Engine oil for 4 stroke engines?

[Motig]

Look up some of the oil company websites, they usually have a chart somewhere that tells you what to use for a particular bike model. Worked for my CBX

[ZeroIndex]

Went and looked at the Delo 400 today (the Caltex one in the blue bottle), 15W/40W, is that the right one?

[pritch]

I once read a thing on the Web allegedly written by a former oil industry chemist or similar. He made the case that the oils used in truck engines contain more xinc which is the friction protection of last resort. Over the
years the amount of zinc in oils intended for cars has been reduced to cut costs. So the oils intended for truck engines (which are not called diesel oils) are in effect professional grade oil.

I mentioned this to a friend who has been in the automotive reconditioning industry for over forty years and he was somewhat horrified and mentioned how the different oils all have different detergents etc. If I was running an older bike, however, I would seriously consider an oil rated for use in truck engines.

Another friend in the motorcycle industry told me of a customer who insisted on a particular oil. It was pointed out to him that the oil in question was not one of those recommended by the manufacturer, but he was adamant. He subsequently developed clutch slip and was informed that regrettably it wouldn't be repaired under warranty.

As it is though, I use a fully synthetic oil as recommended by the maker and will continue to do so for at least the period of the warranty and then probably beyond.

[bobsmith]

So I had a look through SuperCheap and suprisingly they had Castrol GPS on stock for around $52 for 4 litres http://www.castrol.com/castrol/produ...tentId=6007644

Would that do the job? Is that a good value? (their website didn't have fx150 listed but they recommend the same oil for just about any bike anyway.

[ZeroIndex]

So I had a look through SuperCheap and suprisingly they had Castrol GPS on stock for around $52 for 4 litres http://www.castrol.com/castrol/produ...tentId=6007644

Would that do the job? Is that a good value? (their website didn't have fx150 listed but they recommend the same oil for just about any bike anyway.

That Caltex Delo 400 stuff (15W/40W), that was mentioned earlier on this thread is 4litres (maybe 5), and is $27 from the Red Shed

[Fatjim]

So I had a look through SuperCheap and suprisingly they had Castrol GPS on stock for around $52 for 4 litres http://www.castrol.com/castrol/produ...tentId=6007644

Would that do the job? Is that a good value? (their website didn't have fx150 listed but they recommend the same oil for just about any bike anyway.

At that price I'd go for Super helix (about $45 from a shell shop) which is fully synthetic. Either that or the delo 400

[bobsmith]

I heard that you couldn't use fully synthetic oil for cars for bikes with wet clutches? - does that make sence?

[Krusti]

Just a tip.. If you find an oil ya like at motrcycle shop etc and you have or know someone who has say a Shell fuel card, do what I did.

Rang Shell NZ on their nationwide ph no, asked for 20 litre container to be couriered to me, quoted card number, hey presto oil at under half price. Works great if ya use alot or a few guys get together.

Just my 2 cents....

[Lazy7]

i just picked myself up some Elf 10w-40 semi synthetic from Red Baron.

i use their 0-40 race oil in my car and am really happy with it so heres hoping it works a treat in the bike

[Stevo]

So I had a look through SuperCheap and suprisingly they had Castrol GPS on stock for around $52 for 4 litres http://www.castrol.com/castrol/produ...tentId=6007644

Would that do the job? Is that a good value? (their website didn't have fx150 listed but they recommend the same oil for just about any bike anyway.

Should be able to get GPS for $35-40 if you can find it. Rural retailers are a good place to go.

[Stevo]

I heard that you couldn't use fully synthetic oil for cars for bikes with wet clutches? - does that make sence?

Not really.

[mynameis]

Mate I think the best thing to do is actually read the manual it will tell you exactly what oil to use, they come in standards with certain viscosity but dont use car oil.

Things to check for is:

Grade eg SAE ect..
Visco eg 10W 40

And don't use mineral based one or semi synthetic use a FULLY SYNTHETIC oil which is generally twice expensive but worth the dollars good luck.

If not then shoot to local dealer they will tell ya

[hsvboy06]

So if the engine is in a fairly good condition (only done 12000km), I could get a fully synthetic oil for a car, use first two litres to flush the engine out completely, get a new filter and fill the bike up with the new oil and it should be fine?

You might want to check what it had done at it's last service, which was not that long ago, before you do anything. It probably got new oil, maybe even a new filter. I've got the docs at home for you.

[bobsmith]

You might want to check what it had done at it's last service, which was not that long ago, before you do anything. It probably got new oil, maybe even a new filter. I've got the docs at home for you.

Thanks. I'm looking forward to the records as well as the bike... I was only referring to something I heard once that if you want to change to fully synthetic oil from mineral (which is what I assume has been used on the bike) that you need to flush the engine out before changing the type of oil used... I'm a bit of a obsessive bastard when it comes to changing oil frequently which is why I can only afford to do it myself. (on my car it gets changed every 4000km or less...) now I just don't know why my girlfriend wants me to get rid of about half a dozen of used oil bottles I have, I think they look good in front of the house.....

[Brian d marge]

Thanks. I'm looking forward to the records as well as the bike... I was only referring to something I heard once that if you want to change to fully synthetic oil from mineral (which is what I assume has been used on the bike) that you need to flush the engine out before changing the type of oil used... I'm a

Was the case, but compatability between oils has been sorted now.

ANY OIL will be fine, you will most likely change the oil before its need anyway. Just dont get super cheap sh1t as it can be not so good, but even then it will be perfectly fine for most people . if changed regulary.

2 smoke oil run at 40 to 1 , yes the quality of the oil makes a big difference, I have 2 cranks sitting here because I raced using cheap sh_t. But I have never had a 4 stroke failure using crap 4 stroke oil ( Once maybe ,,,but I bricked the throttle and had to wait for 20 min be fore it stopped...and then after a push I rode it home !

So dont panic about the oil, you will be fine with a reasonable ( ie major manufacturers oil .. Honda is ok using motul, ie didnt void warranty , and that aint the bees Knees ( read cheap sh1t...well its not really cheap , but it aint gold plated !!)

Stephen