Oil type?!

[Ragingrob]

OK my service manual tells me to use 10w/40 oil viscosity under API classification SE or SF. So I go to the shop and get like the only 10/40 there which is under API classification SL and SG or something I dunno but not what the manual said. Does this matter at all? Or is oil oil and that's that?

[Pancakes]

People are gonna give you shit for starting an oil thread and the search function etc but I had my turn so you should have yours!

Unless you have a dry clutch (you'd know and you don't) you can't use anything with friction modifiers. Your clutch may or will slip depending on who you beleive but there's more fun to be had playing with your bike that spanding time and money making your clutch slip! Diesel oil is fine especially if it's for allison clutches. You can play with the weights a bit.

sorry, I'm over typing now, will come back later and add to others comments.

on a bike your gearshifts will be the most telltale way to assess your oil cos it will be much of a muchness in the engine so long as you change it often enough blah blah.

the lower number is the base weight and there is stuff added to make it act as a higher weight oil up the higher number but those things break down as soon as you start the engine and lower the high temp viscosity.

also search detergents.

man, that was my worst reply ever!

[Squiggles]

I've used motul and mobil 1 in my gn's, worked fine :)
pick some up when you pickup a filter (try to get a genuine suzuki filter)

[Ragingrob]

Hmmm I think the one I bought is mobil one so hopefully it's sweet. It just put me off the the api classification didn't match with the service manual.

[vifferman]

The classifications SE and SF are old ones, and have been superceded by SG and SL. The American Petroleum Institute is continually upgrading the classifications to meet new standards of performance and whatnot. Yeah, standards of whatnot, or sow for short.
You can stick almost anything except cheap gnarsty oil or very thin (5W) or very thick (80W90 gear oil) in your bike without hurting it too much.

[Ragingrob]

The classifications SE and SF are old ones, and have been superceded by SG and SL. The American Petroleum Institute is continually upgrading the classifications to meet new standards of performance and whatnot. Yeah, standards of whatnot, or sow for short.
You can stick almost anything except cheap gnarsty oil or very thin (5W) or very thick (80W90 gear oil) in your bike without hurting it too much.

Perfect thanks! Rep+