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  • #91
    i ride like i stoled it.
    as ever bill

    Hi Bill,
    you mean with exact obedience to the traffic laws lest the cops pull you over?
    Fred Hill, S'toon.
    Fred Hill, S'toon
    XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
    "The Flying Pumpkin"

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    • #92
      I use the Canadian Tire 15w-40 in anything I don't use synthetic in, and the CT brand full synthetic for everything else (lincluding the lawn mower).

      Funny thing is, only the Briggs and Stratton calls for synthetic.
      Nice day, if it doesn't rain...

      '05 ST1300
      '83 502/502 Monte Carlo for sale/trade

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      • #93
        Any brand but above all clean oil!

        Just reread this thread and notice by my 2005 posts that I started using Shell Rotella T 15w40 back then when my bike had 47k miles. It now has 59.5k miles and I'm still using it. No problems, no repairs.

        Summertime temps are often 105-110 deg. Fahrenheit in these parts. My oil & filter change interval is 2k miles or anytime the oil smells "cooked", whichever comes first.

        I always allow the engine to idle for a few minutes before I ride off and ride gently (RPMs under 3k) for the first few miles. This gives the oil a chance to warm up and circulate freely before putting much load on the engine.

        These things are good practice whatever oil you use. Clean oil and a bit of warm up are the keys to engine life.
        Last edited by xs650mike; 06-08-2007, 06:47 PM.
        Shiny side up,
        650 Mike

        XS1100SF "Rusty", runs great, 96k miles
        XS650SJ "The Black Bike", engine from XS650H with 750cc big bore kit, 30k miles

        Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting, "WOW, what a ride !" - [URL="http://www.flyingsnail.com/Sprung/index.html"]Sprung[/URL]

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        • #94
          *I've been using synthetic since it was introduced to the market. I was dismayed to see it in the grocery store last month at $8.00/qt. I immediately noticed the performance increase and when rebuilding the engine I noticed less wear and tear.
          *Try this - Sometimes, you see somthing on the shelf that looks ok? One day I saw this fantastically priced synthetic motor oil. I bought one quart for ~ $10.00. Wow, it really works. I see something like it on the internet today

          Silkolene Pro-4 Plus Oil
          YOUR PRICE $19.34 that's for 1 Liter (= 1.056688 quart)
          [IMG]http://michaelwilliamandersen.ga[/IMG]

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          • #95
            On my old XS I always used rotella 15W40..plus I used it in my cars and my old F150.

            Currently I'm running Castrol 20W50 in the latest XS. I have noticed though that there are the bigger jugs of 20W50 in the car section and then there are the smaller, quart (litre) jugs labelled 4 Stroke Motorcycle 20W50. Is there a difference between the automotive Castrol 20W50 and the motorcycle Castrol 20W50?
            Ernie
            79XS1100SF (no longer naked, now a bagger)
            (Improving with age, the bike that is)

            Comment


            • #96
              " Is there a difference between the automotive Castrol 20W50 and the motorcycle Castrol 20W50?"
              Hi Ernie,
              I dunno. I buy the Canadian Tire brand 20W50 "for 4-stroke motorcycles" right next to the Castrol at 1/2 the price.
              Fred Hill, S'toon
              XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
              "The Flying Pumpkin"

              Comment


              • #97
                Hi Fred,

                I dunno. I buy the Canadian Tire brand 20W50 "for 4-stroke motorcycles" right next to the Castrol at 1/2 the price
                Guess my 1.25 reading glasses aren't strong enough I'll have to have a look next time in.
                Ernie
                79XS1100SF (no longer naked, now a bagger)
                (Improving with age, the bike that is)

                Comment


                • #98
                  I just swithed to amsoil and I noticed no sliping and even got a couple miles per gallon more with it. Also the shifting is very smooth

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                  • #99
                    I used GTX synthetic 5W50 for a while. Bike was using oil. No leaks and no smoke - had my head scratching period, then droped the oil and re-filled with castrol 20w50. Oil usage problem went away. I would have liked to stay with synthetic as I need to squeeze every mile I can get out of every drop of fuel. In my van synthetic added 2 - 3 miles to the gal. This won't help if I score the engine running it low on oil.

                    Deny
                    1978 XS1100E - The TimeMachine
                    1980 XS850 Special - Little Mo

                    Comment


                    • Next time use 1/4 synthetic in your 3/4 regular oil and see what happens.

                      Synthetic is a little thinner, so it can get through smaller spaces than conventional oil, but a 25/75 mix works very well.


                      You can run pretty much any motor at least a liter low without causing any problems. They are designed that way. Most racers run low in order to minimize the drag created by the crank having to splash through the oil in the sump. This is the reason dry sump systems were invented.
                      Nice day, if it doesn't rain...

                      '05 ST1300
                      '83 502/502 Monte Carlo for sale/trade

                      Comment


                      • right now i have super tech (walmart)10w40 but i am only leaving it in for 500 miles before i change again for castrol or rotella.no problem except for second gear.
                        81 SH for 300 bucks,work in progress.
                        87 dodge d-50,35's,lockers fr&rr,fun.
                        87 dodge d-50,35's,open diffs,wifes.
                        89 dodge spirit,low 17's 1/4mile w/o turbo.

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                        • Amsoil

                          I have run amsoil in all my bikes for years full synthetic motorcycle specific with no trouble whatsoever.
                          Doug
                          Doug Mitchell
                          82 XJ1100 sold
                          2006 Suzuki C90 SE 1500 CC Cruiser sold
                          2007 Stratoliner 1900 sold
                          1999 Honda Valkyrie interstate
                          47 years riding and still learning, does that make me a slow learner?

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                          • Quote:
                            .. im throwin in with the castrol gtx 20w50 crowd, i change the oil every 2000 miles


                            Suppose I should change my response to this thread:
                            At some point shortly after this thread was posted, I started noticing a change in the Castrol oils, and how my clutches were slipping on all of my old bikes, with this stuff.
                            So I did some readin and some personal testing, on my own bikes. Come to find out that the oil that works best for me is the Valvoline 20/50 4 Stroke Motorcycle oil. The Valvoline oil made my engines sound quieter, the trans shift a little easier and has no ill effects on my clutches.

                            I still say synthetic oils are overpriced crap.

                            Comment


                            • Synthetic oils are great, if you knw what they are for and how to use them.
                              Nice day, if it doesn't rain...

                              '05 ST1300
                              '83 502/502 Monte Carlo for sale/trade

                              Comment


                              • Guru Approved

                                originally posted by GNEPIG
                                Valvoline 20/50 4 Stroke Motorcycle oil
                                Cost a little more but seemed to make the same difference for me too.


                                mro

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