Ok here it is!
Is factory motor oil ok to use in an ATV because the manual says that the Honda oil has additives just for ATV's. I currently use Honda oil but it is expensive and you can buy a quality motor oil on sale. If any info please respond
harmon_cl@hotmail.com

 

I would use Mobil 1 synthetic

 

that's pretty funny. Even if it's true it's still funny. Reminds me of my dad, he'd get a car in to paint/restore and if it was an old vette or something sporty he'd put a "special edition" sticker on the 1/4 panel. Then come up with some reason for it being a limited edition.

 

Hello There,

I STRONGLY recommend that you stick with the Honda Pro oil or another brand of Motorcycle oil. First off, the warranty is VOID if you use a non-motorcycle oil, I have checked into this already, Secondly, the gear box shares the same oil as the motor and there are additives for the gear box as well. The bottom line: Oil is cheaper than parts so I would not go cheap on the oil. If you can not afford the oil, you may want to sell the quad because you defintely will not be able to afford parts.

Rancherman
2000 Rancher no-ES

 

any name brand 10-40w is ok as long as it is changed regularly I would recommend going to a 100% synthetic after you have about 20 hours on your engin. Don't go to synthetic until you have at least 10-15 hours on the motor so it has time
to fully break in.
the additive they talk about are things like zinc and phosphorous and a few others choice items added to protect air cooled engins. I use AMSOIL 10-40w 100% synthetic from what I've read its rated one of the best for air cooled Engines due to its high zinc content, high Viscosity and flash point but definitely go to 100% synthetic after break-in for maximum engine life AMSOIL even states there oil has all of these protective additives. check out there web site http://www.amsoil.com/products/amo.html

also there used to be an excelent artical that went into great detail about oils in the tech section of atv connection web site but they pulled it because it was over a year old or some thing. I contacted them about it becuase I wanted to keep a copy for my self, they said they would repost it but it still has not happened. contact them and ask them to repost the artical "Everything you ever wanted to know about motor oil" it has alot of good info and shows how the major oils rated.
As far as Warranty goes the way I understand it as long as the oil you use is SG/SC rated oil or what ever your MFG. calls out your still covered.

 

cunderwood:

maybe it is fine for your rancher, as it was for my foreman S, but the GN-4 10w40 would break up in my 400ex, and get bast the rings, i would also get transmittion noise due to the low viscosity.

I use mobile 1 15w50 now, and it is great.

If you have a high performance quad 400, or highly modified 300ex, then i'd recomend synthetic.

but in a racher where the engine dosen't get that hot just use regular 10w40 GN-4