OIL 20W/50

I just got given some 20W/50 Valvoline Motorcycle oil. The XJ650 book says to use 10W/30 SE - is this safe to use?

 

I would stick with 10-30 or 10-40 during the summer and then switch to the 20-50 for winter riding. I wish someone would give me some, that stuff is not cheap.

 

Kinda got that backwards there, big guy?

20W50 for warm weather; 10W30 when it's truly cold out.

The Valvoline 20W50, as long as it's motorcycle specific oil, is ideal.

 

Thank you Fitz - perfect - yes it motorcycle specific - says "Motorcycle 20W/50 SAE - superior wet clutch protection" on front - it's a black bottle.

added picture to first post

 

Yeah, what Bigfitz said.

 

Same stuff I've used for the last three years. Works just fine.

 

Thanks guys. I was reading in the manual that it says to also remove the middle gear drain plug too but I've also read that this plug has a high failure rate so now the bikes are a lot older it's best to just leave that be and let the old oil dilute with the same amount that's left in there rather than risk snapping off this bolt - what are your thoughts?

 

Leave it. There's only a very small amount of oil that accumulates there; and as your research has revealed, it's not worth the gamble.

What manual are you using?

 

Hanes workshop manual for XJ650/750

 

That's what I thought. If you don't want to go thru the hassle and added expense of finding a FSM, track down an owners' manual for that bike. Yamha's owners' manuals of the period had WAY more info than the OMs of today, and will help fill in some of the blanks (and correct some of the mistakes) in the Haynes. Especially some of the model-specific stuff and maintenance specs.

 

the only FSM I can find is for the XJ650G - I'm fairly sure the G and H where the same though right 80,81 pre-ycis?

 

Ha - I was surprised to see that the Haynes manual says remove the middle gear plug, but I just looked at the FSM I have (XJ650J/RJ) and lo and behold on page 17 of the "J" section, step 2 c, "Remove the engine and middle gear drain plugs and drain the oil."

So on my 650 the old oil ends up on top of the exhaust collector unless you remove the mufflers and the collector.

Not worth it in my mind, I only did this once and haven't drained the "middle gear" since....

 

Yes; and that is the only FSM you will find for that bike. The "G" manual is the "base" manual for the entire series; other models beyond the original G/H were covered by "supplements" to the base book. For instance, my 650 Seca manual is the 650G (Maxim) base book with a supplement specific to the 650 Seca and only covering the differences. The manuals for the later, YICS bikes are also a case of supplement+base book.

 

how many quarts should it take?
just changed my oil and I have already put in over 3 quarts

 

A Yamaha dealership told me to run 20/50 in my bike since it has higher miles (25xxx). I have a maxim 650

 

It should take slightly less than three quarts.

The capacity is 2500cm3, or 2.5 liters. One quart is approx .9 liters, so 3x.9=2.7 liters.

There should be just a small bubble left at the top of the oil sight glass.

 

Checked on the CENTER STAND. If checking on the sidestand, you won't see any oil.

Also, a common mistake is to overfill beyond the sight glass and as a result, with new oil in the motor, it appears as thought there is NO oil when in fact you're looking right through the new clean oil.

Either way, 3 quarts is too much.

 

great advice Fitz
totally would have missed that

 

Another benefit is the clutch ... at least on my bike. Was using 10w-40, when hot the clutch got real grabby. With the 20w-50 in hot engin the clutch stays smooth.