What Oil - SV650.org

24-11-05, 03:03 PM

Hey Guys,

simple question, what oil is good for my K5, is one better than another ?

BillyC · 24-11-05, 03:33 PM

10W40 Semi synthetic.

"The best oil is new oil" as one of our most experienced members wrote.

There's an argument that you should use motorcycle specific oil, which means you'll be paying a little more for it. Halfords do a cheap 5 litre bottle that appears to be fine, and the fact that it comes as a 5 litre bottle, and not a 4 litre one, means it'll clearly do 2 changes.

I'm of the opinion that Motorcycle oil is nothing particularly special, and just a way for the companies to make more money. One independent test I read, concluded that the cheapest of them all, Mobil 1, actually maintained its viscosity far longer than the high priced specialised makes.

24-11-05, 03:34 PM

Just get yourself a service kit from Hein Gericke, they're around £25 for oil oil filter and air filter.

Bargain

Spanner Man · 24-11-05, 10:47 PM

Evening all.
I have to disagree with you BillyC. 20 years ago the only difference between bike oil and car oil was often the picture on the bottle and the price! Nowadays bike oils contain many additives specific to a bike engines requirements. Such as, pressure additives for the gearbox, anti foaming additives and so on. Likewise car oils often contain additives not suitable for bikes. Like friction modifiers, which could cause a bikes wet clutch to slip.
In the 13 years I've been maintaining bikes for a living, the engines that have lasted the longest (over 200k in one case) have been run on top quality (Castrol) bike oils.
Use Castrol GPS semi synthetic 10/40 or if you really want the best R4 5/40 fully synthetic. And avoid the use of pattern filters.
Sorry to ramble folks, but long term wear is difficult to assess, and sticking in a cheapo oil & filter and running for a couple of thousand miles aint long term!
Now cue all those who are going to say "I use Spry Crisp & Dry & only change it every millenium"

Cheers>

Gazza77 · 24-11-05, 11:01 PM

As someone who frequents the Owners Club forum for my car, most people on there reckon that it is far better to use fully synth than semi. Is this not a better theory for a bike too?

Sid Squid · 24-11-05, 11:04 PM

Oh No.

Not this again.

One of two things will now happen:

1) Sporadic low level of posts in reply.

2) You've just opened this can of worms again, it'll run.

Spanner Man · 24-11-05, 11:10 PM

Evening Sid.
As a fellow man of the spanners, (albeit a Norf london one) I'm sure you appreciate the need for top notch oil.
It does seem to be a common thread though, perhaps it's some beggar who just wants to see us all squabble!

Cheers.

northwind · 24-11-05, 11:35 PM

If you want a laugh, start this thread on SV Rider and wait for the viciious 3-way battle between car oil, bike oil, and diesel oil...

24-11-05, 11:50 PM

From what I've read and heard over the years is, always, but always go for the damm expensive "proper" motorbike oil.
For a start most cars dont go over 6 or 7000 revs as their limit, bikes rev up to a lot more, even v twins.
Hence lots of froth and not much oil if you use car oils.
Just my opinion of course
You know what old fogies are like for having opinions!

northwind · 25-11-05, 12:19 AM

I use Castrol 10W40 GPS, because it's a pretty colour.

http://forum.svrider.com/index.php?topic=41602.0

24-11-05, 03:03 PM	#1
BenScott Guest Posts: n/a	What Oil Hey Guys, simple question, what oil is good for my K5, is one better than another ?

24-11-05, 03:33 PM	#2
BillyC Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The exiles of Kent Posts: 2,184	10W40 Semi synthetic. "The best oil is new oil" as one of our most experienced members wrote. There's an argument that you should use motorcycle specific oil, which means you'll be paying a little more for it. Halfords do a cheap 5 litre bottle that appears to be fine, and the fact that it comes as a 5 litre bottle, and not a 4 litre one, means it'll clearly do 2 changes. I'm of the opinion that Motorcycle oil is nothing particularly special, and just a way for the companies to make more money. One independent test I read, concluded that the cheapest of them all, Mobil 1, actually maintained its viscosity far longer than the high priced specialised makes. __________________ SV650 K3 - Gone. Now a member of the SV650.org Kawasaki brigade!

24-11-05, 10:47 PM	#4
Spanner Man Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunbury Middlesex Posts: 1,396	Evening all. I have to disagree with you BillyC. 20 years ago the only difference between bike oil and car oil was often the picture on the bottle and the price! Nowadays bike oils contain many additives specific to a bike engines requirements. Such as, pressure additives for the gearbox, anti foaming additives and so on. Likewise car oils often contain additives not suitable for bikes. Like friction modifiers, which could cause a bikes wet clutch to slip. In the 13 years I've been maintaining bikes for a living, the engines that have lasted the longest (over 200k in one case) have been run on top quality (Castrol) bike oils. Use Castrol GPS semi synthetic 10/40 or if you really want the best R4 5/40 fully synthetic. And avoid the use of pattern filters. Sorry to ramble folks, but long term wear is difficult to assess, and sticking in a cheapo oil & filter and running for a couple of thousand miles aint long term! Now cue all those who are going to say "I use Spry Crisp & Dry & only change it every millenium" Cheers> __________________ Spanner Man http://stewarts-motorcycles.co.uk/default.html

24-11-05, 11:01 PM	#5
Gazza77 Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hebden Bridge Posts: 520	As someone who frequents the Owners Club forum for my car, most people on there reckon that it is far better to use fully synth than semi. Is this not a better theory for a bike too? __________________ Formerly Blue K5 with added bits Then Triumph Sprint ST with scottoiler and R&Gs & TOR exhaust Now Benelli Tornado

24-11-05, 11:04 PM	#6
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Oh No. Not this again. One of two things will now happen: 1) Sporadic low level of posts in reply. 2) You've just opened this can of worms again, it'll run. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

24-11-05, 03:34 PM	#3
Jase22 Guest Posts: n/a	Just get yourself a service kit from Hein Gericke, they're around £25 for oil oil filter and air filter. Bargain

24-11-05, 11:10 PM	#7
Spanner Man Member Mega Poster Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunbury Middlesex Posts: 1,396	Evening Sid. As a fellow man of the spanners, (albeit a Norf london one) I'm sure you appreciate the need for top notch oil. It does seem to be a common thread though, perhaps it's some beggar who just wants to see us all squabble! Cheers. __________________ Spanner Man http://stewarts-motorcycles.co.uk/default.html

24-11-05, 11:35 PM	#8
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	If you want a laugh, start this thread on SV Rider and wait for the viciious 3-way battle between car oil, bike oil, and diesel oil... __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

24-11-05, 11:50 PM	#9
Chatterbox Guest Posts: n/a	From what I've read and heard over the years is, always, but always go for the damm expensive "proper" motorbike oil. For a start most cars dont go over 6 or 7000 revs as their limit, bikes rev up to a lot more, even v twins. Hence lots of froth and not much oil if you use car oils. Just my opinion of course You know what old fogies are like for having opinions!

25-11-05, 12:19 AM	#10
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	I use Castrol 10W40 GPS, because it's a pretty colour. http://forum.svrider.com/index.php?topic=41602.0 __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"