Hello, first let me say how glad I am to find this forum, I recently purchased a 01 Honda Rubicon at auction and was wondering what kind of oil I should use, I don't have the owners manual, but have ordered a repair manual online. It has very high mileage but runs excellent, I need to change the oil and filter and need oil recommendations, I will be using the Honda filter, is there any other fluids besides the oil that need attention? does the tranny have its own oil bank? thanks for any info. I truely don't wish to start an "oil war" thread, I just have no clue what to use, dino? synthetic? what weight? etc.
Thanks

 

Welcome , I would use a motorcycle oil with a weight of 10w40.

The Tranny and motor oil are all in one and it takes about 5 ltrs of oil. Also check the front and rear diff... oil.

How much mileage do you have?

 

I use Valvoline, #1 choice of top mechanics, 10w40 and Honda oil filters. 2600 miles so far and no troubles. I change the oil and filter every 500 miles. You should probably also flush the cooling system when you ge your repair manual. Zero silicate anti-freeze and distilled water. Most extended life anti-freezes (pink or orange in color) contain no silicates, it will say on the container. Regulare Prestone is probably the highest on the market in silicates. Your colling system is all aluminum, keep it clean too. I did change the differential fluids with 85w90 full synthetic gear oil. The valves need to be adjusted every 1200 miles too. They have a tendancy to tighten up rather than loosen up, so just because you can't hear them doesn't mean they don't need to be at least checked.

Ejoy your Rubicon, they are a great ride.

 

There are so many opinions out there, but don't scrimp on protection. Use honda's GN4 oil. For the amount you save with other brands, it's just not worth the peace of mind. This is especially true with the Rubicon, as the oil is also the tranny's oil as well. I won't gamble with anything other. Just my opinion.

 

oil is a touchy subject- kinda like bringing up voteing for bush in a school board meeting. Anyways whatever you choose just change it often....if not do what i do as personly I run amsoil snythtic and extend my drain intervels to 1,000 miles as the thing holds more oil than my Z71 chevy 350V8 so only 1,000 miles isnt anyting hamfull. There are big red's out there on the same oil as the factory put in them in 1984

 

wow, excuse my spelling, yeah its 4am and just got back from the club's[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

i've been using redline synthetic in my rubi.no problems.

 

Thanks for all the input, I run Mobile 1 Full Synthetic in all my Motorcycles but guess Dino oil is best for the Rubicon,





MM

 

It has definitely been "rode hard", but the important question is ...was it "put away wet" or in other words...abused? Going by my calculations, the Rubi has only been available to the public for around 27 months. So......assuming that it was one of the first out there, that would mean that your machine has been ridden roughly a little over 10 miles a day...every day. It would have to have been running (or at least had the key turned on) for around 12.5 hours a day. As long as it received regular maintenance, it should last like any other Honda. Do you know who it came from? I sure am curious as to what the heck they used it for?

 

I think it was used for surveying, not sure though