The good oil

[wysper]

Hi Guys

Been reading a thread on another part of the site that talks about oil changes.

Is it any different with the adventure riding?
Do you stick with recommended service intervals?
Do you change filter and oil with every change?
Should you change your air filter more regularly?

I realise there is a fair bit of personal choice here but all opinions welcome.

I am planing to put in dino oil, not synthetic, that would be fine for the robust DR ay?

[NordieBoy]

Adventure riding is usually slower than normal riding.

I do 5000km changes as it's easier to remember than the recommended 6000.

Filter every 2nd change.

Magnetic sump bolt.

Air filter if it's been dusty but usually every couple of months. Did mine today (5,000km).

Dino is fine. I'm using Total Hi Perf 4T synth at the moment 'cause it looks cool (antifreeze green) but usually use Total Racing 4T mineral based. They do 5l containers so you can easily get 2 changes out of it.

[AllanB]

Bright green oil! That's just weird!

[Woodman]

Air filters are a how long is a piece of string thing really as it depends on the conditions. Just check it regularly and wash it if it looks to bad.

I do oil changes quite regularly, actually I do them as I am riding, but every few thou I will do a change regardless of how much I have put in.

Using penrite at the moment fully synthetic 10w50 . Seems to have slowed the consumption.
Will try 10w70 next.

I wonder which oil is the best???

[wysper]

I wonder which oil is the best???

I know not to even hint at opening that door!!

[clint640]

I think if your adv riding involves a lot of hot, slow trail stuff shortening up the intervals is a good idea. I only do that now & then so I have always stuck with the 5000km factory interval, Both filters & oil. Air filter as required, not often over winter, more in summer.

I've always run semi or full synth of the right grade, but haven't been much more fussy than that, $20/L max. Currently Rock Oil summat.

The DR may be robust, but it's air/oil cooled mill probably puts bigger demands on the oil than a higher performance but liquid cooled motor does. IMHO anyway.

Cheers
Clint

[wysper]

Thanks Clint.

A good point to consider, maybe a good quality dino then

[ADVGD]

Previously working as an engine reconditioner I saw first hand on a number of occasions the damage caused by lack of oil changes. Manufactures recommendation is every 6000km but I do oil + oil filter every 4000km (My bike loves me). That may sound excessive and paranoid, but to those that don't know me I frequently hide under my bed with a tinfoil suit on to stop space aliens reading my thoughts.

[Taz]

I have run Caltex Delo400 (diesel oil) in my last 5 bikes including the 525 and a YZF250. Works great and zero problems, cheaper than bike oil too. I buy it from the warehouse when it's on special at $34.95 or so for 5 litres. Change the 525 every 1500-2000kms depending on use, other bikes are usually 5000km intervals.

[Transalper]

....Works great and zero problems,....

How many kms do you keep your bikes for?

[Taz]

How many kms do you keep your bikes for?

Did 50,000 on the R1100 was at 130,000 when I sold it and still going like new, KTM525 is up to 10,000km, XT600 was 45,000km, YZF250 was well over 100hours. can't remember what the VFR750 got to. And didn't do many k's on the Ducati.

I always recommend people run what they are comfortable with and if that means having a motorcycle on the package or paying inflated prices then so be it. It is after all your piece of mind. Hard to enjoy your rde if you are worrying about your oil eh?

Andy.

[CrazyFrog]

Jesus, I must be an oil freak, I changed the 640A oil/filters every 3000km, and ran 10W-40 synthetic (and the fucker still destroyed a cam bearing at 35K!) I loved that bike tho, good times we had.
On the EXC, I run 10W-50 Synthetic Motorex in winter, 15W-50 in summer and change it every 500-700km or every 10-15 hours, as per factory specs. Mind you, it only holds 1.2 litres of the stuff, so oil changes are relatively cheap. Do oil filters every second change.
Clean the air filters every ride in summer, every 3rd ride in winter. Depends on conditions, but as I'm mostly on dirt, I do 'em regular like.
Most of my riding is short trail riding stuff, or gravel, very little on the sealed road these days.
My theory is if you're riding the bike in hard conditions or under load a lot, change it more.
Oil is cheaper than rebuilds (esp with the 640, LOL!)

[Transalper]

....
I always recommend people run what they are comfortable with...

Cheers Andy, have heard various opinions on Diesel Oils in bikes, bit of a search on this Delo400 produced a bunch of people liking it, no one didn't.
Think I might give it a try.

[dino3310]

castrol 4t active.
as recommended by manufacturer or sooner.

i do mine about every 1000 -1400 klms

[That looks like fun]

Okey dokey the diesel oil in petrol engine thing Simplest problem is higher detergent levels We could go into high sulphate's low ash all that stuff but we will stick with the number one problem
In a car if diesel oil is run from new you can get good results. Where people come to grief is they buy an old shitter and stick diesel oil in it and it cleans out all the carbon/sludge deposits and basically your engine falls apart
Having said that air cooled bike engines may not suffer the same build ups so this maaaaaaaaay not happen
Have any KLR riders tried running a straight 30 weight oil? Many years ago the Mitzi V8 diesels we serviced would consume huge amounts of oil (top up the diesel mate and fill the oil please) if you used a high grade multi viscosity oil in them. Reason given by Mitzi was that they were a low friction engine and not designed for those types of oil. Put them back on the cheap as chips straight run 30 and vhawla oil consumption settled down to nothing