Update on oil change - Page 2 - SV650.org

19-08-06, 06:39 PM

I run Castrol R4 fully synthetic. Top quality lubrication from cold starts to hot days hooning around. Never had any clutch slippage. Only costs about £6 more than GPS semi-synthetic. That's half the cost of a tank of petrol in return for a year of top lube. All the WSB and BSB teams use it too, and they have plenty of power to transmit through the (wet) clutch: see pics of JT(Castrol R4) and Shakey Byrne (Shell Advance Fully Synthetic) attached. The MotoGP bikes (with dry clutches) use it too, but it obviously lubes only the motor and gearbox for them.
Jon.

22-08-06, 01:39 AM

The number one cause of most clutch problems is incorrect adjustment of the release mechanism. And this isn't just SVs. I've been riding various bikes for more than 40 years and that's what I've observed over the years.

There are some additives which can induce clutch slip. The additives in oils advertised as "high efficiency" and/or "energy conserving" can definitely cause healthy, well adjusted clutches to slip. Oddly enough, another possible clutch slipper is molybdenum disulfide, a common additive in "motorcycle specific" oils. Several major oil manufacturers experimented with MoS2 as an additive about 20 years ago. The final conclusion was that MoS2 has a nasty habit of settling into various nooks and crannies only to break loose as clumps in inopportune moments. It was dropped from consideration.

The longest-mileaged SVs I know of (one over 130,000 miles) use whatever is available as long as it's the right viscosity range from a reputable manufacturer. The SV engine seems to be very easy on the oil. I personally use Rotella T, Delo, or Delvac. I've been using diesel-specific oils in EVERYTHING for about 25 years with good results. They're cheap, available, and seem to keep engines very clean on the inside.

northwind · 22-08-06, 02:02 AM

M0S2... Molybdenum Sulhp...ide? ate? Disulphide? Or am I miles off?

BillyC · 22-08-06, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by simon1966

So if you are considering an engine oil change I would rec Castrol R4 fully synthetic. It has just made my ride a lot smoother.

Nope, just sounds like new oil to me, whatever the type and brand.

19-08-06, 06:39 PM	#11
ujoni08 Guest Posts: n/a	fully synth I run Castrol R4 fully synthetic. Top quality lubrication from cold starts to hot days hooning around. Never had any clutch slippage. Only costs about £6 more than GPS semi-synthetic. That's half the cost of a tank of petrol in return for a year of top lube. All the WSB and BSB teams use it too, and they have plenty of power to transmit through the (wet) clutch: see pics of JT(Castrol R4) and Shakey Byrne (Shell Advance Fully Synthetic) attached. The MotoGP bikes (with dry clutches) use it too, but it obviously lubes only the motor and gearbox for them. Jon.

22-08-06, 01:39 AM	#12
andyauger Guest Posts: n/a	Synth, semi, and non The number one cause of most clutch problems is incorrect adjustment of the release mechanism. And this isn't just SVs. I've been riding various bikes for more than 40 years and that's what I've observed over the years. There are some additives which can induce clutch slip. The additives in oils advertised as "high efficiency" and/or "energy conserving" can definitely cause healthy, well adjusted clutches to slip. Oddly enough, another possible clutch slipper is molybdenum disulfide, a common additive in "motorcycle specific" oils. Several major oil manufacturers experimented with MoS2 as an additive about 20 years ago. The final conclusion was that MoS2 has a nasty habit of settling into various nooks and crannies only to break loose as clumps in inopportune moments. It was dropped from consideration. The longest-mileaged SVs I know of (one over 130,000 miles) use whatever is available as long as it's the right viscosity range from a reputable manufacturer. The SV engine seems to be very easy on the oil. I personally use Rotella T, Delo, or Delvac. I've been using diesel-specific oils in EVERYTHING for about 25 years with good results. They're cheap, available, and seem to keep engines very clean on the inside.

22-08-06, 02:02 AM	#13
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	M0S2... Molybdenum Sulhp...ide? ate? Disulphide? Or am I miles off? __________________ "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"

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