Car 10w 40 oil ok? - SV650.org

DomP · 01-04-15, 10:27 AM

Hi folks, if my oil is running low is it OK to use car oil of the same grade just for a top up?

timwilky · 01-04-15, 10:28 AM

any oil is better than no oil

would I do it. No. Buy motorcycle grade oils with the correct additives/modifiers.

maviczap · 01-04-15, 10:48 AM

Emergency top up only, as Tim says

Red ones · 01-04-15, 11:10 AM

Car oils tend to have friction modifiers added to them. It helps reduce engine wear and improve fuel consumption.
Bike oils don't because the oil, unlike in a car, also sloshes around the clutch and reduction in friction there renders the clutch useless.

timwilky · 01-04-15, 11:44 AM

My thoughts, and therefore probably not fact as I have been out of the industry for 30 years. But is not just the friction modifiers, but unlike modern (I say that because of the likes of minis/maxis etc) cars, motorcycles share their oil with the gearbox. Car engine oils are not designed to cope with the shearing & foam inducing action of a gearbox and could degrade as a result.

Bibio · 01-04-15, 12:07 PM

if its needing a top up then its probably near needing a change so topping up with car oil will be ok, dont do it to often though.

01-04-15, 01:51 PM

I've never used anything but engine oil made for cars in my motorcycles, and never had any problems. I change oil and filter at 3,000 miles if using mineral oil, 4,000 for full synthetic, which is what I almost always use.

johnnyrod · 01-04-15, 01:59 PM

I used to use car oil years ago but I know of people who have had clutch problems - I never did. A little top-up wouldn't hurt if it's all you can get hold of and really can't wait any longer.

I question the belt-and-braceness of the service intervals - in my opinion, an oil change in the 21st century any more often than 6000 miles is costing money for no real benefit.

01-04-15, 03:06 PM

I'd be more concerned why you aren't in a position to locate any of the correct type of oil. Surely somewhere sells it nearby?
Most BP/Shell places have 10/40 semi motorcycle oil on the shelf.

ophic · 01-04-15, 03:29 PM

can't even get 2-stroke oil at my local garages. You're royally stuffed if you run out in the middle of the night round here. Fortunately I only need it for my chainsaw.

01-04-15, 10:27 AM	#1
DomP Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Kington Herefordshire Posts: 916	Car 10w 40 oil ok? Hi folks, if my oil is running low is it OK to use car oil of the same grade just for a top up?

01-04-15, 10:28 AM	#2
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? any oil is better than no oil would I do it. No. Buy motorcycle grade oils with the correct additives/modifiers. __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.

01-04-15, 10:48 AM	#3
maviczap Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 9,097	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? Emergency top up only, as Tim says __________________ We're riding out tonight to case the promised land Make everyday count RIP Reeder - Jolly Green Giant and comedy genius

01-04-15, 11:10 AM	#4
Red ones Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 1,422	Car 10w 40 oil ok? Car oils tend to have friction modifiers added to them. It helps reduce engine wear and improve fuel consumption. Bike oils don't because the oil, unlike in a car, also sloshes around the clutch and reduction in friction there renders the clutch useless.

01-04-15, 11:44 AM	#5
timwilky Member Mega Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Not in Yorkshire. (Thank God) Posts: 4,116	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? My thoughts, and therefore probably not fact as I have been out of the industry for 30 years. But is not just the friction modifiers, but unlike modern (I say that because of the likes of minis/maxis etc) cars, motorcycles share their oil with the gearbox. Car engine oils are not designed to cope with the shearing & foam inducing action of a gearbox and could degrade as a result. __________________ Not Grumpy, opinionated.

01-04-15, 12:07 PM	#6
Bibio Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: here as devil's advocate Posts: 11,569	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? if its needing a top up then its probably near needing a change so topping up with car oil will be ok, dont do it to often though.

01-04-15, 01:51 PM	#7
wideguy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? I've never used anything but engine oil made for cars in my motorcycles, and never had any problems. I change oil and filter at 3,000 miles if using mineral oil, 4,000 for full synthetic, which is what I almost always use.

01-04-15, 01:59 PM	#8
johnnyrod Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Doncaster, oop norf Posts: 2,128	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? I used to use car oil years ago but I know of people who have had clutch problems - I never did. A little top-up wouldn't hurt if it's all you can get hold of and really can't wait any longer. I question the belt-and-braceness of the service intervals - in my opinion, an oil change in the 21st century any more often than 6000 miles is costing money for no real benefit.

01-04-15, 03:06 PM	#9
atassiedevil Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? I'd be more concerned why you aren't in a position to locate any of the correct type of oil. Surely somewhere sells it nearby? Most BP/Shell places have 10/40 semi motorcycle oil on the shelf.

01-04-15, 03:29 PM	#10
ophic Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Whyteleafe Posts: 3,395	Re: Car 10w 40 oil ok? can't even get 2-stroke oil at my local garages. You're royally stuffed if you run out in the middle of the night round here. Fortunately I only need it for my chainsaw. __________________ Silver SV650SK3, Fuel exhaust