Bike Oil Vs. Car Oil

[Henriettaah]

So come on.. I'm about to perform my first oil (and hopefully filter) change on the old gal.

I'm reading/getting conflicting information about what oil to use as replacement:

Bog basic car oil, that I bung in the old Vauxhall - or do I fork out for some thicker, special bike oil (bearing in mind that its a 1985 2stroke).

Please - cast your votes! What oil do you use for your two-wheeled friend? And any particular reasoning why you use what you do?

[flynrider]

I've always used multi-weight car oil (20w-50). As long as it has not been polluted with "energy saving" friction modifiers, it works for me.

Not sure about 2-strokes. I thought they burned special 2-stroke oil that was mixed with the fuel.

[Henriettaah]

Not sure about 2-strokes. I thought they burned special 2-stroke oil that was mixed with the fuel

Yes, but they also use a separate engine oil*.

*at least the RD does!

[ronboskz650sr]

Rotella 15w-40 diesel oil. No energy efficiency additives to cause slippage. Great stuff...all year round.

[gsJack]

Neither, I use truck oil.

15W-40 Mobil Delvac 1300.

[Skier]

I've always used multi-weight car oil (20w-50). As long as it has not been polluted with "energy saving" friction modifiers, it works for me.

Hey, guess what? Despite not having the API starbust on the front of the bottle and not having the "energy conserving" text in the lower half of the donut marking on the back, almost all oils are now energy conserving:

Although the primary market is for automobile engines it can be possible to use the oil in a motorcycle. This is dependent on the design of the motorcycle.

Higher performance engine oils such as API SM and ILSAC GF-4 (Typically SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades)
will contain some level of friction modifier. While the friction modifier improves fuel economy it is not compatible with wet clutches used on motorcycles. The friction modifier causes the wet clutch to slip. This is especially true if the motorcycle manufacturer recommends using only engine oils carrying API SF or SG Service Categories.

API recommends following the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEMs) oil recommendations. We have heard that some OEMs have included SJ as an acceptable engine oil for motorcycles. Typically an API SJ engine oil would include some friction modifier. If the OEM indicates that higher performance engine oils such as API SJ, API SL and API SM it is possible to use the engine oil in these motorcycles.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Regards,

Dennis L. Bachelder

American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street NW
Washington DC 20005 USA
Send To: BachelderD@API.org

Basically, API SJ, SL and SM are not compatible with wet clutch systems. Which, I've found, seems to be every car oil I can find on the shelves any more.

That said, F-it, I'm gonna keep running it anyways in my "beater" bike.

[Ninja Geoff]

Use yamalube. Which you should probably be using to mix with the gasoline. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/appar ... etail.aspx
Best bet is usually the OEM stuff. Call the local yammy dealer and ask them, they should tell you and have the proper oil in stock. And you might also get them to photocopy the pages from the service manual pertaining to oil changes/what to use.

You'll want the "2-S" stuff. Well, unless you wanna spring the extra cash on the "2-R" stuff, the race spec oil.

[mydlyfkryzis]

Castrol GTX 20W-50 in my CB360t
Castrol GTX 10W-40 in my NH750

Been using it for 34 years now. Works fine for me

[mydlyfkryzis]

I've always used multi-weight car oil (20w-50). As long as it has not been polluted with "energy saving" friction modifiers, it works for me.

Hey, guess what? Despite not having the API starbust on the front of the bottle and not having the "energy conserving" text in the lower half of the donut marking on the back, almost all oils are now energy conserving:

Although the primary market is for automobile engines it can be possible to use the oil in a motorcycle. This is dependent on the design of the motorcycle.

Higher performance engine oils such as API SM and ILSAC GF-4 (Typically SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades)
will contain some level of friction modifier. While the friction modifier improves fuel economy it is not compatible with wet clutches used on motorcycles. The friction modifier causes the wet clutch to slip. This is especially true if the motorcycle manufacturer recommends using only engine oils carrying API SF or SG Service Categories.

API recommends following the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEMs) oil recommendations. We have heard that some OEMs have included SJ as an acceptable engine oil for motorcycles. Typically an API SJ engine oil would include some friction modifier. If the OEM indicates that higher performance engine oils such as API SJ, API SL and API SM it is possible to use the engine oil in these motorcycles.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Regards,

Dennis L. Bachelder

American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street NW
Washington DC 20005 USA
Send To: BachelderD@API.org

Basically, API SJ, SL and SM are not compatible with wet clutch systems. Which, I've found, seems to be every car oil I can find on the shelves any more.

That said, F-it, I'm gonna keep running it anyways in my "beater" bike.

That's for 10w-30, and the 5W-X oils. The 10W-40 and heavier are still compatible.

[Skier]

I've always used multi-weight car oil (20w-50). As long as it has not been polluted with "energy saving" friction modifiers, it works for me.

Hey, guess what? Despite not having the API starbust on the front of the bottle and not having the "energy conserving" text in the lower half of the donut marking on the back, almost all oils are now energy conserving:

Although the primary market is for automobile engines it can be possible to use the oil in a motorcycle. This is dependent on the design of the motorcycle.

Higher performance engine oils such as API SM and ILSAC GF-4 (Typically SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades)
will contain some level of friction modifier. While the friction modifier improves fuel economy it is not compatible with wet clutches used on motorcycles. The friction modifier causes the wet clutch to slip. This is especially true if the motorcycle manufacturer recommends using only engine oils carrying API SF or SG Service Categories.

API recommends following the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEMs) oil recommendations. We have heard that some OEMs have included SJ as an acceptable engine oil for motorcycles. Typically an API SJ engine oil would include some friction modifier. If the OEM indicates that higher performance engine oils such as API SJ, API SL and API SM it is possible to use the engine oil in these motorcycles.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Regards,

Dennis L. Bachelder

American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street NW
Washington DC 20005 USA
Send To: BachelderD@API.org

Basically, API SJ, SL and SM are not compatible with wet clutch systems. Which, I've found, seems to be every car oil I can find on the shelves any more.

That said, F-it, I'm gonna keep running it anyways in my "beater" bike.

That's for 10w-30, and the 5W-X oils. The 10W-40 and heavier are still compatible.

If they are API SJ, SL or SM, they have friction modifiers and "shouldn't" be used in a bike.