85,000 miles the bike was still running perfectly and by the time the oil level reached the add oil mark it was time to change it anyway which is as close to zero oil consumption as one could ask for. Point is that timely changes of oil and filter has more to do with longevity of your engine than the kind of oil you use. That said, I do believe that synthetic oil holds its viscosity longer which is especially important in an air cooled engine which runs at twice the temperature of a liquid cooled mill. I used Mobil 1 15w50 auto oil in my XS650SJ and was pleased with it, notchy shifting disappeared within a few miles after I first put it in. That bike is currently down with a holed piston but that's got nothing to do with the oil.

[pggg]

Mikey, the bike with the holed piston - must have gotten lean and hot eh? Wasn't running inline filters by any chance?....

Running and diving for cover.

[xs650mike]

According to you the inline filters should have made it richer, eh? Actually an air intake leak on the right cylinder was the cause. Bad carb holder.