Author Topic: yes, a oil question!!!  (Read 3035 times)

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Offline paddy paul

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yes, a oil question!!!
« on: January 25, 2010, 01:17:04 PM »
I have searched and searched,but no definite answer.... Can you use synthetic oil in our SOHC engines... I don't want to start another great oil debate ;) ;) just would like a yes or no answer ;D ;D

Offline wannabridin

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2010, 01:18:56 PM »
you can use whatever you want!!  it's just a matter of opinion.

AMSoil is a great oil and will work well in your engine.  Atilla is a dealer and he sells it, check in the for sale section.  i've heard of plenty of people outside this forum using it in their XS's, other honda's and all manner of bikes with great results
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Offline Johnie

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2010, 01:29:19 PM »
Fact or fiction I do not know, but someone said synthetic in these old bikes has an easier time of leaking from the gaskets? Again, this is just something I heard but am not sure if there is much published data on it. Lord knows we do not need anymore head gasket leaks. I wonder if you have a small head gasket leak if synthetic would make it leak worse? Interesting...
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Offline bucky katt

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2010, 01:30:37 PM »
just be sure the synthetic you get doesnt have any friction modifiers in it. thats what will kill your clutch.
Of all God's creatures there is only one that cannot be made the slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat.
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Offline wannabridin

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2010, 01:33:27 PM »
just be sure the synthetic you get doesnt have any friction modifiers in it. thats what will kill your clutch.

x2!

i'm going to avoid that by using a dry clutch thanks to Rob!   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Offline Gordon

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2010, 01:34:15 PM »
I have searched and searched,but no definite answer....

So you think that after dozens and dozens of heated threads on the exact same subject and still no consensus, that you'll ask the same question and somehow a definitive answer will magically appear? ::) ::)

Offline Gordon

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2010, 01:35:16 PM »
$3.50

Offline paddy paul

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2010, 01:55:48 PM »
Gordon, maybe the oil question is the ultimate zen like question, if we could come to a concise answer, the forum would reach it's highest state and there would be no fighting,bickering,squabbling,name calling,and #$%*ing,etc, and it would be sunshine  and warm hugs forever ;D ;D ;D ;D...... but seriously I was just wondering about clutch slippage, I swear my intent was not to open up the "OIL" can of worms debate..

Offline mystic_1

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2010, 01:58:15 PM »
$3.50

Heh that made me LOL.

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Markcb750

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2010, 02:10:18 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.

 :o

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.
« Last Edit: February 22, 2010, 06:41:05 PM by Markcb750 »

Offline shizzomynizzo

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2010, 02:39:47 PM »
Synthetic oil cleans the gunk and buildup in an engine. If it a higher mileage engine, it may start to leak even if it had no leaks before using synthetic.

No, I don't have a link to a site that proves this, but it is true. When I come across it again I will post it.

My jeep has high mileage, over 200k. I decided to run a dura blend through it, as many people told me it is better for the motor. It started leaking all over my drive within 2 weeks.

Maybe we should have the mythbusters do a scientific test on this!!!
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Offline TwoTired

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2010, 03:34:38 PM »
Synthetic oil has a more consistent molecular structure and purity than "regular" oil.  It won't make a clutch slip any more than "regular" oil.

That said, you don't get offered to buy pure synthetic or "regular" oil, as it is sold in a formulation blended with additives.  The wrong additives can make your wet clutch slip and your seals swell, or leak, regardless of the base stock used.  There is also the issue of prior oil selection/usage leaving sludge, that can be loosened in chunks when converting to a high detergent oil.

You can't even rely on a brand name because they are under no obligation to keep the same formulation from batch to batch.  Brand names of 5-10 years ago, is almost certainly comprised of a different formulation or additive package today.  And, last year's September batch can be different than last year's October batch, if the company determined a formulation change was beneficial to them.  What the consumer doesn't know, won't make a sales quantity difference to them.

Without an extensive and costly testing program/effort to determine failure/non-failure patterns, you can only hedge your bets by using what the label says is formulated for wet clutches or what Honda states/recommends for the engine they manufactured.

The forum's personal "brand/type loyalty", anecdotal recommendations as a subset of the general public, are as reliable as a weather forcaster's predictions for next thanksgiving holiday weekend.
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Offline Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2010, 05:17:30 PM »
YES

But, just for jollies get a motorcycle specific synthetic. How can anyone argue with this... never mind it will happen.
As of today 3/13/2012 my original owner 75 CB750F has made it through 3 wives, er EX-wives. Free at last.  ;-)

Offline cb750f2Mtl

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2010, 10:05:46 AM »
See I'm thinking of using Motul 5100 Semi-Synthetic Oil ... and I'm trying to find more info in this forum, and this is the only thread that I have found that is serious..

