Posted by Tim Schroeder on January 13, 19100 at 18:12:52:
In Reply to: Re: oil posted by pb on January 13, 19100 at 04:00:47:
Pb,
I hear ya, it's all very confusing. In cars, different oils are used for different parts of the mechanical systems, gearbox, differential and engine parts. Cars use different lubes for each of these, where motorcycle oil has to accomplish not only engine parts, but gearbox and clutch plates, and has to work one-for-all. Motorcycle oil has additives to help with these parameters, and if there's one thing I do know about all of this, regular car oil can't handle the "crushing action" of gears and clutch plates as well, which is why there is a separate motorcycle oil manufactured. Also, racing, enduro, backroad and normal riding have different requirements, and 80 weight might be good for off-road enduros, but sure sounds thick for the street scene. That's the same viscosity as my truck's manual transmission gear lube!
For my Savage, I'm back to 'cycle 10W-40, it's what the factory manual says to use, what Suzuki's National Service manager says to use and what my mechanic says to use. I don't know if I'll use Suzuki's brand or Honda's, they're both excellent, but until I hear more about synthetics, I'm sticking to good old mother nature's petro-brew. It took millions of years to make, should be good enough for my '96 Savage! And, as others have said, changing oil and filter religiously is most important, no matter what the liquid is, especially on a single cylinder bike
I, too, hope the magazines do some reporting on this controversial subject. It certainly is confusing at times.....
Safe Riding,
Tim