hey guys, i have bean out of the sport for a while and just decided it was time to have fun again, so i picked my self up a 2006 450r. i have a few questions. first off i have done some reading up on the engine and tranny oils, i understand the best tranny oil is 80w Shock proof gear oil from red line. i also hear that bell ray thumper 10w-30 is good for the engine. how often are you guys changing your oils? how much dose each cost? i have heard that you are supposed to put a little more tranny oil in than recommended is this true? i found the syte glass for the tranny oil but cant find one for the engine oil and there is no dip stick, is there supposed to be one? what dose every one think of the 06 model year, any problems? I have the electric start moddel and when it is hot it seems to have trouble starting some times is this normal. thanks for any help.

 

The sight glass is for the engine oil, NOT the trans oil.
I'm sure ReconRanger will post a link about engine & trans oil. I change my engine oil (I have an '04) about every 15-20 hours and the trans oil every other time I change the engine oil. You add the trans oild until it runs out the check bolt hole and then add some more after that.
The '06 and newer are a little fickle to start. When it is hot DO NOT touch the throttle until it is started or you will flood it.
If you don;t have one, you should get a shop manual for it. I have one for mine and I have found it invaluable.
Good luck and have fun!!

 

Each oil change will cost about 12 bucks or so. Depending on how much your oil cost.

 

Yeah....that is the ENGINE oil on the left side! Don't go putting tranny oil in there, especially if it has ShockProof!!!

The TRANNY oil is on the right side. Mine is an 04 which is a little different from the 06. It has a weep hole instead of a sight glass or dipstick. I fill mine to the weep hole, then take it for a very short ride, top it up, and then add an extra 100cc's.

I go a max of 5 hours on an engine oil change, and change the filter every other time. (You don't need to change tranny oil nearly that often.) All the 450's (not just the Honda) need frequent oil changes, because of dilution by fuel:

http://www.belray.com/scripts/...1d7-b921-64a4cf6d0144


These engines can benefit from frequent valve adjustments, and it is absolutely essential that you keep the air filter clean and serviced. Any grit that gets in there, will toast your valves very quickly. I would never run a K&N on this engine!

I am a (bio)chemist, and am absolutely convinced that the ester synthetic oils are the only way to go on any performance machine like the R. Trouble is, they are expensive so most folks balk at spending the extra money....more fool them!

I have settled on Redline MC oil in the engine side. It is very slick JASO MB, and I am seeing a performance increase running it! In the trans, I run Redline 80W Gear Oil with ShockProof (it is bizarre stuff!).

My second choice in oils would be Maxima Ultra in the engine side (or Maxima 530MX in very cold weather), and Maxima Extra in the tranny side. These are a little cheaper than Redline.

Some good oil reads:

http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm


http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0308_oil/index.html

 

I prefer to use Honda's oil, GN4. I use the same on the motor and the tranny side. I change it about every 3 rides. Motor, tranny and oil filter get changed every 3 rides.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

I prefer to use Honda's oil, GN4. I use the same on the motor and the tranny side. I change it about every 3 rides. Motor, tranny and oil filter get changed every 3 rides.</end quote></div>

Got to say that I don't think petroleum based GN4 is up to what this engine can dish out! GN4 is fine for the mellow engines like the kids 250EX or TRX90, but a screaming R needs at least a synthetic blend, like HP4. Nice thing about HP4 is that it comes in a slick JASO MB version with moly for the engine side (HP4M)...if one insists on running a Honda badged oil.

Maxima oils have the best additive package in the industry, and if I were going cheapo, I would at least run Maxima Premium or Blend, rather than either of the Honda oils. In the tranny, I would run Maixma MTL.

Remember, most oil is blended to meet a price point! That means that they have to compromise something to keep the price down. Personally, I prefer to pay extra for no compromise oil formulations.......

 

GN4 is what the factory puts in it, I have ran it hard every weekend for 2 years now. Not a single issue, not a temp light nothing. I have been running Honda brand oil in my CR500 for 10 years now. No premature engine rebuilds no problem at all. As long as you keep clean oil in there you are fine.

Thanks for the advise though.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Stoopidbot

GN4 is what the factory puts in it, I have ran it hard every weekend for 2 years now. Not a single issue, not a temp light nothing. I have been running Honda brand oil in my CR500 for 10 years now. No premature engine rebuilds no problem at all. As long as you keep clean oil in there you are fine.</end quote></div>

Well, I can get C's in all my classes and not experience a "failure or issue of any kind", but that isn't going to get me into medical school, is it????

Same with oil. You can run the petroleum stuff that is blended to meet an inexpensive price point, and never experience a "failure", but it isn't the absolute best thing for your engine. A screaming 450 deserves better!!!

 

One more note, my R is 5 years old now and has hundreds of hours on it, and my valves (HRC kit) have never ever gone out of tolerance.

Why??? Excellent oils with monster high pressure/anti-wear additive packages that prevent any valvetrain wear, and well maintained foam air filters.

So much for needing a valve job every 15 hours like we were hearing for the HRC cam back in the day. Treat this engine right, and it can be as durable as any other.