Automotive Or Motorbike Oil What do YOU use?

**John** · 19th January 2005, 01:07

I've always wondered WHAT oil do you use?

Automotive, synthetic?
Automotive, synthetic-mix?
Automotive, fossil
Or
Automotive, synthetic?
Automotive, synthetic-mix?
Automotive, fossil

Why did you make this choice? a simple "ahh thats some cheap oil that should work keeping my 10K bike running" or "I want the best for my bike, because I love him/her".

This poll is solely for the use of people with little experience in this department as a reference to what they should choose.

(although I recommend individuals always try various types, and find what suits there bike best).

sorry if it seems like a repost, just trying to provide some answers for people like me to find when we need it..

**What?** · 19th January 2005, 05:24

Nice sentiment, but all you are going to do is re-ignite the debates over mineral vs synthetic and whether friction modifiers kill wet clutches.

The best oil is what the manufacturer recommends, and clean.

**John** · 19th January 2005, 05:49

i never really thought that it would be an uprisall over it if that be the case then I simply ask a moderator to close the thread.

**What?** · 19th January 2005, 06:04

Mate, that is a bit extreme. What I was geting at is that this sort of conversation inevitably leads to giving the inexperienced a whole heap of confusion, rather than some clear guidance.
If you search around this site, there is some very good info on oils (Motu probably wrote the best bit), and links to other sites for a bit of techo talk. If you were really keen, you could put a summary of this into the FAQ section.

**James Deuce** · 19th January 2005, 06:06

I like semi-synthetic for the reason that it a affords a little more protection on cold start, especially for bikes that only have side stands. I change it every 5000km, filter every 10,000km. Actually, I pay someone to change it. I'd leave something off if I did it myself.

**John** · 19th January 2005, 06:08

yes, I did read all that - it was great and had led me to the choice of oil I will use, I just simply wanted to telly a consensus on what oil types we all use, for interests sakes, there was alot of talk and fact, but no actual statements of usage - I'm mearly interested in what oil types poeple preferr to protect there bike, sorry I'm edgy as heck today I hadto stay up all night and I have a crapload to do today.. sorry, just the morning 'mood swing' I better go get some beer... I mean COFFEE!! :P

**What?** · 19th January 2005, 06:16

Good stuff, John.
I won't poll, though, because I have 4 bikes and they all run different oils.
Now, about that coffee...

**Motu** · 19th January 2005, 06:58

I got concerned about the heat of the oil in my air cooled bikes and did some reshearch on oils - and found that the ester synthetics can cope with heat the best,so started using Silkolene Pro 4 in my bike.

But really I am a strong advocate of just using car oils,or preferably diesel oils in bikes - no need to pay extra for fancy packaging.The main oils with friction modifyers in are 10/30 and below - these are oils made to allow cars to pass economy standards tests in the US...stick with 10/40,15/40 and 20/50 and you shouldn't be getting involved in friction modified oils - read the packet!

The best you can do is change your oil often - but not too often,it needs time for the additives to activate.The dirt bike riders change their oils at 300kms! a bit extreme,but they get extreme use and it was found over 20 yrs ago with Honda's,the only way to beat top end wear was to use the best oil you could get and change it often.

**White trash** · 19th January 2005, 07:18

Originally Posted by Motu

But really I am a strong advocate of just using car oils,or preferably diesel oils in bikes - no need to pay extra for fancy packaging.The main oils with friction modifyers in are 10/30 and below - these are oils made to allow cars to pass economy standards tests in the US...stick with 10/40,15/40 and 20/50 and you shouldn't be getting involved in friction modified oils - read the packet!

Funny you should say that, M. I value your opinion more than most and that's exactly what HD recomend if you can't get HD motor oil for their bikes, diesel oil.

In saying that, I use the a semi-synth bike oil in the gixxer.

**Slim** · 19th January 2005, 07:42

I now use semi-synth oil in my bike. I've checked the motorcycle version in the poll, but now I'm not so sure it isn't a c@r one. I'll check when I get home.

The reason I use semi-synth? The god of a mechanic at Dowman Honda in Wanganui put it in when he first did a service on my bike and it ran so sweet, that I made the effort to find the same oil again (Repco don't stock it as a rule, except Te Puke which is full of motorcyclists

). I actually called the mechanic when I found out the price

but after talking with him about it, I went and brought it anyway.

**vifferman** · 19th January 2005, 07:57

I belong to a US VFR list, and if there's anyone who is really anal-retentive about stuff like this, it's Murkn VFR owners (some of home are VERY old). Anyway, they have this discussion a lot, but it's always short-circuited by the wealth of info available by list members, particularly one "OilGuy", who worked for years in the US petroleum industry, and who is now an independent consultant. His recommendation is also oil for diesels, and also Shell Rotella.

Check this:
http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm

And this:
http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/oilreport.html

And also this:
http://oilanalysis.com/message_board...%20Lubrication
And for what it's worth, I've almost always used Motul 5100 semi-synthetic 20W-50, although I've started using the Shell Motorcycle semi-synth recently, because it's considerably cheaper.

**MSTRS:Me** · 19th January 2005, 08:12

Oils, like engines, continue to develop. My advise has been along the lines of "The manufacturer's recommendation is the way to go - anything more and the engine is not necessarily designed for it and you'll be wasting your money"

**k14** · 19th January 2005, 12:15

I got some semi synthetic pennziol stuff from a bike shop in chch. The guy in there said he uses it in his race bike so i thought meh it must be good enough. Also I only paid $40 for a 5 litre container.

I think it is 20w50 and says its for diesels on it, so i guess it is doing the trick right.

Since I have found it at supercheap autos for even cheaper, so i will be sticking with it for a while i think.

**scumdog** · 19th January 2005, 12:20

Only genyooine H-D 20-50 oil is good enough for my baby!!

**Hitcher** · 19th January 2005, 12:42

I'm always intrigued by people who use fully-synthetic oil and then replace it at their regular service intervals. Surely the whole point of synthetic oil (especially the really good stuff) is never having to change your oil ever again?

I'm not an oil snob. I'm quite happy for the team at Sawyers/Motorad to put in whatever they think is best.