need some advice on oils

 

Hi All
Just wandering if I could ask (as Im not a motor mechanic) a question about
oils.
I went into my local bike store the other day to buy some oil for my bike
(88 Honda Vfr 750 V4)
and walked out totally confused on which oil I should buy.
Now keeping in mind its an older bike, whats your opinion on what oil I
should use in her.
Should I use a full synthetic oil ?? non synthetic oil or a partial
synthetic ??
I really am confused.
Hopefully you guys can help me out here a bit.
Thanks all
Cheers
Peter

 


Peter,

 You can read the extensive findings on oils in the Motorcycle Consumer
News......or you can just use a good oil of your choice and change it
when the manual suggests.

 Hint: "V-twin" oils are no better than Mobil 1 automotive oils.

 I use Mobil 1 or Rotella synthetic in all my machinery- from a 1946
Ford tractor to my 2003 Volusia and everything in between (1961
Capriolo, 1976 Honda 360T, cars, Briggs and Stratton outboard  ect.)

 I'm sure you'll get 1000 opinions. Just know that you can't really use
the "wrong" oil these days except for using the wrong weight.
 

 Joe

 

Joe said:

1000 opinions - True!

Can't use the wrong oil - Not true.  If your bike has an oil submerged
clutch (i.e. the clutch runs in the oil - and about 99% of all bikes do),
then you want oil with no "goodies" in it for anti-friction (normally
labeled as energy conserving).  After all, the clutch needs friction.  You
can tell because the half-moon on the bottle will say something about it.

i.e. this one is safe for all wet clutch bikes in theory:

http://www.dansmc.com/oilright.jpg

...and this one is not:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tips/api2.gif

Although I partially disagree with this fellow, this is a good site to start
your learning at:

http://www.dansmc.com/4stroke_oil.htm

Joe in Northern, NJ  -  V#8013-R

Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/4zkw8
http://www.youthelate.com

 



synthetic oil made my clutch slip on my 1982 750 maxim...
it was fine when I put dino oil in it...


--
1984 RZ350

 

Ript wrote:

Probably not a problem that it was synthetic ... it was probably an "energy
saving" oil with friction modifiers in it.  There are plenty of synthetic
oils that are fine for use with a wet clutch - and there are dino oils that
are not.