Hi guys-

I bought an 05 TRX-500 Rubicon last fall and need to change the oil for first time. Looking at the manual it says to use the Pro Honda GN4 10w-30 oil. Does everyone recommend running the Honda oil? It's a bit pricey at 5.50 a quart. Was curious what others run in there machines and how often you change the oil?

Thanks

 

Read the links I posted in this thread. Lots of great technical info there about oils:

http://forums.atvconnection.com/showthread.php?t=310291

First off, $5.50 is not at all a "pricey" oil!!! I gladly pay twice that, for the ester synthetics that I run.

GN4 is API SJ and not SG, and that bothers me! SJ has a downgraded additive package compared to SG, because of catalytic converters. I think Honda went for the downgrade so they can sell just one oil to street bikers (with cat converters) and off-roaders. You don't have a cat, so why would you ever want to run a downgraded oil????

If you are looking for a great basic petroleum oil at a price comparable to GN4, I would go wtih Maxima Premium instead. Maxiam has the best anti-wear additive package in the industry!

Also, don't negelct your first valve adjustment at 20 hours!

 

I have always used Honda GN4 10w40 in my 05 Rubicon and I have thought about switching to a better oil. Is the higher cost worth it? Will I be able to tell a difference? Is Maxima Premium a synthetic? What about Maxima Extra? If I did switch to a synthetic, could I go back to regular oil? I have heard once you go synthetic you can not go back. Is this true?

Where would I get Maxima oil at? Is there actual stores that sell it or would I have to get it online?

I usually change mine about every 600 miles.

 

I purchase mine at rmatv.com. maxima extra just cost me 9.99 a quart. YES. once you run synthetic you do not go back. this oil is pricey but the difference in how your machine runs is awesom.

 

How is that? It say right on the bottle of full synthetic Amsoil motorcycle oil.

"Is compatible with convectioal oil"

Some people make there own stronger ratio 50/50 synthetic blends this way,rather then the off the shelf cheap 20/80 blends, 20% being the synthetic part.

 

I highly recommend Maxima Extra, but most folks won't pay that much for oil. I get mine here ( http://www.onoffroad.com/c-MAXIMA-LUBRICANTS.html ), if I can't find it locally. Also, most of the major mail order places carry it, like Rocky Mountain and Chapparal. I do wish they made it in 10W30.

 

What about Amsoil?

 

Most people have no clue that there are three very different types of synthetics:

http://www.maximausa.com/technical/l...beNews2002.pdf

http://www.p1-performance.com/pdf/oildoc.pdf

Amsoil is PAO, so you can think of it as being in second place behind the esters, in terms of sophistication of its base oil chemistry. Their motorcycle oils, do seem to have a good additive package however.

Ester and PAO compliment eachother in many ways, so the best oils are ester based with some PAO thrown in for "balance". Last I heard, Amsoil was pure PAO and that is not the greatest thing. If they fortified it with some ester, that would make me happier.

 

So once you use synthetic, you can go back to regular oil?

 

Not if you are smart, and recognize all the advantages of synthetic!

Seriously, this is an old wives tale. It might have been true 100 years ago, but modern oil formulations are compatible. They market blends which are synthetic/petroleum mixes, so that should demonstrate that they are cross compatible.