20w40 hard to find

is there a good second choice? why?

 

Wait, wait... Should I be running 20w40 lol?

 

You can get it at cycle shops I usually just run the 20w 50 Valvoline for 4 strokes because I can walk to the store from my house.

 

I use 15/40 Shell Rotella. Works great and good price too.

MN

 

I run the Castrol 20W50 - no issues at all

 

add up all the wizards and they are saying i'm being too careful. dig!

thankz

 

Do a search for motor oil bible to read up on the differences. I posted a link sometime back. There is not much difference between 15/40 and 20/40. There is between 15/40 and 20/50.

The most important thing is to not run auto oil with friction modifiers. They are bad for a wet clutch.

 

i posted the same topic on a google group at rec.motorcycles.tech. interesting what's going on and some of the scary stories.

 

Run the Rotella T 15-40!

 

WalMart stocks 20W-50 for $2.67/quart.

It's their house brand stuff (made by Shell supposedly), but it seems to be working perfectly fine in my bike (81 550 Seca) so far this spring.

I know they also carry a large selection of other brands and viscosities as well, so it may be worth stopping and and having a look.

 

I just changed over from 10W30 to 20W50 and Ruby seems to like it a lot more Less noise in the valve train and runs a touch smother

 

There are Bearing Surfaces on the XJ Engine that are Billet Aluminum.
Bearing Surfaces without Bearing Sleeves or Half-Shells.
Just the bare aluminum surface that is not replaceable.

Protect those Surfaces.
Run RACING Oil.
Change the Oil and Filter frequently.

Yamaha Recommends 20/40 ~ 20/50.
When you can't find 20/40.

Use 20/50.

The issue is NOT how cheap you can can buy a Quart of Oil.
The issue IS how good that Oil protects delicate surfaces under tremendous stress and heat.

Because these Shaft Drive Bikes have a Hard-working Middle-Gear structure
with Gears meshing at 90-Degree angles ... Driving other Gears which are Reduction Gears ... Protecting the faces of the Gear cuts is paramount to Engine longevity.

That, combined with the soft Aluminum Bearing surfaces ... means you want to run the BEST Oil you can can get.

Run 20~50 and KNOW you are protected for however you want to ride.

 

Had to run 10W30 for the winter up here, it was basically just to have something in there while it sat. Since the weather is >15 degrees C now i put 20W50 in.

 

Rotella first choice 15/40
Castrol second
The rotella has made my shifting awesome since i switched!

 

I was going to do another oil change (just put about 400 miles on bike since first oil change and don't trust what the po did, so figure its cheap insurance.), I was wondering what to use with all the recommendations flying around. Will have to pick up the Rotella and try it out.

thanks for tips all

 

Here's a read.
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Consumables.html#Oil