What oil to use?

[filerj]

The GS is getting ready for an oil change, I was wondering what some of you use? Has anyone gone with synthetic or any of the newer motorcycle oils, or just regular 10W-30 like the manual calls for?
Thanks for the advice,
filerj:-D

[chef1366]

Aaaaaaand they're off...........................

[BentRod]

Oh lord...

First off...
EVERYONE!!! RESIST!!!! I'm calling it right now... no brand loyalty promotion.


filerj, this is a topic that ranks up there with religion and politics.. it's a very large, messy arguement.

I would recommend to you the search function provided for the forums. There is a lot of info on this subject.

Also check out the main page, and go to the GS Garage. There is a fairly good article in there about oil composition and evaluation.

some oils are to be avoided, as they can strip your clutch. you can find them through the search as well.

[Nessism]

The GS is getting ready for an oil change, I was wondering what some of you use? Has anyone gone with synthetic or any of the newer motorcycle oils, or just regular 10W-30 like the manual calls for?
Thanks for the advice,
filerj:-D

Manual calls for 10w-40. Lot of people using synthetic with good results.

At the risk of sound unhelpful...please use the search function for this topic. You will turn up TONS of information covering every possible angle of the topic...plus some I suspect you never thought of.

Good luck.

[ScottMc1100L]

The GS is getting ready for an oil change, I was wondering what some of you use? Has anyone gone with synthetic or any of the newer motorcycle oils, or just regular 10W-30 like the manual calls for?
Thanks for the advice,
filerj:-D

Hi filerj

Can you believe you are the first person ever to ask this question?

:arrow:Try here!!

[Adler45]

Just dont use Automotive oil or you risk ruining your clutch due to the slippage caused by the possible presence of friction modifiers. Some have them, some dont.

Whatever brand you use, just make sure you put at least 10-40 in it. I tend to run 20-50 in my bikes since I only really ride in summer and its hot and humid as hell here then.

[wavetrain75]

Oil

I use 15-40 Rotella T diesel oil in all my bikes with a wet clutch. Smooth shifts and quiet running. Nothing better that I've ever found.

[82Shafty]

I just threw in the Rotella 5 40 syn in the blue jug.

No slippage and no leaks...

Grandpa has 122000 miles on his GS and he will tell you that he has no brand loyalty and the most important fact is to change your oil.

[Nessism]

Just dont use Automotive oil or you risk ruining your clutch due to the slippage caused by the possible presence of friction modifiers. Some have them, some dont.

Only low viscosity oils that qualify as "energy saving" have the friction modifiers in them - 10W-40 is safe.

The reason to question automotive oils is because they don't have very much zinc in them anymore which helps protect the valvetrain.

Diesel engine oils have more of the good stuff in them because diesel's don't use catalytic converters - concern over cat life is why auto oils have had the zinc content reduced.

[marz]

oil ?

wel im gonna try the rotella ..

in my tires as bass cleft says hes useing synth ..(i think)

so im gonna one up him and have quiter tires!


take that bass cleft !

[Bert Patterson]

I’ve been using the Rotella-T 5-40 synthetic for a couple years, maybe 4-5 oil changes. Seems fine. No leaks, smooth shifts, probably burn about a pint in 2000 miles, which is approximately nothing.

I'm pretty minimal about maintaining my bike, incluisng claening it. the main thing is regular (2000-2500 mile) oil changes AND......very important.......ride it a lot. Everyday is good, with that couple months off in the winter. Not riding a bike is about the worst thing you can do to it.

[filerj]

Sorry everybody

Didn't realize this was going to cause aproblem, I'll use the search and pick up the info, thanks for not giving this newbie too hard of a time.
Thanks
filerj

[filerj]

Search really helps

I just used the search feature and found answers to my oil question\\/, in the future I'll check out the search links before I post a question, thanks again for the info though. I really enjoy going through this site.
filerj

[Pete Logan]

Don't worry about it. We're happy to go around again.

Of course, there's no possible excuse for using anything other than the most expensive full synthetic oil you can find :-D:-D:-D

[BassCliff]

Which oil in which tires?

The GS is getting ready for an oil change, I was wondering what some of you use? Has anyone gone with synthetic or any of the newer motorcycle oils, or just regular 10W-30 like the manual calls for?
Thanks for the advice,
filerj:-D

I plead the 5th, or is that drink a fifth while we go over this again?

Use what you want, change it often. It don't much matter. There's really no need to pay for top-dollar "motorcycle oil". And no "Enerty Saving" oil. It's too slick for clutches.

wel im gonna try the rotella ..

in my tires as bass cleft says hes useing synth ..(i think)

so im gonna one up him and have quiter tires!

take that bass cleft !

The oil you put in your tires lasts a lot longer than the oil you put in your engine. I should get over 10,000 miles on my tire oil, long enough to last the life of the tire. I don't think the oil lasts as long in Cheng Shin tires as it does in the Pirelli tires. Of course, if you spill halogen fluid from your headlight into your tire oil, all bets are off!

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
(I use 10w-40 Castrol Syntech blend)