Topic: The story of Zinc, and why SOHC4 engines need it in oil.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Mark,

Have you tried Kenny's gaskets from CycleX? Coated metal. I just picked up a bunch as I needed a valve cover replacement.

Nope, haven't seen those in real life yet. If it's a head gasket, watch the thickness? Or, a base gasket, same thing...

Not sure about those Mark. These cover gaskets are unlike his MLS head and base coated gaskets. Thickness 1.2mm. Side Cover Gaskets: Alloy with Foamet coating is the same combination used to stop old Harleys from leaking.

Text pics coming.

[mathias2803]

Guess I will be returning the 4t 10-40 synthetic Racing oil I bought. On the back side it says adapted for clutch and transmission. API SM ma2.

These are the ones I have looked at for replacement:

[Infest1382]

I run the cheap STP Zinc additive in all of my old machines. I wish more people did the same. There’d be a lot more on the road that way!

[HondaMan]

Guess I will be returning the 4t 10-40 synthetic Racing oil I bought. On the back side it says adapted for clutch and transmission. API SM ma2.

These are the ones I have looked at for replacement:

I don't know much about the bottom one, but it has the right 'base' (mineral) oil and weight for these Fours.

[Tomshep]

Interesting debate. I run a 400 in the UK. Looks like I ought to use 15-40 Diesel oil during the Winter and a 20-50 in the Summer.

[HondaMan]

Interesting debate. I run a 400 in the UK. Looks like I ought to use 15-40 Diesel oil during the Winter and a 20-50 in the Summer.

I surely would! But then, the Baby Fours will feel the extra drag of the 20w[n] base oil more than the larger engines. For a long time there was a 15w50 oil available in a non-detergent diesel formula (here in the USA) from Shell (Rotella), which would likely be better for the small ones in hot weather. Viscosity numbers are all about the temperatures: when I was last in UK it was both hot and humid, and I remember thinking about my 750 then, and which oil I would have used (but I didn't have the bike with me, dang...). Back in the 1970s, Castrol made a 10w50 (which I used for my 750 in the wintertime) which I used to sell to the 3 CB350F owners out of my shop, and those bikes ran like (mechanical) Swiss watches!

[ofreen]

Our member Ofreen has been using the Golden Spectro synthetic for a long time: he only has a small weep somewhere that comes and goes.

Just a small correction.  Golden Spectro is no doubt fine oil, but I have been using the Spectro Heavy Duty 20w50 all these years.

Some have said they have trouble finding Spectro 20W50 HD.  I just ordered some off Amazon for a decent price shipped --

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075RL79DF/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?smid=A37XXUG3ZCSOX0&psc=1