Good evening Gents,
I have 4 litres of Motomaster Formula 1 Premium 4 Stroke ATV oil, should I use it in my machine?
Says it meets or exceeds API, SL/SJ/SG & SF and JASO MA specifications.
or should I use the expensive Honda oil?
I know this has been beat to death on previous post but couldn't find them
Thanks
Seemer

 

I don't know much about that particular oil, but if it is an appropriate weight (say 10w40), meets or exceeds SG, and is JASO MA it should work fine.

ReconRanger is always up to speed on the best oils, and if he doesn't chime in, you might send him a PM for a detailed and informed opinion.

 

Some background reading: ThumperFaq: 4-Stroke Oil

Oils Well That Ends Well, Part 1 - Sport Rider Magazine

It is motorcycle specific API SG/JASO MA, so that covers the basics. I found this site, but could not get the specs to open:

Motomaster Formula 1 Motorcycle Oil | Canadian Tire

Could not find any info on its chemistry, ie. is it petrolrum or synthetic. If synthetic, there are 3 very different types of synthetics so one needs to know which specific type it is:

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

This is probably a petroleum oil. If it is synthetic it is most likely Group III if the price is on the low side. The best oils out there are some combination of Group IV PAO and Group V ester, but most folks balk at the high price.

So....this is probably a good basic petroleum oil! Is it the finest oil you can find for your motorcycle engine....in a word no, but you probably didn't spend a fortune on it either. Change it at a reasonable interval, not the ludicrous 100 hours that your owner's manual suggests!

My personal favorites are ester based performance oils like Redline and Maxima Extra/Ultra/530MX. For an inexpensive petroleum oil I like Maxima Premium, or better yet Maxima Blend.

 

And just for the record, there is nothing particularly special about Honda oils....and where I shop they aren't actually all that "expensive".

I would certainly run HP4 (a petroleum/synthetic blend) rather than GN4 (but not HP4M). They have a new synthetic HP4S which is probably PAO based (???).

 

Thanks for the help guys!!
I think I will use up what I have and change it after the fall hunt,
with a better oil.
Much appreciated
Seemer