Another Oil Question

[eddiev]

A few recent posts spoke about not using "Energy Conserving Oil" and it's got me thinking. I have used Castrol GTX religiously 10-40 in winter and 20-50 in summer and have sworn by it for years in all my vehicles.
Last winter I rebuilt my top end (82 gs1100gl). My first oil change afterwards literally came out like water. I do change my oil warm but this was way too thin. I thought it may have been all the assembly lube from the rebuild but about three more oil changes and the same results. I am starting to wonder if Castrol may have changed over to Energy Conserving Oil in the time of my rebuild. I have to check next time I buy oil but would this be the kind of results to expect. I also feel a difference in the clutch when the bike is warm. It doesn't feel as smooth as when cool.
Thanks and thanks for all the help in the past. Happy Riding.
Eddie V

 

[DMPLATT]

A few recent posts spoke about not using "Energy Conserving Oil" and it's got me thinking. I have used Castrol GTX religiously 10-40 in winter and 20-50 in summer and have sworn by it for years in all my vehicles.
Last winter I rebuilt my top end (82 gs1100gl). My first oil change afterwards literally came out like water. I do change my oil warm but this was way too thin. I thought it may have been all the assembly lube from the rebuild but about three more oil changes and the same results. I am starting to wonder if Castrol may have changed over to Energy Conserving Oil in the time of my rebuild. I have to check next time I buy oil but would this be the kind of results to expect. I also feel a difference in the clutch when the bike is warm. It doesn't feel as smooth as when cool.
Thanks and thanks for all the help in the past. Happy Riding.
Eddie V

Well, 10W 40 should not be energy conserving. I would be concerned that you are getting too much fuel in your oil if it's that thin. Does the oil have a strong gas smell?

 

[jabberjoe87]

castrol is a modern oil that has the most similar ''ingredients'' to the oil that the gs engines were designed for. I use 10w40 in the bike, and 5w30 in the 06 tacoma.

 

[tone]

A few recent posts spoke about not using "Energy Conserving Oil" and it's got me thinking. I have used Castrol GTX religiously 10-40 in winter and 20-50 in summer and have sworn by it for years in all my vehicles.
Last winter I rebuilt my top end (82 gs1100gl). My first oil change afterwards literally came out like water. I do change my oil warm but this was way too thin. I thought it may have been all the assembly lube from the rebuild but about three more oil changes and the same results. I am starting to wonder if Castrol may have changed over to Energy Conserving Oil in the time of my rebuild. I have to check next time I buy oil but would this be the kind of results to expect. I also feel a difference in the clutch when the bike is warm. It doesn't feel as smooth as when cool.
Thanks and thanks for all the help in the past. Happy Riding.
Eddie V

Any chance you bought gtx magnatec instead of straight gtx
i run straight gtx 10/40 all year round & have not noticed any differance in the oil's thickness, how often are you changing it

 

[Commodus]

A few recent posts spoke about not using "Energy Conserving Oil" and it's got me thinking. I have used Castrol GTX religiously 10-40 in winter and 20-50 in summer and have sworn by it for years in all my vehicles.
Last winter I rebuilt my top end (82 gs1100gl). My first oil change afterwards literally came out like water. I do change my oil warm but this was way too thin. I thought it may have been all the assembly lube from the rebuild but about three more oil changes and the same results. I am starting to wonder if Castrol may have changed over to Energy Conserving Oil in the time of my rebuild. I have to check next time I buy oil but would this be the kind of results to expect. I also feel a difference in the clutch when the bike is warm. It doesn't feel as smooth as when cool.
Thanks and thanks for all the help in the past. Happy Riding.
Eddie V

Well I guess the obvious answer is to check the oil before it goes into the bike. If it's changing while IN the engine, well....you have yourself a direction to take.