Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

Time to do an oil/filter change on the DRZ400 and wonder if I should
go with semi synthetic or just normal SAE10-40. Manual recommends
10-40 and makes no mention of anything synthetic. Are there pros/cons
for either? I use the bike almost strictly in the streets and hardly
any highway use or speeds in excess of 110 km/h (in case this matters)

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 14, 11:11 pm, Eat Dirt <eatdirt...@gmail,com > wrote:
> Time to do an oil/filter change on the DRZ400 and wonder if I should
> go with semi synthetic or just normal SAE10-40. Manual recommends
> 10-40 and makes no mention of anything synthetic. Are there pros/cons
> for either? I use the bike almost strictly in the streets and hardly
> any highway use or speeds in excess of 110 km/h (in case this matters)



1st thing on synth, steer clear until the bike is fully broken in.

Then select what type of synthetic carefully, too much of certain
additives, and you'll get a slipping clutch.

I'm not the guru about which synth is best, or what the dangerous
additive package is. I do know mobil1 used to be safe, but now that's
in question.

I was a rotella diesel oil man myself, then they started added bad-for-
wet-clutch friction modifiers to that, so I'm back to castrol 10w40.

Dave

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

In article
<2fb6d07b-8673-4787-b690-320c126018bd@8g2000hse.googlegroups,com >,
XR650L_Dave <spamTHISbrp@yahoo,com > wrote:

> I was a rotella diesel oil man myself, then they started added bad-for-
> wet-clutch friction modifiers to that, so I'm back to castrol 10w40.

WHAT???

You sure 'bout that? This is news to me.

--
Charles
'99 YZ250

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 9:36 am, HardWorkingDog <har...@mush.man> wrote:
> In article
> <2fb6d07b-8673-4787-b690-320c12601...@8g2000hse.googlegroups,com >,
>
> XR650L Dave <spamTHIS...@yahoo,com > wrote:
> > I was a rotella diesel oil man myself, then they started added bad-for-
> > wet-clutch friction modifiers to that, so I'm back to castrol 10w40.
>
> WHAT???
>
> You sure 'bout that? This is news to me.
>
> --
> Charles
> '99 YZ250


Heard it on the internet, it must be true.

Worse, heard it on thumpertalk.


Dave

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 14, 11:11 pm, Eat Dirt <eatdirt...@gmail,com > wrote:
> Time to do an oil/filter change on the DRZ400 and wonder if I should
> go with semi synthetic or just normal SAE10-40. Manual recommends
> 10-40 and makes no mention of anything synthetic. Are there pros/cons
> for either? I use the bike almost strictly in the streets and hardly
> any highway use or speeds in excess of 110 km/h (in case this matters)

Use any 10W-40, they're all pretty much the same. I use SuperTech
(WalMart brand) 10W-40 in just about everything (except my CRF).
SuperTech tested out as a decent (not great) oil, but is right up
there with most of the name brands at half the price. If you change
oil before it gets real dirty (like you should anyhow), lubrication
longevity is not an issue.

JayC

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 10:17 am, JayC <j...@sysmatrix,net > wrote:
> On Apr 14, 11:11 pm, Eat Dirt <eatdirt...@gmail,com > wrote:
>
> > Time to do an oil/filter change on the DRZ400 and wonder if I should
> > go with semi synthetic or just normal SAE10-40. Manual recommends
> > 10-40 and makes no mention of anything synthetic. Are there pros/cons
> > for either? I use the bike almost strictly in the streets and hardly
> > any highway use or speeds in excess of 110 km/h (in case this matters)
>
> Use any 10W-40, they're all pretty much the same.  I use SuperTech
> (WalMart brand) 10W-40 in just about everything (except my CRF).
> SuperTech tested out as a decent (not great) oil, but is right up
> there with most of the name brands at half the price.  If you change
> oil before it gets real dirty (like you should anyhow), lubrication
> longevity is not an issue.
>
> JayC

Funny you should mention the Walzymart 10-40 oil as just week I
replaced the oil in the GZp305 with that very oil. It only cost $2/
litre. I was thinking in using it for the DRZ but wasn't sure if it's
best to go with semi for that nicer, newer bike (which by now has
almost 6,000 km). I suppose that as long as the oil is changed at
around 2,000 to 2,500 km that any cheaper 10-40 ought to do. So yeah,
unless someone can tell me otherwise I'll just use this very oil. It
seems to be working fine with the other bike. thanks.

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

> I suppose that as long as the oil is changed at
> around 2,000 to 2,500 km that any cheaper 10-40 ought to do.

I'm thinking more like 500-1000km at the most. I wouldn't run ANY oil
longer than that.

JayC

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 1:19 pm, JayC <j...@sysmatrix,net > wrote:
> I'm thinking more like 500-1000km at the most.  I wouldn't run ANY oil
> longer than that.
>
> JayC

Isn't that overkill? Well, maybe not on the 25 year old GPz where the
new oil/filter is already darkening after just a few days. But the oil
in the DRZ appears as clear as back when it was last changed, some
2,400 km ago. I suppose the old engine isn't holding up as well and
may require more frequent changes but one should be able to go a good
2,000 on a new engine, no?

