Valvoline

This is gonna be hard to believe. We have 3 auto parts stores here and none carry Castrol for bikes. One does carry Valvoline for bikes 20w/50. Supposedly specially formulated for wet clutches. Does anyone know anything about this brand. Am I making a mountain out of a molehill being so particular about one certain oil? Thanks...

skillet

 

One thing I have learned from these old bikes. 99% of the time it will run just as well if not better with plain car oil. My bike will only perform properly if I run car oil in it, if I run motorcycle oil in it the clutch will slip out of gear. You will find that most of the guys on this forum with the old xj's will tell you CASTROL 20-50 car oil is your best bet. That is what I ran in my xj650 and I never had a problem.

 

I have used Valvoline in everything I own since the 70s---and I keep vehicles for years and years and many, many miles. And I am NOT trying to start the dreaded oil thread. I am just answering the mans question!

 

spend 15 bucks and you'll know all there is to know

 

Polock, Grasshopper begs forgiveness from one so high, if this is an inside joke I need a little more info to even know if I'm the butt of the joke or what ...

skillet

 

For what it's worth, HAP is a Maxim-X font of knowledge and recommends Fully Synthetic 10W40 type SL with JASO MA clutch rating. See http://www.maxim-x.com/oil_change.html for details. Minimally I look for the JASO MA clutch rating, which is usually what the "motorcycle" formulations seem to have. Aside from the right weight of oil. and the clutch rating, I'm not a big believer in any particular brand.

 

Skillet- - the word on this site is that Castrol recently reformulated regionally, so some places get 20-50 GTX that can cause slippage.
What Polock is referring to is if you put the wrong oil in, it's not the end of the world, just dump and change.

Why don't you try the "diesel spec" commercial oils, - - Rotella-T, Delo, and Delvac. , all available at Wal-Mart, all loaded with friendly wear inhibitors and 400 hour service life. You should change your oil at 40 - 80 hours anyway.

 

skillet, no joke intended but like Time pointed out, try it if you have problems
report back here then even the wizzies will be indebted to you
personally i go with Delvac 15/40 because it works in everything i've got
cars, mowers, tractor, bikes, french fries, it does it all

 

Thanks,my friends! I know these kinds of questions bring on replies that can go on for pages with usually no consensus. Nor should there be. One members opinion is as good as anothers. Sometimes when the OCD kicks in, it's just easier for me to ask an opinion than go around in circles with myself. Again, Thanks...

skillet

 

+1 with Time. If you've got a Walmart anywhere near, you can use Rotella T. It's around $10/gallon.