Which oil to use for the 1981 Yamaha Virago XV750?

**tourist76** · 11th January 2010, 20:42

which oil to use for the 1981 Yamaha Virago XV750?

Haynes says use the 20-40, which the bike shop and repco say is discontinued. Found some at the warehouse dirt cheap but not sure if its the same stuff u r meant to use for a bike. The warehouse caltex havoline (i think) says its for older cars and light trucks. is the bike 20-40 different from a car 20-40 and what should one use on an 1981 machine with low-low mileage?

**FROSTY:Me** · 15th January 2010, 12:33

Its an old air cooled bike so I think maybee 10 w40 will be great.

**Pussy** · 15th January 2010, 13:09

There are a few good motorcycle specific 20w50 oils available.... I would be inclined to use one of them

**MSTRS:Me** · 15th January 2010, 13:21

In my early years of motorcycling (70s) we just used any old car engine oil we could get. Multigrades were just coming in, so were considered better. There were no bike-specific oils. However, that wasn't the problem that it is now...car oils did not have those nasty friction modifiers in them, the ones that make it unsuitable for wet clutches.
So, even though yours is an old bike, use a bike-only oil. 10-40 would be a good choice. And mineral, too...no synthetics.

**neels** · 15th January 2010, 13:28

I've just done some hunting around for my bike which specifies 20-40 as well, couldn't find any but castrol do a bike specific 15-50 which I figured should do the trick. I have been told that motorcycle oil is nicer to the clutch than normal car engine oil, could be complete bollocks but for $20 difference I'll go with it.

Edit:

Originally Posted by MSTRS

And mineral, too...no synthetics.

Why no synthetic?

**MSTRS:Me** · 15th January 2010, 13:42

Old(er) engines were designed when mineral oil was it. Synthetics are designed for modern engines that have finer tolerances and higher hp ratings. As I understand it.

**dipshit** · 15th January 2010, 18:02

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Old(er) engines were designed when mineral oil was it. Synthetics are designed for modern engines that have finer tolerances and higher hp ratings. As I understand it.

Both Mobil and Amsoil do a synthetic 20w50 for air cooled V-twins.

**old fartz** · 15th January 2010, 19:02

they have taken the zinc out of the mineral oil it does something cause it fucked my cams,so read the labels

**wingnutt** · 15th January 2010, 19:16

motul make a 20/50 mineral bike oil too I use it in my goldweing, pretty impressed with it

**Miscreant** · 15th January 2010, 19:37

Originally Posted by tourist76

which oil to use for the 1981 Yamaha Virago XV750?

Haynes says use the 20-40, which the bike shop and repco say is discontinued. Found some at the warehouse dirt cheap but not sure if its the same stuff u r meant to use for a bike. The warehouse caltex havoline (i think) says its for older cars and light trucks. is the bike 20-40 different from a car 20-40 and what should one use on an 1981 machine with low-low mileage?

Any 15w40 diesel engine oil.