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 4:51 pm, Eat Dirt <eatdirt...@gmail,com > wrote:
> On Apr 15, 1:19 pm, JayC <j...@sysmatrix,net > wrote:
>
> > I'm thinking more like 500-1000km at the most. I wouldn't run ANY oil
> > longer than that.
>
> > JayC
>
> Isn't that overkill? Well, maybe not on the 25 year old GPz where the
> new oil/filter is already darkening after just a few days. But the oil
> in the DRZ appears as clear as back when it was last changed, some
> 2,400 km ago. I suppose the old engine isn't holding up as well and
> may require more frequent changes but one should be able to go a good
> 2,000 on a new engine, no?


oil, cheap. engine, expensive.
worry less, live more.

btw, I only use Shell Helix 15w50, change when I feel the need, that
happens no more than after 1000km after last change. XR250 currently,
lots of other singles two and four strokes before, same oil...

oil gets dark because rings wear and let combustion gasses seep into
bottom end. New engine, new rings, oil clear, old engine, old rings,
black oil... Valve seals plays a little role on that too... Crud that
accumulates in the cases also contributes to turn the oil black... New
engine, no crud, old engines that have seen lots of different types of
oil and change periods have more probability to have crud.

oil discussion is kind of like religion discussion... Everybody is
right and wrong at the same time...

-- Tiago

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

> > I'm thinking more like 500-1000km at the most.  I wouldn't run ANY oil
> > longer than that.
>
> Isn't that overkill? Well, maybe not on the 25 year old GPz where the
> new oil/filter is already darkening after just a few days. But the oil
> in the DRZ appears as clear as back when it was last changed, some
> 2,400 km ago. I suppose the old engine isn't holding up as well and
> may require more frequent changes but one should be able to go a good
> 2,000 on a new engine, no?

I'd never go that long on a bike - no way. I was thinking about my
post yesterday while chatting with the retard at the auto parts store,
wondering about my in-the-head mi to km conversion. If you are dirt
riding, I'd change the oil at no greater interval than 500km,
generally less. I usually do 30-50 miles in a typical woods ride, and
(on my XR400 anyway) I change the oil every 3-4 rides. It almost
always looks just about as good coming out as going in, but I don't
beat on the clutch much on that bike. I change the filter every 2-3
oil changes. If I change the oil and it looks at all dirty, I do the
filter too.

Lubricating the engine is only part of the job that oil does. It all
suspends dirt and debris, and the only way to get that out is to
change the oil. Using a more expensive longer lasting oil, and
changing it less, simply allows for more grime to circulate around in
your motor and eventually form gunk deposits, IMHO. I like to use
cheap oil and change it often. It comes out way before it breaks down
anyway, and my motor never has crud floating around in it. Just my
way. Besides, the bike only takes ~2 quarts, so I only have to throw
$3-4 at it every few rides, to keep the oil essentially new.

JayC

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 10:17 am, JayC <j...@sysmatrix,net > wrote:
 I use SuperTech
> (WalMart brand) 10W-40 in just about everything (except my CRF).

Would you use that on a 2 stroke 250cc bike? I hate the idea of
spending $12 on so called 'gear saver' when a 10-40 oil that doesn't
have detergent added to should work just as well. What if any
detergent is added to the Walzymart 10-40?
I think I last used Castrol 10-40 and it seems to be working well, I
don't get any slippage.

Charles/Working Dog - what do you use on your YZ?

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

*************************************

>On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:57:30 -0700 (PDT), Eat Dirt <eatdirt339@gmail,com > wrote:

>On Apr 15, 10:17 am, JayC <j...@sysmatrix,net > wrote:
> I use SuperTech
>> (WalMart brand) 10W-40 in just about everything (except my CRF).
>
>Would you use that on a 2 stroke 250cc bike? I hate the idea of
>spending $12 on so called 'gear saver' when a 10-40 oil that doesn't
>have detergent added to should work just as well. What if any
>detergent is added to the Walzymart 10-40?
>I think I last used Castrol 10-40 and it seems to be working well, I
>don't get any slippage.
>
>Charles/Working Dog - what do you use on your YZ?
***********************************

When we were racing DR350 bikes, I tested every "regular" oil
available through my local auto parts store.

No 10w40 oil still looked pretty after the end of one enduro.
Castrol 10w40 looked better than the rest.
In Josh's bike, even that oil had seriously lost lubricity before the
race was over. The oil in mine was very black.
One race.
The WalMart 10w40 oil did no better than the Texico 10w40. In my
bike, it seriously lost lubricity by the end of the short course.


With Castrol 20w50, my oil would be just starting to turn dark (these
were new bikes during the test) by the end of the enduro.
In Josh's bike, the oil was starting to break down just a bit.
(note: Josh's (air cooled) DR350R would get so hot that he blistered
his foot through his boots in three different races. He would run that
bike WFO the whole event.)

