Oil Types - Pros and Cons

[Quasievil]

i run my yz400f with motul or preferably golden spectro (parrafin wax based and often cheap too) if i can find it

just make sure it's synthetic and exceeds the api SJ rating or whatever the manual specifies for your bike (so SL is good too)

if kawasaki has an equivalent to yamalube, don't buy it it's horribly overpriced for what it is

i've tried a caltex oil from gas stations but prefer to buy from a bike shop.... ultimately i don't think you're noing to notice much performance difference in a four stroke until it comes time for a rebuild, and even then...

(corrections welcome)

Parrafin Wax based synthetic ? is there such a thing?
here to learn n share

[motorbyclist]

Parrafin Wax based synthetic ? is there such a thing?
here to learn n share

that's why i specified... wasn't too clear about that though i'd admit.

it has the rating and when i first found it it was dirt cheap too -ran without any problems at all so stuck with it til the price doubled for some reason... uncle recommended the stuff (ex speedway/sidecar racer, biker, top hobby mechanic)

[Quasievil]

that's why i specified... wasn't too clear about that though i'd admit.

it has the rating and when i first found it it was dirt cheap too -ran without any problems at all so stuck with it til the price doubled for some reason... uncle recommended the stuff (ex speedway/sidecar racer, biker, top hobby mechanic)

Synthetic oils (real ones) are polyalphaolyfin POA based, the only reference I have to parriffin wax in my Mobil info for use in plucking mutton birds (for real)
go figure

[aewilliam]

I want my RS250 back...

Went through 4L of Castrol TTS in it too - it was the cheapest synthetic i could find! (Supercheap Auto has it...)
It smelled nasty though, and tasted likewise.

Spotted ELF synthetic which smelled much better - mmm fruity berries! and tasted likewise.
A couple dollars more expensive than TTS for the 4L (Scootling in Newton), but it was much friendlier to the 4strokers behind me

Didnt really see any diff in performance tho...thereagain, it really needed a good looking over/rebuild.
which is where its at, and hence me wanting my RS250 back...

[Timati]

I want my RS250 back...

Went through 4L of Castrol TTS in it too - it was the cheapest synthetic i could find! (Supercheap Auto has it...)
It smelled nasty though, and tasted likewise.

Spotted ELF synthetic which smelled much better - mmm fruity berries! and tasted likewise.
A couple dollars more expensive than TTS for the 4L (Scootling in Newton), but it was much friendlier to the 4strokers behind me

Didnt really see any diff in performance tho...thereagain, it really needed a good looking over/rebuild.
which is where its at, and hence me wanting my RS250 back...

Surprised you didn't notice any difference in performance in your RS. I noticed a difference as soon as I switched from Motul to Mobil1. Yet to try Castrol TTS. Just bought a 1 litre bottle.

[Quasievil]

Surprised you didn't notice any difference in performance in your RS. I noticed a difference as soon as I switched from Motul to Mobil1. Yet to try Castrol TTS. Just bought a 1 litre bottle.

Thats cause MOBIL oils are the best in the world dude

[The Stranger:Me]

Found a good article explaining which oils to use and why - http://www.peterverdonedesigns.com/motoroil.htm

I found these comments interesting when following a link on that page you mention to a real world test of synthetic oils.

# Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.
# Topping up the crankcase is a critical component of extended oil change intervals, and frequent filter changes are most likely the key to extreme-length intervals. The cumulative effect of even minor top-ups, let alone a filter change, substantially increases the longevity of the oil.

[Quasievil]

I found these comments interesting when following a link on that page you mention to a real world test of synthetic oils.

# Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.

That my good friend is a load of Bullshit

[The Stranger:Me]

That my good friend is a load of Bullshit

May well be sir - hey I don't make the news, I only report it.

That said, it is the most comprehensive independent oil test I have seen to date.

Link (should you care) however, I suspect the key was "some" age.

[Subike]

I found these comments interesting when following a link on that page you mention to a real world test of synthetic oils.

# Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.
# Topping up the crankcase is a critical component of extended oil change intervals, and frequent filter changes are most likely the key to extreme-length intervals. The cumulative effect of even minor top-ups, let alone a filter change, substantially increases the longevity of the oil.

Thats interesting for a silly reason I believe it.
In the 70's I had a MK3 Zepher, The motor blew so I sourced another,
The motor I found, came from a car that had been used as a work hack.
In the god know how long the owner had it, it never had an oil change.
Paid $50 for the whole car. The motor ran quiet as, blew no smoke, had reasonable power just looked fucking dirty as, Ran it for a week to see if it was ok. sweet as.
Changed into my car, gave it an oil change and a good wash, new filter, set the rockers, points, plugs, timinmg ... bla bla bla,
It smoke rattled and ran like shit! The gaskets all started leaking and it blew a frost plug.
I should never have cleaned it or given it an oil change, the dirt was all that was sealing the engine from leaks, so maybe there is some truth in
THE STRANGER's post

[Quasievil]

lol this is getting funny, actually its a fact that you should throw in a handful of sand into your engine as well, this increases engine life as well, oh and get only dirty fuel , engines love it

[Timati]

I found these comments interesting when following a link on that page you mention to a real world test of synthetic oils.

# Engine wear actually decreases as oil ages. This has also been substantiated in testing conducted by Ford Motor Co. and ConocoPhillips, and reported in SAE Technical Paper 2003-01-3119. What this means is that compulsive oil changers are actually causing more engine wear than the people who let their engine's oil get some age on it.
# Topping up the crankcase is a critical component of extended oil change intervals, and frequent filter changes are most likely the key to extreme-length intervals. The cumulative effect of even minor top-ups, let alone a filter change, substantially increases the longevity of the oil.

lol this is getting funny, actually its a fact that you should throw in a handful of sand into your engine as well, this increases engine life as well, oh and get only dirty fuel , engines love it

Considering I top up my engine oil everyday (rather than let it run low) should mean I would be almost be most certainly causing major engine wear. Doesn't make sense to me...aren't engine oils meant to reduce friction and on the basis that aged engine oil won't be as effective as new engine oil...Am not an expert but would be keen to know...

[Subike]

think of it like the same size ball bearings between to steel plates vs multi sized ball bearings between two metal surfaces, Synthetics are better at keeping the metals apart and obviously one is going to glide better than the other.
Less friction = less heat = longer engine life and increased fuel efficency.
Also the oil life is better as well, its a win win.

Old oil is like when all the multi sized ball bearings have be rolled around that much they are all the same size as the Synthetic oils and do just as good a job, so why change it, just top it up from the recycling center, hell they might pay you to use it!

[PirateJafa]

Considering I top up my engine oil everyday (rather than let it run low) should mean I would be almost be most certainly causing major engine wear. Doesn't make sense to me...aren't engine oils meant to reduce friction and on the basis that aged engine oil won't be as effective as new engine oil...Am not an expert but would be keen to know...

Timati, it's probably best to ignore Quasi and company - they are talking four-strokes, not two-strokes!

[Squiggles]

Timati, it's probably best to ignore Quasi and company - they are talking four-strokes, not two-strokes!

Yer, in their world, burning oil isnt part of the plan...