Got a 98 Foreman 450es and I need to change the oil, etc. Don't have manual or anything else so don't really know what all else needs to be done regularly when the oil is changed. Also what weight/brand of oil are you guys running?

 

i use 10 40 and i do my oil 2 times a year, once in the spring and once in the fall cause i use my quad year round

 

i too use 10w40 synthetic, along with new filter, clutch adjustment, about every three months. but i ride 200 to 300 miles a month.

 

Use a motorcycle specific oil that is API SG/JASO MA. Some basic oil info: http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm

The synthetics have many properties that make them superior to old fashion petroleum oils. I prefer Maxima Extra (http://www.maximausa.com/products/4s...synthextra.asp), an ester synthetic and the best oil I have ever been able to find! http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf

If I lived in the cold north, I would run 5W30 in winter and 10W40 in summer. In warmer southern latitudes, 10W40 in winter and 15 or 20W50 in the hot summer months.

Be sure you don't put the oil filter in backward!

 

10w30 is fine

 

Just wondering how you can make a statement like "10W30 is fine"? What if he lives in Phoenix where it's 100+ degrees every summer day, and even 20W50 is just barely going to cut it...........especially in an air cooled engine???

 

u said 5w30 for the north, and i said 10w30 would be fine, in the desert that might just be a little too thin. by the way the post never says were he is from [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

I'm in Mississippi....pretty darn hot, guess 10/30 would be ok. Heck I'm not even sure where the drain plug is on this thing.....or the oil filter.....guess I'll be finding out soon.

 

He never said where he was from, and you never said you were specing this for winter, and not summer! I would still go with 5W30 for winter in the north, for better flow at a cold startup.

This is an air cooled engine that is likely to overheat now and then and you live where it is warm year round, so you want to lean toward the thick side, rather than the thin side!

What oil brands do you have available, at your dealer??? You will also need to change the gear oil in your differentials. Had you thought of that???

 

I have the same ATV and was actually going to change my differential gear oil in the front axle soon, because there is a leaky seal. Any information I should be aware of before I start?