Motorcycle oil

There is an article in this months 'Bike' magazine about , amongst other
things, oil, is says that you should not use 'car' oil, presumably GTX and
the like in a bike as the gearbox action chops up the molecules and reduces
the lubrication qualities, I have used 10/40 GTX in my bikes for years and
never had a problem. Has any one here ever had a problem due to using 'car'
oil?

Nick

1200 Bandit KMX 200

 

Google for my tale of a 2 stroke **** up last month.

Since replacing the erroneous 2 stroke oil with some left over synthetic
Volkswagen stuff the little TS seems fine.

The SAE number was similar (but not the same) as that recommended in the
HBOL.

--
Oldbloke

My Bike - 2000 Honda CB500
M'boy's Bike - 1990 Suzuki TS50X
i Bike - MotoRumi Junior Gentleman

BOTAFOT #140
"He's like Robbo's chubby kid brother"

 

Speedgazebo

Gearbox chopping up molecules?

 

I don't think it's chopping up the oil molecules...

Nope. But I use bog standard Halfords own brand, and change it
often.

 

Personally I think the cost is negligible, so what's the point in skimping?

 

I used cheapish car oil on my despatch bike for 3 years, and when I jacked
it in, I took the head off to check for wear - not even a slight ridge in
the bores.Obviously an unscientific example. AIUI, bike engines have a
higher power/weight performance than car engines, with a lower amount of
oil in the sump, so the oil has to work a little bit harder than a typical
car engines oil.So long as your oil meets the recommended standards, then
it will be fine.I reckon the best thing is to make sure you change the oil
regularly, my despatcher was done every 3000 miles, even though it was
recommended every 5000 miles.
Alan.

 

It's bollocks.

 

Dunno. I always used miller diesel engine oil in my FJ for about 35k as
recommended by them wot knows at the FJOC, so I suspect it's complete
bollocks.

Buzby

 

What utter arse. Many cars use 'engine' oil in their gearboxes.

--
FZS600 - silver/black
GS125 - black/rust
'81 Bobtail - vaguely green (FOR SALE £800)
CAAD7 - black
LTS2 - blue, not black
OE6 + Quotefix

 

I have three comments...

1) Use a cheap oil and change it often...

2) ..but don't use gas turbine oil, even if you can get it free, because
a) It's monograde and b) it buggers all of the oil seals [1].

3) Don't expect to read technical articles in bike magazines that aren't
bollocks. In this case probably 'sponsored' by the oil companies [2]

HTH

--
Chris H,
CBR600FK-1, two#55
Please remove veg to reply

[1] Don't ask me how I know this. I just know that it will.
[2] i.e relying on their experts/spokespersons and promotional
literature.

 

They are very, very big molecules.

 

Well the difference between fully synth at 25- for 4l and GTX at 8 is
not really 'negligible' is it.

 

What's the argument behind using a "diesel" oil in a bike?

 

Different spec I suppose.
Hardley Davidson recommend Diesel engine oil if you can't find genuine
Harley oil...

 

wrote in

GTX comes in 5l packs, so even better value. Last time I bought one of the
10W/40 Eurolight GTX [1] it came with a free 1l pack too. Very handy it is.
Packs neatly into luggage for trips away, no spillage and it has a nice clear
strip on the side so you know how much oil you've put in.[2]

[1] bit dearer than cooking GTX but the recommended viscoscity for my bike
[2] easy to overfill the boxer so I only add oil in 200ml slugs

 

But these molecules are close.

 

Nothing. Engine oils are all basically the same (give or take viscosity etc)
and the one oil that the FJOC found to suit the FJ just happened to be a
'diesel' engine oil. I suppose it could just as easily work the other way
around.

Buzby

 

Buzby said:

It's usually got more detergent in it. Might keep the engine cleaner?

 

Some cash and carry did a deal on GTX recently- can't remember who but I
bought four five litre containers for 6 quid (plus vat) each.

Which was nice.

But more concerningly, what am I meant to do with all the used oil. I
had a look around my garage and counted 7 5l containers and 1 25l drum
of it. So that's about 60l of used engine oil.

I wonder if I should just put the odd 5l container into the tank of my
diesel car or maybe run it through my central heating. It seems a shame
to simply waste it. I mean, road diesel is almost 80p a litre and on
that basis I've almost 50 quids worth...

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique,
typed

Just an idea here, take it or leave, do what you will:

Used engine oil is quite flammable if you get a reasonable fire going
first.

Now, let your imagination run wild.