1983 GPZ550 Engine Oil and Filter brands

First motorcycle - What type and Brand of Engine Oil and Oil Filter should I run in my GPZ550 ?
The Manual doesn't Reco Brands but has four different viscosities of Engine Oil I may use. (10w40 x 10w50 x 20w40 x 20w50)
I live in the midwest.

Thank you

You may get plenty of opinions as to what brand of oil to use, but one thing should not be ignored - whichever oil you decide to use make SURE that the container shows it complies with the "JASO-MA" requirements. Most automobile oils do not comply, but you will find some diesel oils, such as Shell Rotella T4, some racing oils, and most motorcycle oils do comply. I have used full synthetic Mobil-1 Racing 4T oil with great success as well as Shell Rotella T4. If the oil complies "JASO-MA" will be marked on the container.

The reason the JASO-MA certification is so important is the fact that our Kawasaki bikes have wet clutches. These clutches are cooled and lubricated by the motor oil. If the wrong motor oils such as any marked "Energy Conserving" are used the fiber pads on the clutch disks will be ruined and the clutch will slip. This is because non-JASO-MA oils contain "friction modifiers" that damage the clutch disks.

Regarding filters - there are numerous brands such as Kawasaki, K&N, WIX, etc. that work fine. My only advice is to stay away from Fram since they make the poorest filters.

Ed

650ed

I really appreciate the information on JASO-MA. I didn't read a single thing about that in the manual. This explains another issue i'm having to address.
Thanks again.

Shell Rotella is a fine oil for bikes. Just about any diesel engine oil is fine.

This stuff is great for bikes too... www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-15W-50-Advanc...r-Oil-5-qts/20713647

brakedust wrote: 650ed

I really appreciate the information on JASO-MA. I didn't read a single thing about that in the manual. This explains another issue i'm having to address.
Thanks again.

You're right, there's nothing in the manuals about JASO-MA. The reason is that when the KZ bikes were made automobile oils worked fine. Later, however, when so many cars came equipped with catalytic converters problems arose that were caused by the ingredients in the motor oil. In order to prevent catalytic converters from being ruined the government stepped in and required oil companies to make certain changes to most automobile oil. That's when most automobile oil formulae changed, and that's what created problems for vehicles with wet clutches. The Japanese Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel (JASO) developed a number of different oil specifications for different applications. The specifications that apply to 4 stroke motorcycles fall under the "4T Specifications." Within the 4T specifications the JASO MA class oils are specifically formulated for 4 stroke motorcycles with wet clutches.

Here's a couple links to some other information you should find helpful If nothing else, be sure to read about JIS screws vs. Phillips screws. Ed

www.kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/606715-new-here#768867

www.kzrider.com/forum/10-new-members/606715-new-here#768868

More on JASO:
www.whitedogbikes.com/whitedogblog/choos...o-and-jaso-ma2-mean/
Also because the manual has 30+ years ago information in it, things have changed since then. Tire Pressures and fork oil. Fork oil was just engine oil back then, and tires were bias-ply, so for tire pressures, go with what the tire manufacture recommends.

I use either Shell Rotella-T 15W-40 in the white bottle or Chevron Delo 15W-40. These are advertised as heavy duty motor oils & marketed for diesel engines. Valvoline Premium Blue is another similar product, but the other two are usually cheaper & typically go on sale.

Mobil 4T Racing is supposed to be a good motorcycle oil, but it's pricy.

The msds should list the ZDDP content. usually around 1-2% (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate or similar chemical).

15w40 is too thick if you ride in cold weather. 10W40 is a better viscosity. 10W40 Valvoline available at some Walmarts cost $3.94 a quart and works fine.

RonKZ650 wrote: 15w40 is too thick if you ride in cold weather. 10W40 is a better viscosity. 10W40 Valvoline available at some Walmarts cost $3.94 a quart and works fine.

Valvoline 10W-40 (from Valvoline data sheet on their web site)
Zinc = 830 ppm
Phosphorus = 760 ppm

Shell Rotella
Zinc & Phosphorus = approx 1100-1200 ppm each (data from Bob is the Oil guy forum)

Valvoline All Fleet (diesel oil). I've been using this oil for several years now and there is no adverse affect on wet clutches
Zinc (they don't mention phosphorus content in the data sheet) = 1270 ppm

The higher ZDDP is better for a motorcycle.

15W-40 is fine for a bike for the most part unless the temp is freezing outside. If you ride in temps below freezing I'd use 5W-40 synthetic diesel oil.

If I under stand the conversion formula I found on Goggle right Valvoline 10/40 motorcycle oil is .112 weight % of Zinc and that is equal to 1,120 ppm and .103 Phos is equal to 1,030 ppm. Been using this for a while ..... 3 qt of 10/40 and just over a 1/2 quart of 20/50 to thick in it up a little..... holds 3.7 quarts w/ filter change.

KZB2 650 wrote: If I under stand the conversion formula I found on Goggle right Valvoline 10/40 motorcycle oil is .112 weight % of Zinc and that is equal to 1,120 ppm and .103 Phos is equal to 1,030 ppm. Been using this for a while ..... 3 qt of 10/40 and just over a 1/2 quart of 20/50 to thick in it up a little..... holds 3.7 quarts w/ filter change.

Oh, okay. I thought you were recommending auto oil. The motorcycle stuff is good to use!