oil for the 400ex

[xveryx]

I own a 2007 400ex and need to make my first oil change after breaking it in and manual says to not use oil that displays energy conserving in the circular API.But i cant find any oil without the energy conserving display. Does it matter if i use it? will it hurt it or does anyone else use energy conserving oil in there 400ex?

[XXXRACER165]

Honda says to use honda oil. Just marketing! I use a NON-SYNTHETIC Bel-Ray 10w-40, and for summer use 20w-50

[xveryx]

Manual says recommended oil weight is 10w-30. Is that what most riders use? Also what size oil filter goes in? Cant find it in manual and dont wanna have to buy them from honda dealer every time i need one.Can you find them at Advance Auto?

[wykyd450R]

You can use 10-30, but 10-40 will be a lil thicker, and not thin out as much. I also use 20-50 in the summer. As for the filters, you can get em at auto parts stores. I buy mine at wal mart (fram) when I buy my castrol GTX oil.

[xveryx]

What size is the filter?

[wykyd450R]

Fram filter....Part # ch6015 Comes with a new O-ring for the filter cover too. About 4 bucks.

[xveryx]

Thnx

USE SYNTHETIC! You have no clue how much better it is for that extra few dollars or so.

1st it disapates heat better

2nd it better protect your engine and internals

running synthetic will make it run so much longer and cleaner with out any breakdowns. I'm telling you synthetic is deffinately the way to go. I use 10w - 40 and i live in florida.

[GOTFEAR]

kenal gt 10-40 mix 50/50 with lucas heavy duty additive oil

[gncc025]

I use honda GN-4 10W-40. ive used it since 03. If im not mistaken i believe honda recently came out with their own synthetic oil for quads. that should be a little better than standard honda oil.

[Sparky_20]

its a honda, just pony up and use the honda oil

[CarGuy7a]

i use the GN4 10w-40 as well.

[REDRIDDER]

gn4 20w-50 but thinking of switching to a synthetic oil any suggestions and an explanation of why?thanks guys

Switch to synthetic to prolong everything.

1st is disapates heat better which means cooler oil better performance and less wear.

2nd it works wonders for keeping all internals clean and like new.


USE IT! Your motor will run longer without beakdowns. Use synthetic and your quad can last a really long time

[PismoLocal]

I run GN-4 in both of my 400ex's.

[whiteEX]

dumonde tech 10w-40, no other oils can compair this is the best oil on the market

[REDRIDDER]

Originally posted by whiteEX
dumonde tech 10w-40, no other oils can compair this is the best oil on the market how do you figure your quick to answer but came with no back up? lol...explain why you think that... ive never even heard of that oil?

[cbell]

Royal Purple 10w-40 Synthetic!!! I have had several 400 motors apart and none look as good as the ones using Royal Purple, It has a very high Shear Strength for a 10w-40. It is available at Orielly's Auto Parts all over the country.
Just my2 cents worth!!
CBELL

[400exrider707]

Originally posted by cbell
Royal Purple 10w-40 Synthetic!!! I have had several 400 motors apart and none look as good as the ones using Royal Purple, It has a very high Shear Strength for a 10w-40. It is available at Orielly's Auto Parts all over the country.
Just my2 cents worth!!
CBELL


thats not a good oil to use at all, no automotive synthetic oils in these please! synthetic auto oil contains an ingredient known as molybdenum which is a friction modifier, it bonds to clutch plates causing premature wear.

I would suggest a good synthetic that is designed for wet clutch systems. Any atv or motorcycle oil will work.

I use klotz 10-40 synthetic. It is expensive but will outlast standard oil and from my own personal experiences in all three of my own quads it has worked phenominally. I used klotz R50 in my banshee cause it smelled awesome and ran great, never fouled plugs. I ran klotz 10-40 in my 400ex. This was the biggest difference I noticed. I just put in a stage 1 hotcam and got the infamous "tick" put in the klotz oil and my top end noise cut in about half! Great stuff and sold me for life! I know run the same 10-40 in my motor side on my 05 450R and the klotz hypoid gear oil in the tranny side. It helped eliminate some false neutrals. Still get some, but not nearly as many now. No one can really say oh this is the best oil on the market, but I recommend klotz as that is what I have used, and basically all that I have used, it hasn't let me down yet!

