10W/40, 20W/40, 20W/50, etc...

I've read alot of discussions on here regarding different grades of motor oil that everyone uses and I don't mean to open a new can of worms but... I'm sure I will with this post. As far as brands most everyone seems to run Castrol so that probably won't be much of a discussion. My Haynes manual suggests Castrol Grand Prix 10W/40 though I have to admit the page looks more like an advertisement for Castrol products than a fact sheet. I live in a 'burb of Dallas so most of my riding would be considered warm to frekkin' hot weather. Now keep in mind I just got "her" running after about 14 years in storage (if you want to call it that), so I'm going to be very gentle with "her" and give more than frequent maintenance while we get reacquainted.
Does anyone have a Yamaha manual, and what grade does it recommend?

Thanks y'all...

 

I've got an '81 650 (UK) and the Haynes manual recommends 10w/30.
I know that coz i had to change the oil yesterday (fuel in there...long story) and the Castrol for that over here is nearly £30!!

 

I struggled with what weight of oil to put in my bike. I don't know where to buy 20w40. My first oil change was Castrol 10w40. This was their white bottle, plain old dino car oil, with nothing special about it. After about 100 miles, my transmission was slipping a bit. After 300-400 miles it was slipping pretty bad. About that time, the local FLAPS was closing out their Valvoline motorcycle oil, so I bought all the 4-stroke, 20w50 motorcycle oil they had at about 1/3 normal cost. After putting that in, and running about 10 miles, it was like a whole new transmission. I ran the first change about 1,000 miles, and then wanted one more flush of the engine to get all the dust and crap out of it, as the previous owner wasn't too concerned with things like air filters + fuel filters. I am 1,000 past that change, and it is still running well. This past week, I felt the transmission slip a bit, I added another pint, and it immediately got better.

Also, generally hotter regions require a higher number oil, and engines that are worn a bit burn less oil with a higher number oil.

 

I just reread the question, and realize I didn't answer part of it. Yamaha recommends SAE 20w40 in the owners manual for warmer driving, and 10w30 for cooler driving. I think there must be a Japanese oil weight that translates into SAE 20w40, as I have seen several japanese bikes call for it, but I have not seen 20w40 sold here.

 

The manual and the sticker on the bike recommend 10W40. common wisdom here is 20W50. I use the 20W50 in our hot weather here - no problems

 

20W50 is fine as long as it's MOTORCYCLE oil, Castrol from the auto parts USED to be OK but now it's become "fuel saving" with additives and sh*t so I quit using it. I run 20W50 in the Norton all the time, 20W40 in the XJs except when it's BRUTALLY HOT (July/Aug) then I run 20W50. I get Spectro 20W40 from a local motorcycle accessory store, it's still available just not popular. I'm probably being anal, 20W50 would be fine all the time, I'm sure.

 

Hi Fitz - interesting I have been getting Castrol GTX 20W50 without additives here. Is this a recent change?

 

It may just be the regional retailing. All the Castrol GTX I'm finding in the auto parts (AutoZone or Murray's around here) suddenly has different packaging and is either "fuel saving" or "long life" or somesuch nonsense. Castrol GTX "Packaged" as motorycle oil is available at a bunch of local bike shops, and in some of the above-mentioned auto parts stores, so I switched. Not really sure which one of the new "variants" corresponds to the good old GTX I've been using for years.

 

Dang I'm going to have to watch for that. Glad you pointed it out!

 

i have been using Yamalube 20w50

 

Okay another choice to consider...? Both $3.99 at AutoZone
Valvoline / 1 qt. SAE 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil
Valvoline / 1 qt. SAE 10W-40 Motorcycle Oil
Anyone tried these?

 

What about rotella oil?

 

I have been catching the Gallon of 20w50 on sale for 9.95. If they add in those additive I will probably go with the Valvoline at least for a try.

 

i use rotalla it was cheap at walmart, and was recomened by some people here

 

I use Mobil 1 4T 10w/40 myself. It's a bit on the high price side, but with engines as old as some of ours, I don't want it to be unprotected and Mobil is the best oil, period. (just my 2 cents)

 

how many miles are you guys riding between oil changes?

 

Which is exactly why I'm using Spectro 20W40 motorcycle oil in my XJs regardless of the cost (although if I could find a less expensive 20W40 MOTORCYCLE oil I'd use it.) I use 20W50 in the Norton all the time and in the XJs in the hottest part of the summer.

 

I dunno, I've only put 300 miles on the bike since I have had it but I would not go more than 1000-1500 miles on a change. The high temperatures these engines generate may cause the premature breakdown of conventional motor oils and/or synthetic compounds.

 

I've put around 1300 on the '81 since I got it running, changed the oil when I got it and again about 500 miles after. I'll be changing it again when it gets winterized, I don't expect to put more than a couple hundred more miles on it until then. I'm planning on running the XJs to around 1500-2000 miles between oil changes ONCE THEY'RE FULLY SORTED OUT. I've had the Norton since new, and I change its oil at around 2500-3000 miles or every riding season regardless of mileage.

 

not to change the subject but those are some sweet 550's you got there Fitz.

 

I do the Oil and Filter every 3,000 -to- 3,500 Miles.

That's my "Window"
Once I hit 3,000 ... I wait for a Caution Flag ... and then, Pit.
If I don't find a rainy day in-between 3-thou and 35-hundred ... I just stop the music and do the Oil Change.

 

Well I went with the Valvoline 20W/50 motorcycle oil for $3.99 a quart at AutoZone. Specifically "mentioned" made for wet clutches.
I see a lot of people on here change their oil at 1,000 miles. The Haynes manual suggests 3 months or every 3,000 miles (4500km).
I just got my baby running after 14 years and changed the oil, my next change will be at 100 miles (a lot of "sitting" as it runs as I make adjustments and tweaking, with a fan blowing on the engine). After that I'll probably go 500 miles, then 1000 miles from there on out. It may be a little excessive but that's me and I doubt there are many parts for the engine/clutch that cost less than $20 that an oil/filter change costs.

That's my less than $20 comment :wink:

 

Thank you sir! The '81 is nearly finished, and is now fully operational (and a real permagrin to ride, BTW.) The black one is like an aging porn star at the moment; looks good from a distance just don't get too close. It still has a ways to go for fully op status, too, like valve adjust, carb sort, tires, etc., but it's getting there. Thanks for noticing.