5W40 instead of 10W40?
 

I know there will be a post on this somewhere so please excuse me... I'm on my phone and the search feature is rubbish!

I went and bought some oil from Halfords this morning, knowing to get 10w-40 and when I got home I for some reason picked up 5w-40... My question is, is it alright to use this? Or better to take it back and get the right stuff?

Cheers!

Re: Oil...
 

Take it back and get the right stuff.Make sure what you get is motorcycle oil and not car oil and its the right viscosity.

Re: Oil...
 

Providing that it is a motorcycle oil, I'd have no issue with it. That 5W cold rating doesn't make the oil somehow thinner or the wrong grade. It's still a 40W that'll just flow a bit quicker cold meaning oil to the journals and cams faster. Very clever people spend a lot of time attempting to improve oils in this way.

Re: Oil...
 

I could be wrong but I didnt think Halfords did anything but their standard semi synthetic motorbike oil,hence my assumption that the OP has bought something else.There again I havnt bought oil from them for a couple of years

Took it back to Halfords and they had none... eBay it is!

Re: Oil...
 

Halford's full synth is a 5W/40. Overkill to put a full synth in a SV. But it wouldn't do any harm.

Re: Oil...
 

I put full synth in my track SV and its never suffered from it.

Tbh I dont believe their is a difference between bike and car oil anymore.

Most oils these days have the same additives in.

The bike only stuff had an additive to prevent clutch drag but this is in the car stuff too now.

Re: 5W40 instead of 10W40?
 

I don't think the film strength of 5W/40 is up to the pounding a twin can give the crank. I wouldn't do it.

Re: Oil...
 

Ive read that car oils have addatives that are not suitable for the wet clutches found on most motorcyles and may cause clutch slippage.

Re: 5W40 instead of 10W40?
 

All I can tell u what my Bike and Car Mechanic friend said and he has been in the game over 20 years I'd rather trust him.