My buddy just bought a YFZ 450 a couple of months ago. I've been suggesting he switch to Synthetic oil, but first he said the manual said NOT to use synthetic, I didn't believe this so we looked it up and it never said that, it simply stated not to use an oil rated higher then what their recommendations were. I use RotellaT synthetic in everything and it's advertised for "diesel" use but their website basically states it is fine for almost any 4 stroke engine.

My buddy won't touch it. It is a 5-40 rating with the manual suggesting 5-30, how much of a difference is there? I also suggested he order oil filters online from ebay or RMATV/MC but he goes to the dealer and pays twice as much. He bought only Yamalube for over like $4 a quart <yikes>.

Octane? This just came up in a thread but we were riding and he wouldn't TOUCH my gas can with 87 octane, I told him a partial tank wouldn't matter since he already had a 1/4 tank of 91...he showed me the manual <sigh>.

We had a strong debate over breaking in the motor. He wanted to follow the manual suggestion of an easy break in. SCREW THAT I told him so when we went out riding the first time I baited him into drag racinig my DS, figuring that should at least get him a decent break in.

I understand the owners manuals are simply suggestions but IMO they are very cautious suggestions. I'm not saying you should ignore everything but there does appear to be some grey area regarding some things.

Now he wants to put a new pipe on it and jet the carb.......IMO this completely flies in the face of ignoring the owners manual. OH well, his quad, not mine.

 

That is funny[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] Good story![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

I worry about what oil I run because there is a fine line between excellent lubrication and allowing your clutch to hook up like it should. Some synthetics are just too slippery and you end up having clutch issues. Kind of a tug of war. I just change my oil often.

I wouldn't ever put 87 octane in a YFZ450. They are already 11.4:1 or 11.9:1 compression depending on the year. Tat is borderline needing to run some race gas in your premium to be safe.

He should be ok on the break-in. Some mechanic at the dealership probably couldn't help himself and got on it and put it under good load in the parking lot. Now that I know how break-ins work, I chuckle at what the manual says about them.

I would simply ask him if it says anywhere in the manual that it is ok to put a pipe on it, lol.

Bottom line, I am backing off of suggesting things to my close friends/riding buddies. Guess who's fault it will be if something doesn't go just right..............[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

Have a good day![img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I hear ya. Ultimately it's not my decision anyway I just happen to spend a lot more times reading these forums and getting advice.

I've never experienced any clutch slippage and I run synthetic in my DS, dirtbike and ran it in the Honda 750 streetbike I used to have.

I think it all boils down to what a person is most comfortable with.

 

How long have you been running sythetic oil? I never tried because my dealer told me it will mess your transmission up. And then that day I read in the owners mannual and it says the same thing, so I never tried to use it.

 

For almost two years. Go to Shells RotellaT FAQ page.