which oil to use...newbie question from an overwhelmed newbie!

[81GS1000L]

Hi again everyone....
First off, i have checked the search section and still haven't found out a definitive answer. It seems like there is a lot of choices...which is tough to sort through for a fella like me...lol.
I have a 1981 GS1000L, 22000 kms on it...and am eager to due the spring oil change/tune up thing... I have read the specs and it says to use 10w40 SE oil. I went to the dealership, and of course found no oil with the SE rating. They had 2 stacks of 12 pack oil...Suzuki oil and Honda oil...both 10w40. The parts guy said that they are both from the same oil company...he didn't know which one. I asked about the SE rating, and he said that the new oil is just fine for our old bikes. So i bought a case of the Suzuki oil.
Wanting to sleep tonite...lol...i thought i should check this site for some facts. Now, confused on what to use.
Shouldn't we use motorcycle specific oil due to the fact that the oil lubes everything VS automobile oil that just lubes the engine??
I don't think i want the synthetic thing, but not sure. Automotive oil in our bikes?? Not sure about that either. Just want to change the oil with the right oil for my bike....and trust your opinions more than the parts guys.
Sorry if the topic is beat to death...just looking for some help.
thx in advance
Rick

[81GS1000L]

sorry....

Sorry...seems like there is soooooo many threads about this issue...so i am regretting starting another. Looks like there is no best oil...just whatever the rider prefers.

[Billy Ricks]

Just avoid the oils with the energy star rating. The friction modifiers in those oils can cause the clutch to slip.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Lots of people including myself use Shell Rotella T 15-40 @ $10-12 gal at walmart

[Steve]

Lots of people including myself use Shell Rotella T 15-40 @ $10-12 gal at walmart

That's for the dino oil in the white jug. The Rotella synthetic is in the blue jug and it's about $19 or so for the gallon.

Rick, the general concensus is that you can use automotive oil, just avoid the ones with the "Energy Conserving" label in the API 'donut' on the back. That's actually quite easy to do, as virtually all of the Energy Conserving oils are 10w-30 or lighter. Our bikes use 10w-40 or 20w-50 when it gets warmer.

If you wish to splurge and go synthetic, go to the next aisle in Wal-Mart and get the Rotella in the blue jug. It's a 5w-40 oil and made for trucks, so it has more of the ingredients that keep our bikes happy, too.

Oh, and change your filter every time you change the oil. If you are careful, you can re-use the o-ring on the filter cover a couple of times, but it's good to have one on hand, just in case.

.

[82Shafty]

I run motorcraft 15-40... you get 5 quarts in a jug and my bike along with Roadrash's has shifted smoother running Motorcraft 15-40.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

What's oil?

What are those round black things on either end of my motorcycle?

Are my pipe thingys too loud?


Enquiring minds want to know.



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[81GS1000L]

Thx guys...but what about the decrease in the zinc levels in the new rotella T 15-40? I use an oil additive to bump up the zinc levels with the Rotella 15-40 in my vintage vehicles...should a person due the same for the bike motors?

[Steve]

That's one advantage of the Rotella synthetic in the blue jug. It has higher zinc levels for the loads that trucks put on the oil.

.

[Nessism]

That's one advantage of the Rotella synthetic in the blue jug. It has higher zinc levels for the loads that trucks put on the oil.

.

All the diesel oils have less zinc in it since the CJ-4 standard was adopted vs. the old CI-4 Plus formula, blue jug Rotella included. Even with the new standard though, diesel engine oil has more zinc than auto oils, and more than most motorcycle oils as well. I'm of the belief that motorcycle oils are significantly overpriced for what you get. Diesel oil is perfectly adequate, or even preferred, in many cases.

[HammerHead]

All the diesel oils have less zinc in it since the CJ-4 standard was adopted vs. the old CI-4 Plus type. Blue jug Rotella included. Even with the new standard though, diesel engine oil has more zinc than auto oils, and more than most motorcycle oils as well. I'm of the belief that motorcycle oils are significantly overpriced for what you get. Diesel oil is perfectly adequate, or even preferred, in many cases.

Hey Nessism, just checked out your bikes. Very Very nice. Nice paint
HH

[Nessism]

Hey Nessism, just checked out your bikes. Very Very nice. Nice paint
HH

Thanks Hammer. You've got yourself quite the collection, if all those bikes in your signature are still in your possession.