What is the best motor oil for a trx 400ex?. i have heard that specific motor oils can mess up the cluthces or sumthing like that . i was just wanting to know because by next week i will be owning a 2006 model.

 

Basic oil info: http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm

If you pick a motorcycle specific oil that is API SG/JASO MA (just like your owner's manual says!), you will not go wrong. The SG insures that it has additives to protect high pressure areas like your transmission gears and cam, and the MA insures that it will not make your clutch slip. Beyond that, the synthetics have advantages over plain old petroleum oil.

If I lived in the frozen north, I would run 10W40 in summer and 5 or 10W30 in winter. In the milder south, 15 or 20W50 in summer and 10W40 or in winter.

Personally, I like Maxima's oils (http://www.maximausa.com/). They have the best additive package in the business! I run Extra ester synthetic in everything, but if you are on a budget, they have an inexpensive Premium petroleum oil, and a synthetic/petroleum Blend.

Just a note about the 400EX: It is air cooled and can run hot when pushed hard, plus its cam design makes that an area suceptible to high wear, so it is best to go with thicker oils and synthetics in this engine!

 

Amsoil is one of the best.

check it out at
https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/mcf.aspx

 

Just for the record, Amsoil and Mobil 1 are group IV PAO synthetics, and Rotella is a group III synthetic. Group V synthetics are ester based, and a word to the wise....the esters have properties that make them superior to the other two groups!

http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf

 

I'm new to the ATV scene. My local shop has Bel-Ray and the Honda branded oil. Bel-Ray oil suggested 5w-30 and Honda branded 10w-40. Anybody have preference between these 2? I currently run the Bel-Ray but i have seen mixed reviews on it.

 

Bel-Ray has synthetic blends, but so is Honda's HP4. All blends are meant to give you some of the advantages of synthetic, while at the same time keeping the price down.

I would rather pay for shipping, than patronize a dealership that doesn't carry the oil of my choice. If I can't find my favorite Maxima oil at the dealer, I just get it by mail order: http://www.onoffroad.com/

 

Congratulations on selecting the most reliable and trouble free sport quad on the market. One reason for the exceptional reliability of the 400EX is the very large motor oil capacity and very efficient large oil cooler. With an oil capacity of close to 2-1/2 quarts there is no need to be spending $6. to $10. per quart on motor oil. Another reason for the reliability is the low RPM and low compression of the 400 motor. I run diesel spec motor oil (either Chevron Delo or Shell Rotella T in 15-40) in every gas and diesel motor I own and also in every 2 stroke tranny. Maybe if you were thinking about the uni-cam 450R with a motor oil capacity closer to only a meager 3/4 quart I might see some wisdom in putting out the big bucks for oil but certainly not on a 400EX. So don't fall for the hype on expensive motorcycle synthetic oils. And because the 400EX motor oil lubes motor, tranny, and clutch you need to be smart and select a good oil like those above and not just any old car motor oil.

 

I can't believe that there are people who can afford the price of a quad (or quads), a truck to haul them around, a toy hauler to camp in, gas for all of those, tires, mods, etc., etc.......and they still think that $7/liter is to much to spend to get an oil that has superior chemistry and the best additive package in the industry.

 

Guess it depends if you need superior chemistry or the best additive package in the industry? I have built and been around race engines for many many years. I have seen MANY blown up engines and have yet to find one that was attributed to an oil chemistry problem.
Lots of detonation problems. Lots of hard part failures. Lots of clearance problems; but not one oil related problem.

It boils down to a cost benefit ratio. The more $$$'s I save on oil, plugs, or anything else, the more I can spend on go fast parts. This formula has served me well. If synthetic has a good cost benifit ratio for you, use it. For 90% of the people on this board; IMHO it dosen't. Who am I to tell you where to spend your money?

Lets race and see if you made a good decision on where you spent your money. I will have my quad 15+ years. Lets see if I need a rebuild in 15+ years.

I'm not knocking synthetic oil. It's good stuff. I even use it in one of our race engines.

 

hey guys thanx for the info