What Oil Do You Run?

Nessism wrote: SN is not "cheap" oil, it's the latest automotive API Service rating for cars. It's not the best stuff for motorcycles, largely because of the low zinc and phosphorus levels. Some versions may have extra additives which can hurt your clutch too.

For older vehicles the current API spec is SL. .

Is SL grade still available at the usual suspects like Pep Boys and Kragens? I thought it had been obsoleted.

Valvoline 20-50 Motorcycle oil has been my choice for close to 40 yrs and 70,000 miles without a teardown
When it's 90-100 Deg and you are in heavy stop and go traffic there is no point in using light-weight oils
Also as the miles add up the clearances get bigger, the last thing you need is a thinner oil
3 hp LMAO unless your racing for a living you would never even know
Car oil has no business in a motorcycle engine for reasons that could be a book
I laugh my ass off that people will put thousands of dollars into their bikes to make them look pretty
then want to save 20 bucks on the life blood of the whole machine :ohmy:
Many of the problems I see brought up here have their beginnings in the wrong type of oil and stretching the change interval
to save a few dollars
As the old Fram commercial said "Pay me now or pay me later" Still true as hell

loudhvx wrote: :S

TexasKZ wrote: WD40

Less squeaky.

Especially for squeaky brakes. :whistle:

Rotella 15W-40 with 2/3 of a bottle STP Oil Treatment (ZDDP Additive) mixed in. Used the ZDDP additives in any flat tappet engine since I was 16 and always worked well.

Brett

Irish-Kawi wrote: Rotella 15W-40 with 2/3 of a bottle STP Oil Treatment (ZDDP Additive) mixed in. Used the ZDDP additives in any flat tappet engine since I was 16 and always worked well.

Brett

Kawasaki's shim and bucket valve train is super stable and easy on the cams and various parts. I don't think the valve train on these bikes have any special needs regarding their oil. Kawasaki's rocker arm engines like the EX500, Conti, and the ZXR bikes on the other hand are much harder on their valve train. I'd be a whole lot more concern about my oil if I had one of these bikes.

Irish-Kawi wrote: Rotella 15W-40 with 2/3 of a bottle STP Oil Treatment (ZDDP Additive) mixed in. Used the ZDDP additives in any flat tappet engine since I was 16 and always worked well.

Brett

I've been a big fan since 16 too after I read a article on taxi cabs showing over 50% less wear across the county on it .... not to mention Richard Petty and the top drag racers all using it ...... and you can't forget that cool STP sticker you get to put in your window too.