The summary is that at that time ('96 & '97), Castrol and Valvoline
20w50 was the only locally available oil which would protect our
engines for a whole race.

MX Tuner swears by Mobil 1 15w50 non-synthetic. It's good stuff.








Wudsracer/Jim Cook
Smackover Racing
'06 Gas Gas DE300
'82 Husqvarna XC250
Team LAGNAF

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

In article <qvka04h53hbmvo64605f6s3cphtjn6g4lf@4ax,com >,
Wudsracer <babbaloo@Lucy,com > wrote:

> 20w50 was the only locally available oil which would protect our
> engines for a whole race.
>
> MX Tuner swears by Mobil 1 15w50 non-synthetic. It's good stuff.

non-synthetic? I thought Mobil 1 IS synthetic.

--
Charles
'99 YZ250

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

On Apr 15, 7:34 pm, Wudsracer <babba...@Lucy,com > wrote:

> When we were racing DR350 bikes, I tested every "regular" oil
> available through my  local auto parts store.
>
>   The summary is that at that time ('96 & '97), Castrol and Valvoline
> 20w50 was the only locally available oil which would protect our
> engines for a whole race.

Fine bike these DR350, I've ridden them and a friend has one. A far
cry from the newer technology of the DRZ400 but still quite a reliable
machine. Must've been awesome (and scary) to race these, especially
due to the lack of rear disk brakes in an enduro race.

Please keep in mind that I'm in Canada and that unlike most wimps
around here, I ride the bike year round (why people park their bikes
when leaves turn yellow is beyond me), often at -10C (that's a lot of
negative F). Although I park the bike in a heated parkade I wonder if
a 20-50 or even a 15-50 to be too thick an oil for these cold days.
Especially if I park the bike outside for a couple of hours in such a
chilly day. Should I stick to 10-40? I don't ride the bike enough to
justify two changes a year, so I don't plan to use one oil for the
cold months, another for the hot ones. After all in Alberta even in
the summer it can be really cold on certain days (I'm sure that if
Tiago Rocha was to visit Canada even on a summer day he'd agree to
that)

Re: Which oil to use on the DRZ400?

>**************************************
>On Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:47:51 -0700 (PDT), Eat Dirt <eatdirt339@gmail,com > wrote:
>**************************************
>On Apr 15, 7:34 pm, Wudsracer <babba...@Lucy,com > wrote:
>
>> When we were racing DR350 bikes, I tested every "regular" oil
>> available through my  local auto parts store.
>>
>>   The summary is that at that time ('96 & '97), Castrol and Valvoline
>> 20w50 was the only locally available oil which would protect our
>> engines for a whole race.
>***************************************
>Fine bike these DR350, I've ridden them and a friend has one. A far
>cry from the newer technology of the DRZ400 but still quite a reliable
>machine. Must've been awesome (and scary) to race these, especially
>due to the lack of rear disk brakes in an enduro race.
>
>Please keep in mind that I'm in Canada and that unlike most wimps
>around here, I ride the bike year round (why people park their bikes
>when leaves turn yellow is beyond me), often at -10C (that's a lot of
>negative F). Although I park the bike in a heated parkade I wonder if
>a 20-50 or even a 15-50 to be too thick an oil for these cold days.
>Especially if I park the bike outside for a couple of hours in such a
>chilly day. Should I stick to 10-40? I don't ride the bike enough to
>justify two changes a year, so I don't plan to use one oil for the
>cold months, another for the hot ones. After all in Alberta even in
>the summer it can be really cold on certain days (I'm sure that if
>Tiago Rocha was to visit Canada even on a summer day he'd agree to
>that)
>****************************************

The DR350R (both of them) we raced has a rear disk brake.

What was scary, was racing (trying to, anyway) them before I had the
suspension modified. That bike slapped my head on the ground twice in
the first six miles I raced it. Laying on the ground, I almost cried;
thinking of how it was a brand new bike that Deb had bought for me for
Father's Day. I knew I was stuck with it, and it would probably kill
me if this was what I had to look forward to.
$500 to Scotts Performance was equal to a whole new bike in terms of
predictability and racing ability. I could now push it to the edge.
I basically left the engine alone (air box cut-outs only), and if I
wanted to go faster, just didn't back off the throttle.


I think, considering your climate, that the Shell Rotella Synthetic
5w40 ($15/gallon at WalMart) would probably give you the best
compromise of low viscosity in cold weather and protection when it
gets warmed to operating temp.
If you don't mind waiting for the engine to warm thoroughly in cold
weather, I would go with Shell Rotella 15w40 ($8/gallon) or Mobil1
15w50 ($?).

Good Ridding to Ya!





Wudsracer/Jim Cook
Smackover Racing
'06 Gas Gas DE300
'82 Husqvarna XC250
Team LAGNAF