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Author Topic: Oil  (Read 4255 times)

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DaveNTexas

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Oil
« on: January 13, 2010, 04:43:03 PM »
What is acceptable?
What is best?
I am in pretty cool weather right now 25F - but it gets up to 90F in the summer.

Brand?
Grade?
Does it have to say "motorcycle" on it?
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Offline Alan F.

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Re: Oil
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2010, 04:45:44 PM »
Oh no you didn't, this should be entertaining. 


In case you didn't know, oil threads are one of those subjects that everyone has a different opinion on, and we just have fun with it when someone asks.  There should be a recommended grade of oil in your owners manual for cooler temperature riding.  No manual? click the blue button on the upper left that says 'website' and follow the links to your specific model bike, or search the forums here for a manual to download, there are many.
-Alan
« Last Edit: January 13, 2010, 04:49:45 PM by Alan F. »
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Oil
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2010, 04:47:15 PM »
ah yes, the word of the day.  Remember Pee Wee's Playhouse?
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DaveNTexas

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Re: Oil
« Reply #3 on: January 13, 2010, 04:49:56 PM »
The local auto supply houses have Valvoline Motorcycle 20W50 with something to assist the clutch plates.  Is it a scam, and any 20W50 will work?
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Offline Alan F.

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Re: Oil
« Reply #4 on: January 13, 2010, 04:55:46 PM »
Stay away from any oil, conventional or synthetic that has the words 'energy saving' or 'friction reducing' anywhere on the label.

Personally I like Rotella 15-40 non-synthetic for all of my bikes.

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Offline sangyo soichiro

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Re: Oil
« Reply #5 on: January 13, 2010, 04:58:48 PM »
Oh I got this one.  This one's easy. 

You'll find that we are all in complete agreement on this topic. 



Just kidding.  The best you could ask is what oil each of us uses.  Asking which is best is like asking which is best between blondes, brunettes, and redheads.

I prefer brunettes.



I use 10W40.  I live in an area where the temperature is similar to what you said.  I have no particular brand loyalty.  I do not require that it be "motorcycle."  And I agree with AlanF about avoiding the "energy saving" stuff.  In fact, the owners manual for my Honda Ruckus says to avoid it also.

But that's just me.
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j-no

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Re: Oil
« Reply #6 on: January 13, 2010, 05:01:50 PM »
I've heard you should avoid oil with detergents...any truth to this?
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Oil
« Reply #7 on: January 13, 2010, 05:06:02 PM »
Quote from: j-no on January 13, 2010, 05:01:50 PM
I've heard you should avoid oil with detergents...any truth to this?

I think the concern is over using oil with additives in a wet sump style bike (where the clutch plates are in the oil)
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Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

DaveNTexas

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Re: Oil
« Reply #8 on: January 13, 2010, 05:08:31 PM »
If we can't agree on what is best, maybe I should have asked if there is a consensus as to what must be avoided.
So we have already, 'avoid additives'.
Can you be more specific?  Every oil out there has some type of additive.
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Offline Tnutz

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Re: Oil
« Reply #9 on: January 13, 2010, 05:20:42 PM »
Rotella T 15-40....now you know. :D
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Offline Alan F.

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Re: Oil
« Reply #10 on: January 13, 2010, 05:26:27 PM »
Quote from: Tnutz on January 13, 2010, 05:20:42 PM
Rotella T 15-40....now you know. :D

Cool, that makes it two for Rotella.
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Offline Henning

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Re: Oil
« Reply #11 on: January 13, 2010, 05:35:56 PM »
Oil threads - ain't they just a love/hate relationship.

After mucking about with different blends, I settled on Honda GN4 20/50. At least it says Honda on the package.
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: Oil
« Reply #12 on: January 13, 2010, 05:42:43 PM »
7th Gear 10-40 in the winter, 15-50 in the summer  ;D
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Markcb750

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Re: Oil
« Reply #13 on: January 13, 2010, 06:04:06 PM »
I use a different type of oil every time I change, always 10w 40.

Except in summer when I run 15 w 40, unless I cannot find it, then I run 20w 50,unless I have some 10w 40 around, then I use it, even if it is not a "different" type of oil.

So, I guess my original statement was more of a general concept, not a personal commitment.


 ::)

BTW:

I re-polish my oil filter housing every time I change the oil.


I add a little Sea-Foam to the oil about 100 miles before I change it, unless I forget, or the mood to wrench & polish hits me and I just change the oil.
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Offline bucky katt

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Re: Oil
« Reply #14 on: January 13, 2010, 06:06:39 PM »
Quote from: Alan F. on January 13, 2010, 04:55:46 PM
Stay away from any oil, conventional or synthetic that has the words 'energy saving' or 'friction reducing' anywhere on the label.

Personally I like Rotella 15-40 non-synthetic for all of my bikes.


+1 and thats all i'll say on an oil thread  ;)
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: Oil
« Reply #15 on: January 13, 2010, 06:10:21 PM »
Why can't you believe in what the manufacturer recommends?
Why would anyone on this forum know what is better for the engine than the manufacturer?
If you want to experiment, use whatever you like and pray for a good outcome, let us know if things go awry, ok?

