Searching the past posts on oil, and not getting much solid info.

Im running the Valvoline ATV 10w30 dino at $2.30 a quart. Im a true believer im Mobil 1 Synthetic and would feel beter using it. I have herd referenc to mobil 1 here on the bomb ds board, but knowone has comented if its good or bad for the clutch? I have been running Mobil 1 in my SP600 for years with good results, but is an 85 vintage bike.

Im re-doing my clutch with bomb plates and RWR springs, and am concerned about the oil. Dont want to pay much more then 5 bucks a quart, and dont want to wory about frying the new clutch due to a bad oil choice.

So:

Mobil 1: Good or bad in the DS? And what viscosity recomended.

Valvoline ATV: Good or bad in the DS? And what viscosity recomended.

I run in 10*F winter to summer in 90*F

Thanks
Dave....

 

The valvaline oil should be fine. There are alot of us that run castrol gtx with heavy duty clutch springs with no problems at all. And it's about half the cost of the valvaline ATV oil. The honda hp4 without moly is a great choice too but not cheap. There are alot of oils that will work do a search and you will find lots of info...

 

I take it the DS has a wet clutch? If so, don't use any oils that have the words "Energy Conserving" on the API label circle. They contain "friction modifiers" aka moly additives. The only ones I've seen that do are multigrade oils, namely 5w30 or 10w30 grades. You're better off using oil that is designed to work with wet clutches in motorcycle type engines. The Valvoline ATV oil you're already using should be fine as far as the clutch is concerned, check the label. The synthetic is better protection, no question, but make sure it's safe for the clutch plates.

Recommended reading

And more...

 

I have to find out about the mobil 1 rating being ok for wet clutch or not, but i have been using it in my SP600 for years, so i would guess it is, but ill have to try to find out for sure. Based on the sugested reading in the last post, this is my order of choices based on protection (assuming the mobil 1 is ok for the clutch?)

#1 Mobil 1
#2 Castrol GTX
#3 Valvoline ATV or Honda HP4

Sounds like people have had good luck with the castrol GTX in the DS with HD springs. Assuming it is safe for the clutch, it is my first choice of dino oil. Oil is a personal issue, much like religion to people, so everyone is entitled to there own opinion. But based on price, id choose.

#1 Castrol GTX
#2 Mobil 1

If these are indeed ok for the clutch, thats what ill be using, but Ive been partial to both for Quite a few years...... Ive never used the Honda HP4, But it rated a bit lower in the viscosity retention test anyway. The Valvoline atv, I Havnt found much data, but for under 2 bucks a quart and being all dino oils, id go for the Castrol GTX..

Again I wanted to gather opionins, and to each there own. I also wanted to find out if Castrol GTX and Mobil 1 are ok for the clutch. So far just opinions on those are yes, but no actual yes's.

So that remains to be seen. Thanks for the input and the links.

Got any more opinions on teh subject, I'd love to hear them....

Dave (berksglh)

 

Chilly said: dont use any oils that say "Energy Conserving" on the API label circle. They contain "friction modifiers" aka moly additives, and bad for clutch.

Buttfungus said: There are alot of us that run castrol gtx with heavy duty clutch springs with no problems at all.

As stated in the 2001 DS shop manual: SAE 10w-40 4 stroke mineral based oil API service SH or SJ. do not use synthetic or blends.

After a trip to the local auto parts store, Here are the oils they stock that meet the API SH or SJ requirements, and dont have the "Energy Conserving" statement on the API label circle:

Mobil 1 15w50 ($4.59) (full synt)
castrol GTX 10-w40 ($1.79) (dino)
Valvoline ATV 10-w40 ($2.65) (dino)
Castrol Syntec Blend 10-w40 ($2.69) (blend)
valvoline durablend 10-w40 ($2.69) (blend)

Most of the other weight oils, like 0-w30, 10w-30, 5w-30.....and so on, all said "Energy Conserving" on the API label circle.

I think 15w-30 mobil 1 is a bit thick to run in the winter? But the GTX 10-40 sounds like its fully approved per the DS manual (10w-40, mineral based dino oil, API service SH and SJ) And ther are a few using it with good results allready.

Im not a big fan of valvoline dino oil. I was allways sold on GTX in my non turbo cars. So i guess my questions were basically answered..

 

I have been using castrol gtx 10w-40 in my ds since 2001. No complaints![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Thats what i wanted to hear. Thanks....

At $1.79 or less for a quart, the money i save on Oil changes, i can use to pay for the Lectron 46 my bike seems to be missing?

Dave.....

 

[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

I can't even remember what I pay for the Honda HP4. I usually buy it buy the case. But it works for me. There seems to be a lot more oil choices out there then there used to be.

 

i worry more about the engine than the clutch, the clutch is easy to change, the engine cost a lot more.