Oil Priming Before Initial Startup

I've not used Delo, but I have used Valvoline Fleet diesel, Mystik diesel, and of course Rotella, both T1 and T6.  All seemed to work well enough.

I've been using Valvoline Motorcycle oil conventional 10w-40 and occasionally Kawasaki branded conventional 10w-40 (made by Motul, I buy it from the local dealer).

What is the best oil to extend/maximize miles ridden between changes, that is formulated for superior wear protection in this type of engine?
 

daveo wrote:

What is the best oil to extend/maximize miles ridden between changes, that is formulated for superior wear protection in this type of engine?

 

I'm going to throw up a thread on Bob Is The Oil guy, asking your question...  I suspect some sort of motorcycle oil.  The older versions of Rotella were great, because they had a lot more ZDDP.  That's changed now, though.

There is a tribe over at ZRXOA who are convinced that Redline full synthetic motorcycle oil provides the best protection available. It also avoids the embarrassment of a reasonable price.

I suspect that Shell has been forced to change the formulation of their Diesel oils because of increasing pressure by various governments to reduce pollutants.


How many times per year do you typically change the oil? In other words, how much money per year are we really discussing here?

I am hopeful such regulatory issues will be favorably resolved before my next oil change is due, for the benefit of US all.

Two changes annually, with the brand used currently (and potentially previously).

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Pretty much all the newer oils have less ZDDP than oils of old.  ZDDP is not the only additive that reduces wear, but it is a common one.  Problem comes in because ZDDP damages cats in the exhaust, and most all never bikes have cats as well as cars.

One loophole in the new regulations relates to oil viscosity; thicker oils, like 20W-50, allow more ZDDP.  Oils like Mobil 1 15W-50, for example, have a strong following in the motorcycle community, because of their high ZDDP levels. 

Since the big KZ bikes have a roller crank, open transmission, and so forth, a thick oil should be just fine unless the weather is particularly cold.  



 

"...unless the weather is particularly cold."

Like:


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          BAH HUMBUG!

Unless you are planning to "ride hard from cold" in ultra cold weather personally I would prefer a 20-50. Older engines like ours tend to be quieter on thicker oil also will burn off thinner oils at an alarming rate. Modern engines tend to run tighter tolerances and don't like thicker oil. (IMHO) My diesel Jaguar ran 0-30

Wookie, does the viscosity suggestion apply equally to synthetic and non?

daveo wrote:

Wookie, does the viscosity suggestion apply equally to synthetic and non?

Indeed it does both will thin when hot but the synthetic doesn't break down in the same way as a mineral oil can