And, if you've stayed with the same oil for 100,000 miles and the oil manufacturer hasn't changed the formulation, then you have something significant to report.

Lastly, what is cheaper; the cheapest oil you can find or replacement parts and labor to rebuild the engine?
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Offline shizzomynizzo

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Re: Oil
« Reply #16 on: January 13, 2010, 06:17:15 PM »
Rotella 15-40, readily available anywhere, it has zinc which is good for these engines and avoids additives that are harmful to our clutches.

when it's really hot, I also run some old castrol 20w50 from the late 70s that I found in the attic from my dad. Still got about 12 qts of it.
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Offline Frankenkit

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Re: Oil
« Reply #17 on: January 13, 2010, 06:30:00 PM »
I use Honda brand motorcycle oil in their 20w-50.  It makes the 650 shift a little smoother and I think she likes it pretty well.
Rotella made her spring a bunch of leaks, but I think that's because she was glued together with old oil varnish. 

On the flip side, I intend to use Rotella 15-40 on the CL350 because I'm anticipating frequent changes at first and it's relatively cheap.  It's also pretty good stuff, and I think the mild detergent qualities will be good for the engine.
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Offline Frankenkit

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Re: Oil
« Reply #18 on: January 13, 2010, 06:31:30 PM »
Quote from: TwoTired on January 13, 2010, 06:10:21 PM
Why can't you believe in what the manufacturer recommends?


Because at least in Harley and Harley's recommendations, their brand of oil has been shown to be extremely poor in quality, but what does it matter if your using *their* oils will ensure your need to return to them for costly repairs down the line?  Product reliability vs. Long Term Profits seem to be a fine, fine line for companies these days and perhaps also mutually exclusive.
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"Moderation in all things - especially moderation. Too much moderation is excessive. The occasional excess is all part of living the moderate life."
2012 CBR250R "Black Betty"
1980 CB650c- (sold) Delilah
1973 CL350- Lola?
Quote from: The_Crippler on July 19, 2010, 07:58:02 PM
Sweet, bubbly, Buddha - Say it ain't so!!!
Stuff for sale

Offline mystic_1

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Re: Oil
« Reply #19 on: January 13, 2010, 06:39:07 PM »
Quote from: TwoTired on January 13, 2010, 06:10:21 PM
Why can't you believe in what the manufacturer recommends?
Why would anyone on this forum know what is better for the engine than the manufacturer?
If you want to experiment, use whatever you like and pray for a good outcome, let us know if things go awry, ok?

And, if you've stayed with the same oil for 100,000 miles and the oil manufacturer hasn't changed the formulation, then you have something significant to report.

Lastly, what is cheaper; the cheapest oil you can find or replacement parts and labor to rebuild the engine?


Did Honda recommend a specific brand?

Are 40 year old oil recommendations still valid?

Who said anything about cheapest?

mystic_1
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Offline shizzomynizzo

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Re: Oil
« Reply #20 on: January 13, 2010, 07:11:08 PM »
Castrol EDGE - That's Thinking With Your Dipstick!


THINK WITH YOUR DIPSTICK JIMMY!!!   ;D ;D ;D
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Offline bucky katt

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Re: Oil
« Reply #21 on: January 13, 2010, 07:25:35 PM »
Quote from: shizzomynizzo on January 13, 2010, 07:11:08 PM
Castrol EDGE - That's Thinking With Your Dipstick!


THINK WITH YOUR DIPSTICK JIMMY!!!   ;D ;D ;D



okay, as a half Scot, and new fan of the Castrol Edge in my high mile saturn, i have to ask. what in the #$%*ing hell does that commercial mean? where the #$%* did the little Scottish guy come from and why is he in an oil commercial? it aggravates me, even though i did try the stuff and i now use it in "baby" my saturn with nearly half a million miles on it.
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Oil
« Reply #22 on: January 13, 2010, 08:50:53 PM »

I go away for a few hours and miss an OIL THREAD!!!! :'( :'(
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Offline Frankenkit

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Re: Oil
« Reply #23 on: January 13, 2010, 08:56:14 PM »
You haven't missed anything, yet, Gordon.  We haven't accused anyone of nazism, fascism, compared synthetics to Hitler/Stalin/GWBush.  We haven't started accusing each other of being submoronic, nor started questioning each others' mechanical aptitude/ability to ride/rights to own a bike.  No one's even been told they're too dumb  to ride and/or are "slowly killing their engine, why don't you just pour sand in it, you ignorant sack."  So there's much more to come, I assure you.
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"Moderation in all things - especially moderation. Too much moderation is excessive. The occasional excess is all part of living the moderate life."
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Quote from: The_Crippler on July 19, 2010, 07:58:02 PM
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Offline shizzomynizzo

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Re: Oil
« Reply #24 on: January 13, 2010, 08:57:16 PM »
Quote from: Gordon on January 13, 2010, 08:50:53 PM

I go away for a few hours and miss an OIL THREAD!!!! :'( :'(

I've read a few, and they seem to get shorter everytime and a little less....entertaining
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