Brands of oil

I really hate to ask this because I'm sure it's been asked many times. I tried to search it but didn't come up with anything.
My bike has 71,000 miles on it so I'm thinking of using 20w-40 or 20w-50 due to the temp and mileage. Is this too thick? Also, which oils should I stay away from due to the clutch? I don't want to use synthetic as it leaks a little. Maybe just some good 'ol Valvoline?

hey pid,,,hollerin atcha from picayune,,ive asked the same questions and all and was told to use a good name brand of oil..im running 10w 40 and havent had any probs. the way i look at it is this way,,these older bikes didnt have have synthetic oils around then so im staying away from them,,, hope to see you on the road sometime,,,,,,,,rick

if you want to run valvoline go to napa and buy napa brand 20-50 its made by valvoline,ust comes in differant bottle.

Just my two cents worth here , but I've never used any thing but mineral type oils in my bike. By that I mean non synthetic Noo I take that back.. I used to when it was new use spectro blended..but now I use just straight 10w40 for bikes.. I use that because of clutch wear.. (still on the one it came with ...knock on wood ) As it was explained to me , the older bikes were engineered for the older type oils, and their mineral contents. Like I said , just my two cents worth.

the best thing you can doo is put a good oil cooler on your bike and THAT will help it a LOT! High temp is what breaks down your oil faster than anything.. next is shear, and then acid and byproducts from combustion. when the oil is kept cool it holds up to the others at least twice as well as normal..

Post edited by: Leather, at: 2006/04/30 22:16

hydrolazer wrote:

hey pid,,,hollerin atcha from picayune,,,,,,,,rick

It's cool to see someone else from my area. I'm in Hattiesburg.
I'll look into an oil cooler for sure. As for the Napa oil, it isn't recycled oil is it? I know Advance Auto Parts oil is made by Shell but it is recycled.

pidaster wrote:

I really hate to ask this because I'm sure it's been asked many times. I tried to search it but didn't come up with anything...

You're kidding, right? Well I suppose it's possible. Some of the old "oil wars" that we used to have (in the old forum) have worn many of the old-timer's out. Now they don't argue about oil like they used to - they just ignore the posted questions...

Anyway, if you want to see some of the old arguments, make sure to search the "archive". The answer to every question you can have about oil in a motorcycle was covered and answered in the old forum. I know. I was there, and posted...

I forgot to check the archives. Mostly what I found was issues dealing with fork oil and motor oil for fork oil.

I'm using Castrol Act-evo 10W-40 and noticed improved shifting right away. I just changed it out last Saturday and put in a new batch, but haven't ridden it since (too many irons in the fire). It drained quite clean so I'm fairly confident the engine is in good condition.

According to the MSDS Act-evo is a petroleum/synthetic blend.

- Nate >>

I have a fresh fill of Castrol GTX 20w-50 in my 650, It gets hot in OK just like Mississippi, so I would use it. I was using Castrol 10w-40 before.

By the way, my bike has never shifted this smooth, coincidence?

Post edited by: OKC_Kent, at: 2006/05/01 10:33

motor oils, boy, what a topic..
However, I use Rotella 5W-40 synthetic, I changed to it last winter and my bike has never started easier and the gear shifts smoother, just my .02 though.
Tony

I filled her up with Valvoline 20w-50. All feels good to me.

Castrol GTX 20/50 is all ever been put in mine...so far so good.
pidaster.....I LUV that avatar!!!!!!!!!! (and Calvin and Hobbes in general)