OK, everybody, what's your favorite oil to use in your ATV's? I have an old Honda ATC 200 3 wheeler that I've had for years. I always just used Castrol 10-50 in that, during the warm season. Sometimes, in the winter months I would use Penzoil 10W30 in it. I now have a Yamaha Big Bear 400 4X4, and I have yet to change the oil in it. I have regular Yamaha oil here to put in when I do but it is not cheap at the dealer. Is it worth it to stay with the Yamaha oil, or is there an oil off the shelf at other stores that might be as good or better. The manual says only to avoid automotive oils that are labeled for higher gasoline mileage, because of the additives in that which could be harmful to clutches etc. Also, is there a realtively cheap place on line to buy the oil filters rather than at the Yamaha dealer? Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

If I were you, I'd simply stick with the Yamalube. I'm not saying that other oils aren't as good; but my opinion is that if Yamaha puts their name on the product, you can't go wrong. Also, up here I find the Yamalube to be actually cheaper than other brands like Bel-Ray or Maxima.

I also think that changing your oil in the recommended intervals is MUCH more important than worrying about which brand to use.

Anyway, that's my .02.

Hope this helps......

 

Yea I'm using Yamalube too. I'm using the regular oil until I get it broke in then I'll use their R4 semi synthetic. Listen to what they say about automotive oils. I change my oil & filter every 10 to 15 hours it's cheap insurance.

 

i use sprecto synthic in all mine. never had a problem on any atv or my street bike which is, how should i say, ridden quite hard. pulls real hard till i shift at 12k[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img] but i also change my oil quite often also. now around here the oil costs 5 to 6 dollars a quart. not cheap but worth the investment.

 

Yamalube or Honda GN4. I stay away from automotive oils. I've seen my share of smoked auto. clutch quads from using automotive oil. I know guys who have used it for years with no problems, but I have also seen it the other way around. Stick with what the manufacturer recommends. No need to take a chance just to save a few bucks on a quart of oil. Most dealers sell their oil from 2.75 to 3.25 a quart.

This may not seem to be to important to people running older machines, but it makes me wonder sometimes why someone would spend over 5000.00 for a new quad only to pinch pennies to save 5.00 on an oil change and not use the correct oil in it.

KNOWSALOT

 

only 1 oil change on my machine so far and i used the yamalube, but like themoose said im also waiting til its broke in good then i might go to a synthetic like mobil-1. about the filters, ive heard a lot of talk about staying away from fram and im sure most will agree

 

ACTEVO

 

Here's some interesting reading on oils.


http://nightrider.com/biketech/oiltest1.htm




These people wouldn't run Spectro in their lawnmower.

 

Bel-Ray 80w gear saver, yamalube 32:1

 

I run PJ1 80wt synthetic in my blaster.. Works well and since the blaster only uses 3/4 of a quart I do not mind spending the $7.00 per.