Any thoughts about running a heavier oil during the dog days of summer?

 

I am going to break this down into two different questions, one about oil weights and the other about GN4.

ATV engines (especially air cooled) have much slacker tolerances than a modern car (which can use 5 or 10W30 year round), so it is a good idea to go to a heavier oil for hot weather. What you need to decide is just how hot is hot where you ride??? I swtich to a 50 weight when the daily high temps are going to be over 80 degrees. Here in the southwest (places like Las Vegas, Palm Springs, Phoenix) where it will be over 100 degrees every day, a heavy summer oil is absolutely necessary.

In gereral, I would say that in the frozen north, run 5W30 in winter and 10W40 in summer. In the warmer south, 10W40 in winter and 20W50 in summer. In the middle states, you might get by with a 10W40 all year.

GN4 is another matter. First off it is petroleum (dinosaur) oil, and you would be better off with a sythetic. Synthetics have huge advantages over dino oil. Second, Honda oils are no longer API SG, so I no longer use them (they are now SJ). For an explanation why that is important see http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm If you still insist on a Honda oil, at least use their HP4 synthetic blend (without moly).

I have done a lot of study on oils! Synthetics are more expensive, but oil is no place to get cheap and try to save a couple of bucks. My conclusion is that ESTER SYNTHETIC oils are the best you will find, hands down! My personal preference for your machine would be MAXIMA EXTRA http://www.maximausa.com/

Some info on different synthetics http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf