Which oil?

[jambo]

Originally Posted by RhythmJunkie

The dealer told me they weren't allowed use anything other than semi-synth cos Suzuki said so!!
I don't like that at all and I may write to Suzuki to ask them if I'm ok to use fully synth in my bikes!

I've read loads of stuff about synth being the best and long lasting without breaking down! I'm afraid there is a lot of disbelief and reluctance to change on this forum though!

You'll be fine running fully synth, shouldn't affect the warranty at all I wouldn't have thought (Provided you keep receipts and use an oil that meets or exceeds SF/SG rating). If you choose to go with your earlier advice and keep it in for 18,000 miles though, I wouldn't be too surprised if they failed to honour a warranty repair on a bust engine. You pays yer money etc etc etc....

Engine Oil, whats that?

[yorkie_chris]

My local bike shop said to me "this full synth will be fine while you're on 33hp as you can't rag it, but change to a proper semi-synth when its derestricted"
Good shop and a sound feller, but some people really need to get some background knowledge on wtf they're doing.

Just booked my new K6 Sv sport in for its first dealer service, I was told it would cost £40 for the parts only, unless I wanted fully Synth oil and it would be £10 more.

Price apart, which seems a bit steep for oil and filter, this main dealer recomended fully Synth, or just wants more money from me !!

Get the idea I should have fully synth, is it realy better though?

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by Baph

Castrol R4 is the only stuff that will go in mine now by choice, be that a placebo or not.

I'd think that a placebo, being new oil, as long it wasn't obviously crap, changing it for synth would make no difference, you may possibly, (although I think it unlikely), have noticed something if the oil you used before was 10/40, your new oil being 5/40.

For the great majority of owners fully synth is extravagant.

[yorkie_chris]

Would the level of abuse warrant full synth?

For example a 4 pot 250cc engine that gets ragged everywhere, the oil is going to be under far more stress surely?
Or is it going to work out pretty much the same?

If you are changing oil at the reccomended intervals, semi synthetic is perfectly ok. Modern oils are extremely high quality, and for normal use, ie road use & the odd track day, fully synthetic is a bit over the top, not to mention expensive. I have been supplying Silkolene Comp 4 for years with no problems.
Brian
www.moto-tech.biz

Do modern road bikes (and sports-tourers like the SV at that) really need top of the line oil?

I was reading an old issue of Bike the other day and there was an interview with a high mileage courier in it. He got 400,000+ miles (each) out of 2 VFR engines. What was he running all that time? 10W40 car oil. Admittedly, he's a courier and a long distance one at that, so not many cold starts, but it makes you think, doesn't it...

[yorkie_chris]

But how often did he change it?

The main arguement is which is going to be best toward the end of its service life, the cheapest, nastiest car oil will make your engine last ages if you change it every 500 miles

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

But how often did he change it?

The main arguement is which is going to be best toward the end of its service life, the cheapest, nastiest car oil will make your engine last ages if you change it every 500 miles

Every 3K miles. Admittedly that included a new official honda filter each time, too.