Can some-one tell me if this is a good thing to do or not ? Or just keep regular mineral oil Motul 3000 ?

Offline Gordon

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2010, 10:20:34 AM »
See I'm thinking of using Motul 5100 Semi-Synthetic Oil ... and I'm trying to find more info in this forum, and this is the only thread that I have found that is serious..

Can some-one tell me if this is a good thing to do or not ? Or just keep regular mineral oil Motul 3000 ?

Read the last post just before yours.

Offline cb750f2Mtl

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #15 on: February 22, 2010, 11:33:40 AM »
There best is to keep mineral oil, since bike has been running with this type of oil for the past 32 years, and also we can'T be sure of the additive they put in their products....

I will return this semi Synthetic oil and by some nice regular mineral oil for bikes.... motul 3000.

Thanks

wdhewson

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #16 on: February 22, 2010, 06:26:38 PM »
Yes. 

The mineral versus synthetic question would be answered by now if there were significant differences.  For my money the extra cost of the synthetic is a waste. 

The real advantages of synthetics are found near minus 40 degrees, at which temperature little motorcycling is done, at least by me.

Offline BobbyR

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #17 on: February 22, 2010, 06:38:42 PM »
There is no definitive answer to your question. It is a personal choice, and success or failure depends on how you ride, where you ride, and the condition of your engine. There is some evidence that super slippery oils may cause clutch problems.

The best advice is to choose an oil and change it often, which includes the filter. 
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Offline i_m_jon

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #18 on: February 23, 2010, 02:53:38 PM »
You will not find a bigger proponent of synthetic oil than me; I use it in all of my cars and bikes. However, within several weeks of putting it in my CB500 it started leaking out of nearly every gasket and seal designed to hold the oil in. Head gasket started weeping (probably the O-rings), shifter seal, the o-ring on the engine plug behind the alternator, the oil pan and I'm sure some more I can't remember; all summer I chased oil leaks. The bike was dry before I decided to introduce it to a better life. While there is nothing really to explain this other than coincidence, I'm just saying....

Offline Kframe

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #19 on: February 23, 2010, 04:14:00 PM »
$3.50

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Offline BobbyR

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #20 on: February 23, 2010, 05:00:33 PM »
You will not find a bigger proponent of synthetic oil than me; I use it in all of my cars and bikes. However, within several weeks of putting it in my CB500 it started leaking out of nearly every gasket and seal designed to hold the oil in. Head gasket started weeping (probably the O-rings), shifter seal, the o-ring on the engine plug behind the alternator, the oil pan and I'm sure some more I can't remember; all summer I chased oil leaks. The bike was dry before I decided to introduce it to a better life. While there is nothing really to explain this other than coincidence, I'm just saying....
Did the leaking stop after you went back to regular oil, or was it permanent?
Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

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Offline Amphibious

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #21 on: February 23, 2010, 05:08:14 PM »
Shell's Rotella FTW!

(because i'm to cheap for Syn Oil when it's above -20)

Offline i_m_jon

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Re: yes, a oil question!!!
« Reply #22 on: February 23, 2010, 08:43:26 PM »
You will not find a bigger proponent of synthetic oil than me; I use it in all of my cars and bikes. However, within several weeks of putting it in my CB500 it started leaking out of nearly every gasket and seal designed to hold the oil in. Head gasket started weeping (probably the O-rings), shifter seal, the o-ring on the engine plug behind the alternator, the oil pan and I'm sure some more I can't remember; all summer I chased oil leaks. The bike was dry before I decided to introduce it to a better life. While there is nothing really to explain this other than coincidence, I'm just saying....
Did the leaking stop after you went back to regular oil, or was it permanent?
Hard to say because I fixed them as they appeared. After about the 3rd leak I started to think maybe it was the oil and I changed it to regular Rotella 15W/40. I did have to change an o-ring behind the alternator after that, but it had been leaking for a while (I never knew it was there and couldn't find it). The head gasket still weeps a little on the left side. Once again, everything I know about synthetic oil tells me it couldn't have been the cause but I'm not using it anymore in the vintage bikes. I kind of feel this way about it; I think these bikes need the oil changed frequently because it gets dirty long before it breaks down anyway. There's no way a decent mineral oil is going to be shot at 1500-2000 miles but regardless of what kind of oil it is, if it's dirty it needs to go. Using synthetic doesn't extend that interval like it does in a modern bike or car. That is strictly an opinion; I don't want to be blamed for prolonging the oil debate guys.  ::)