I was wondering if buying the honda hp4 for my rancher would be worth the price, since i can buy amsoil for about the same. I'm guessing amsoil is a better oil anyways, but i was just looking for some input i guess...

 

If you read your owners manual, Honda does not even spec their own synth blend HP4 for the Rancher........only GN4 a petroleum oil. If you read the back of the HP4 bottle, it says "not for machines with automatic transmissions or centrifugal clutches". My hunch is that HP4 is to slippery, and may make the clutch slip.

Knowing this, I have been experimenting with other synthetic oils in my Ranchers, and have experienced no problems. My preference has always been the expensive ester synthetics, which have some distinct advantages over the PAO synthetics like Mobil 1 and Amsoil. Curently I am running Maxima Extra, with no problems. My second choice would be Motul 5100, and in last place would be Mobil 1 or Amsoil. None of these are inexpensive! Oil is no place to try to save money, in my opinion. If you insist on going cheap, I would pick Maxima ATV Premium 4T which is a petroleum oil.

Some good reading:
http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm
http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Consumables.html#Oil

 

There are two versions of HP4 - one with moly and one without. What has caused problems for clutches in the past with the HP4 is the moly bonding to the metal plates and burning up clutches. Using the HP4 without moly is perfectly safe, but go with the Amsoil. Amsoil is a very superior oil to the HP4 and will not cause any problems with the clutch as there are no energy conserving agents like moly in it.
There is no such thing as 'too slippery' with true synthetics. The problems in the past with certain synthetic blends have been the energy conserving agents that bond to metal surfaces.

 

actually, my owners manual says gn4 or hp4, but without moly additives

 

If the newer owners manuals are now specing HP4, that is good news! There are two kinds of HP4 oil. HP4 without moly in a gold bottle, and HP4M with moly in a silver bottle. Don't use HP4M.

I don't know why Honda has gone to API SJ oils, rather than SG (which has more zinc)???