Poll: Oil brands/types

[txironhead]

For years now I have used Kawachem motorcycle oil in my bikes ('82 Shadow 700, '72 Sportster 1000, '82 GS850L, '82 CB750, currently '81 GS750E) with absolutely no problems. My brother-in-law ('82 CB650C Nighthawk, '79? Moto Guzzi, '79 GS750?, etc.) uses Castrol or Valvolene 10W-30 automotive oil and reports no problems. I've seen some posts on what various people recommend, but I've always wondered: What do you guys use on YOUR bikes? Brand/weight, automotive/motorcycle, praises, etc.

 

[Clone]

Whatever is on sale, synthetic, in the 10W40 ball-park, and is not marked "energy conserving".
Pennzoil
Castrol
Mobil 1
Quaker State (but found it thinner than the label said more like a 30w than 40w
Valvoline (kind of like this one, it seems to quieten the engine a bit and the temp stayed a little lower)
Is that exacting enough for ya?8-[

But I will admit that I don't really know the difference between a synthetic and a hydrocracked synthetic

 

[koolaid_kid]

Automotive, 10W40. Prefer Valvoline, but will buy a name brand if it is on sale. Tried synthetics, but saw no difference except on credit card statements. :|

 

[Jethro]

Been using 10-40 Castrol GPS motorcycle specific syn blend for the last few changes. Expensive for a blend, but it's red!

 

[Arkaloid]

Shell Rotella 15w-40

 

[bwringer]

Been using 10-40 Castrol GPS motorcycle specific syn blend for the last few changes. Expensive for a blend, but it's red!

Yes, it's red, which I found to be oddly entertaining and somehow soothing -- it's so special and wonderful that it's RED!!!!! :shock:

I remember reading somewhere that different countries have odd preferences for the color of their motor oil. The Germans, Japanese, Americans, etc. all feel better when when their oil "looks right". So the oil manufacturers obligingly dye their products, which makes not the slightest bit of difference to anything but sales.

Silliness aside, the Castrol GPS does seem to be mighty good stuff -- the innards on both my bikes are marinating in the 20W-50 variety right now, in fact. It seems to hold up and maintain good shift quality just as well as Golden Spectro, my usual fave. I can get the Castrol for $6 a liter at the local sporting goods store (Gander Mountain is a Polaris ATV dealer, so they stock lots of motorcycle/ATV oil and suchlike) on my way home from work. Or I can drive 40 minutes out of my way and pay $9 a quart (really!) for Golden Spectro... %$#@! Seems like a no-brainer to me.

Castrol Actevo is also decently priced and is very good motorcycle oil. It's a little harder to find, though.

On my 77,000 mile GS850G, high quality motorcycle specific 20W-50 seems to deteriorate a lot less quickly as judged by engine noise and shift feel. If your engine is less tired, 10W-40 is also fine. Virtually anything will work, if you want to know the truth. Even the cheapest Wal*Mart oil nowadays is probably far better than anything they had in 1983.

 

[jimcor]

I've been using Philips 66 TropArtic, SM, 10/40 but the last of my stash is now gone. Shame. I bought 3 cases at a buck a quart from Dollar Tree a year ago. Wish I would have bought more.

So, gonna use Sears Spectrum 10/40 till that stash runs out. It's a little older and is only API rated SL. But I had a Sears gift card and I needed oil...so. Made by Warren Performance Products (DO NOT confuse with Warren Petroleum Company. Different outfit, no relation, that has been caught mislabeling product, whoops.) Warren Performance Products makes Wal Mart, Sears and many other 'house' oils, reputible outfit.

Like Mayor Daly would have said: "Change your oil and filter regularly and often" with a name brand oil and don't lose any sleep over it. If it makes you feel better use expensive oil.

 

[Tnutz]

exactly....I use Tech 2000 that walmart sells here...10w40 in my 2000 v-star custom and the same stuff in my g/f's gs 550 ef (also mine)

 

[brs127s]

I was using Castrol 10W-40 Automotive in my 77 550. I then switched it to Amsoil 10W-40 motorcycle oil. It ran a lot cooler and shifted smoother.

When I bought my 83 850, I began running Suzuki 10W-40 motorcycle oil in it. After I rebuilt the engine and got about 8000 miles on it, I switched it to Mobil 10W-40 MXT4 oil.

So far I have been very happy with it. I would have used Amsoil in my 850, but the Mobil was readily available. I like the synthetics much better as they keep the engine cooler and shift much smoother.

 

[Pete Logan]

At the moment I'm using Castrol 10W60 Full Race Synthetic, but at the next oil change I'll go to Mobil 1 just because it's more easily available here.

I don't do high mileages, so oil change is an annual event, so the price doesn't really matter.

 

[Suzukizilla]

If you have the cash to do synthics thats the way to go. I've seen first hand that they do work better. My buddy rebuilt a 350 and put 200k on it. He used Mobile1 from his first oil change on. Helped him pull the engine because he wanted to go 383 and the cylinders still had hone marks in them. Been sold on synthetic ever since.

 

[mark]

Shell Rotella 5w-40 synthetic for the moment.

 

[cberkeley]

I just read the following and it confirms a suspicion I long held:
http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm
I will continue using Castrol GTX 20W50 and will continue to do early and regular oil and filter changes.

 

[joeyplumley]

Shell Rotella 15w-40

Seconded.

Also picked up a gallon of generic 15W-40 for diesels (SuperTech - WalMart brand) for $1 less than the Rotella. The Rotella 5W-40 syn would be in all my scooters but I never see it stocked! Very popular stuff, I guess (or WalMart just has the best price).


To each his own - oil preference ranks up there with politics and religion.

 

[Dan Ruddock]

Shell 15-40 rotella or the 5-40 synth version. Over priced cycle specific oils are a load of crap. Dan

 

[jpaul]

I use Mobil Delvac 1300 diesel oil, about $7 a gallon at Walmart. While synthetics and motorcycle specific oils are better performing, I don't think there is any practical difference between them and what I use, considering the type of riding I do, and the oil change intervals I use.

 

[Desolation Angel]

If you want to see some fireworks, change your wording from what do you use to which is the best. 8-[

 

[jm_foote]

If you want to see some fireworks, change your wording from what do you use to which is the best. 8-[

I think the dino oil folks finally gave up and admitted they are wrong, which is why there are no more angry threads about this (joking!!!:-D ).

I finally found a distributor near me that carries AMSOIL 10W40. Full synthetic for motorcycles. For my forks I blend AMSOIL ATF and AMSOIL 10W30 (or is it 5W30? :-s I'm too lazy to check).

 

[Dave8338]

Hold your fire...DON'T SHOOT!!!! I've used Yamalube 8-[ in all my toys from day one. 10W-40 in the 650L, and have had no wear related issues ever.

I'm not sure that it matters as much what you use, as it does how often the maintenance is done. Synthetics are great...I'm just one that changes oil in everything about twice as often as the book calls for.

 

[Guest]

Semi-Synthetic 10w40... or 15w40 when it's pretty warm out..