Change Oil Weight / Type

When I got the bike, the previous owner was running Mobil 1 Synthetic 15W50.

My previous oil change, I switched to 10W40 (dino) - I don't recall the brand - I was kind of hooped thinking I could find oil for this bike easily on a Sunday so I grabbed what I could. I noticed the shifting got a bit clunkier.

When I changed the oil this time around - I had a hell of time finding oil (in general) for my bike. I ended up grabbing some Shell Advanced Ultra 4T Synthetic 15W50 (motorcycle specific) for $10/litre (Not bad considering they waned $18 for Lucas and Royal Purple synthetic!!)

I haven't taken it for a spin yet as I took the Highlander to work today (thunderstorms) but I'll be commuting with it tomorrow if weather cooperates in the AM.

Anyone else use the Shall Advanced Ultra 4T and have luck with it? I may continue buying it since it's a decent price for a "motorcycle specific" synthetic and I can find it easily now.

 

No. But I swotched from the stupid expensive Motul 2100 to Rotell T6 full Syn 5w40 a couple years ago and have no complaints. I use that in my duramax as well. My wifes and son's Civics too. Blieve it or not, the two Civic use the same oil filter as the bike. I think I paid something like $42.00 for a 5 L jug at Lordco. Not sure if Lordco is out your way yet.

 

I used the Shell Advanced Ultra 4T in my CB Supersport for years no problems. It was reccomended but the local Honda shop

 

I run the Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 full synthetic.

 

the Castrol rt 10-40. and 10-50 is doing great in my 800, shifts super fast-there you have the best possible oil change-and the napa platinum is made for syn oilb and flows better than just about any filter, Castrol has a m2 rating-that's the best there is

 

Well, I'm running the K&N oil filters myself.

I had my first ride today since the oil change and I can definitely feel / hear a difference when shifting. It's much smoother and quieter now.

Looks like I'm sticking with the 15W50 until the weather turns cold in late fall.

 

Also been running T6 5-w40 synthetic for years in the vfr and concours. Last oil change I put Mobil 1 turbo diesel truck 5 w 40 synthetic in and used the Mobil 1 filter.

 

I like Rotella too. If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can get it for just under $20, shipped two day to your house!!!

 

Yep the rotella t6 (22.50 a gallon) with a puralator pure one filter. Great protection. In the heat of summer I use 15-50 castrol.

 

You may be going at it in error. I put an oil temp gauge on a bike, albeit an air cooled one, many years ago, and discovered that the oil temp went up if I used a heavier weight oil. I was using Castrol 20W-50 but found if I went to a 15W-40 oil temperatures dropped considerably. I don't remember the amount, but I was surprised by how much the temps dropped. I've never gone back to using a 50 weight oil since.

I went to a higher viscosity oil thinking that the oil would stand up better to the heat, and wouldn't lose its viscosity. It may have been true, but I believe with modern oils the higher weight isn't necessary anymore.

This was on a 1980 GS1000G. It's a roller bearing crank engine, but I would think the principles are the same. I put 20,000 miles on that bike the first year I had it. A great touring bike.

 

I'm not putting 15W50 in the bike for heat reasons, I'm pitting it in because it shifts smoother and quieter vs. 10W40.

I'd switch to the 10W40 later in the year because I ride in temps near freezing and need the lower viscosity for those temps.

 

Rotella T + a Scotts filter.

 

Why do Honda engineers recommend one particular viscosity and no one uses it?

 

I believe they recommend several different viscosities depending on the outside temps. What viscosity do they recommend that no one uses? I'm too lazy to go look at my book.

 

10W40 is the recommended but the manual also states several alternatives based on temperatures.

 

Hondas service schedule scares me when it comes to oil changes. I'm sure they know what they're talking about but 8000mi oil change intervals running conventional GN4 seems like it's pushing it. Does anyone follow this(the mileage between oil changes) ? I try to change mine every 4k but sometimes it runs into 5k

 

Motorcycle engines are dirty, the oil is stressed by a wet clutch and transmission sharing the engine oil.

I replace mine every 6,000km (a little over 3,700 miles).

My oil is usually pretty dark but still a bit translucent.

 

I used to change mine every 5000 km on the zeros. Did this for two years then thought, hell, Honda recommends 12,000 km so wondered if I was wasting my hard earned money, Yes I was working back then. So. I switched to changing it every 10,000 km on the zeros. Chose this interval as it is easy to remember. That was about 150,000 km ago.

 

Mine gets changed at around 5,000 miles. That's why I run a synthetic. Seems to be working out okay, 40,000 miles and it uses no oil.

 

I change mine every 2000 miles with Castrol rt-I am the King Wolfee:spit: