Routine maintenance

I have a XJ750J. Is there a good local chain store ( AutoZone, Advanced Auto, O'Riley) I can buy Oil and air filters at? And what is best oil to use ( was told only use synthetic). And owners manual said 10w30 , any better suggestions?

 

any oil filter brand will do. emgo is considered the proper brand paper filter to use.
as far as oil Jaso oil is the first rule.
read this thread Choosing Oil for a Wet Clutch Motorcycle
mostly you want to change oil when service manual suggests every 5k miles or 6 months
I was using Shell rotellea T3 when I run out I will go to T4
oil grade is temp dependant 10w30 is for cold weather 60f or below 20w40 is for above 60F


from FSM XJ750J

 

Whoever told you to only use synthetic is mal-informed.

 

Valvoline motorcyle oil 10w40 is one Castro has motorcycle oil as well. Shell rotela .

 

As far as oil filters go, I have had little luck running into them at the local chains you mention. All but once I had to order off the internet. Of course, now I have the spin on oil filter adapter installed, so I don't have that issue anymore.

 

I upgrade to the one xj4ever sells for the spin on oil filter ...great upgrade well worth the money!!!!

 

In Minnesota, I have access to a couple of local farm/building supply chains (Menard's & Mill's Fleet Farm) that carry Valvoline motorcycle oil. I stock up when it goes on sale. I found the auto parts places to be much more expensive for motorcycle oil.

Also, if you stick with the original filter, Fram filters include the O-rings.

 

+3 on Shell Rotella 15w-40 - look for JASO certified oil - (the Shell is diesel engine oil actually). I buy mine at Wallyworld.

Oil filters from local auto parts store, they may have to order them.

Get your air filter from Chacal (XJ4ever link on top right of page). My local motorcycle and/or auto parts store couldn't get the correct one for the life of them.

 

Fleet Farm - Fram CH6003, comes with o-rings!

Although I think they are only in Wisconsin and Minnesota . . . .

 

The spin-on adapter pays for itself (IMHO) the first time you need to find a new filter during a long trip away from home.

 

Thanks for all the advice, but what about air filters as well?

 

My local Advance Auto Parts used to stock the Fram oil filter, but the last time I went to get one they were out and it looked like they were getting rid of their motorcycle section. Just ordered a couple off of Amazon instead.

 

EMGO makes an OEM equivalrent that is very good, and very inexpensive. Chacal (Our parts guy) carries them, or hit Ebay/Amazon.
All of the foam/ gauze filters will require rejetting the carbs.

 

"All of the foam/ gauze filters will require rejetting the carbs."... Sorry but you lost me... If I use a filter like the EMGO , I will need to rejet the carbs?
Also what is Rejetting the carbs? ( I am new to fixing my bike, but like learning new things).

 

If you're using the factory airbox and the correct Emgo, you can use the factory jets (assuming no one's swapped them out).

Jets are the little brass fittings in the carbs. They have precise holes that control the amount of air or gas going through them. Certain modifications, like pod filters instead of the factory airbox/filter, will require those fittings ("jets") to be replaced with a different size. But, as many here will tell you, it's a tedious change that will most likely result in frustration and loss of performance.

 

If you know what you are doing, replacing the jets is a job that might require a few attempts in order to find the correct size for the modifications on your bike. Without knowing what you are doing, rejetting the carbs can be a tedious and time consuming nightmare that ruins the engine's performance and robs you of riding time. The CV carbs on the xj REALLY like the stock set up. Best plan would be to get it running stock and then modify from there.

 

Foam/gauze filters are from brands like UNI and K&N. They use a different filtering media that allows more airflow. The bike is jetted lean to begin with, so more airflow leans out the mixture enough to cause bad things to happen inside of the engine.