I have an 04 360 Prairie 4X4.
I did the first oil change at 700km.It know has 1200km.I went in yesterday to get oil for the next change,and the dealer was trying to sell me Kawasaki 20-50 weight oil.The manual calls for 10-40,which is what I put in it last time.It gets to low 30's here at night,with daytime highs barely reaching 60.

Should I go with the 20-50,or stick to what I've been useing?

 

Id go by the owners manual, and i agree the 20w 50 is too heavy. Did you point this out to the dealer...that the owners manual calls out 10w 40? Its funny they would recommend an oil, thats not to spec for your machine.
Id go by what the engineers at Kawasaki call out, they know whats going to work best for the motor....they designed it.

 

I told him that's why I bought 10-40 last time.

He said I needed it for the hotter weather.I've always run 10-40 in all my bikes.
I think he was trying to push Kawi's own brand of oil.I always buy Castrol.

I'm sticking with the 10-40.

Thanks.

 

You can use the 20w50 for the summer months, gives better engine protection for the hotter outside temps.
In the winter months switch back to 10w40, this way your quad will start easier & you will still have the correct oil viscocity for the colder winter Temps.

 

Stick with 10w-40. The old fable that thicker oil protects better than thinner oil just won't die! Someday when it starts using oil then you can switch to 20w-50.

 

You must have been to the sports centre

 

Here in North Italy, where i live, i always used a total syntetic oil 15/50. In winter, cause i live in muntain, temperature is very cold, lot of snow running with 14 fahrenhait. In summer, temperature grow up to 85/90 farhenhait, always no probs with the 15/50.

 

Yup.
You know what I'm talking about too?

 

Amsoil developed 0W-40 synthetic oil for atv's and other smaller, high temperature motors. It's all I use winter or summer in my bikes.

Also, I use Amsoil recommended viscosities and types in my big engines and automatic transmissions. There a couple of other brands that rated as good or slightly better than Amsoil. If you do a search on synthetic oils, you can find the other brands equal to Amsoil. True synthetics, not blends like some oil companies try to pass off as synthetic oil, lubricate better and pick up heat better than dinosaur oil. Made in America, which I like, even though I'm riding a Jap bike, which of course is a hell of a good bike.

If you pull up the Amsoil site, you'll get the lowdown on synthetic oils. The last time I went in to the dealer for auto transmission flush and replace with Amsoil, both mechanics that came up said, 'oh I see you're using the good stuff'. Took 4 gallons for the truck tranny, but I pull my toyhauler with a Toyota Tundra, and it really gets hot.

(The toyhauler, the amsoil, the beer and my woman are American made)