[REDRIDDER]

Originally posted by 400exrider707
thats not a good oil to use at all, no automotive synthetic oils in these please! synthetic auto oil contains an ingredient known as molybdenum which is a friction modifier, it bonds to clutch plates causing premature wear.

I would suggest a good synthetic that is designed for wet clutch systems. Any atv or motorcycle oil will work.

I use klotz 10-40 synthetic. It is expensive but will outlast standard oil and from my own personal experiences in all three of my own quads it has worked phenominally. I used klotz R50 in my banshee cause it smelled awesome and ran great, never fouled plugs. I ran klotz 10-40 in my 400ex. This was the biggest difference I noticed. I just put in a stage 1 hotcam and got the infamous "tick" put in the klotz oil and my top end noise cut in about half! Great stuff and sold me for life! I know run the same 10-40 in my motor side on my 05 450R and the klotz hypoid gear oil in the tranny side. It helped eliminate some false neutrals. Still get some, but not nearly as many now. No one can really say oh this is the best oil on the market, but I recommend klotz as that is what I have used, and basically all that I have used, it hasn't let me down yet! your burning up your clutch with royal purpule lol..

[cbell]

If you were very educated on oil you would know that Royal Purple 41, 9 lite, 11 lite, 2008 and automotive grades 10w-40, 10w-30 and 20w-50 contains NO MOLY. They even suggest that you do not add it to their oil, additives such as Mr. Moly actually hurt the performance of the oil. They make oils specifically for wet clutch apps. Visit their website .
Cbell

[cbell]

That post might have seemed a little harsh. I do agree that most Automotive oils are no good for Wet Clutch use but there are some awesome oils that are. I have been in the wet and dryfriction business since 1993 and have designed clutches and brakes for many hi performance applications as well as OEM for KTM on 50cc, 65cc, 125cc and the 640cc. Any questions, please feel free to send me a PM.
CBELL

[Def-e-nition]

Having an air-cooled bike does make things a little tough to make the decision of whether or not to use Car oils , but I do know I have been asked by the agents to please stop riding enduros with thicker non-synthetic car oils . I always simply assumed oil was oil , with a few of the more expensive ones coming in higher due totheir extra purity or chemical composition. the only subtle difference between the 2 i would think , is that bike engines rev a little higher, so whats the verdict ? Is it mildly ok to run a good car oil , or is this secret chemical composition not good for ones engine?
Im still riding with the car oil , but when I got sponsored by honda they gave me synth oil . My argument for using thicker oils , be it bike Or car , are simple : air-cooled engines run at higher temperatures than most . so , now what to do , who to believe , which to take ?

Use a 4stroke motorcylce oil never car oils. Also use synthetic.

[ride-to-live]

I just use regular 10w-30 in the winter, and 10w-40 in the summer i believe thats right..

[Def-e-nition]

What do you mean by Regular ? Car oil or Bike ?
THe Only Oil I can Find around here are full synthetics . I'd Love a 40weight Oil for the ReX .

[ride-to-live]

O its Atv oil for sure.. i dont use car...

[kilgoja]

i use honda gn4 and a honda filter....or u can use honda synthetic....or other oils as long as they are what honda recommends as far as additives and such...doesn't really matter so much....it's a honda....gonna last forever regardless.....don't use car oils...manual says that...just play it safe and use honda oil....they know what their atv needs

[Def-e-nition]

That settles it . Ill have to stop being such a cheapskate , buy an extra bottle of Bike blood , and top up with the real stuff instead of car oil . I knew there was a sUBTLE difference between the oils , but , seriously , now that it's smoking , who couldv'e afforded to throw in Klotz Each and every single time the sump is running low ??....

Ahh well , stuff it . Bike oil it is .

just look for a 4 stroke motorcucle oil perferabley 10w - 40 synthetic or anything like that.

[Dill]

I'm not sold on the whole friction modifier thing. I've been into racing atv's for years and have always read this, but never seen 1 single instance where someone could provide visual proof that this happened.

I've been running Mobil 1 synthetic in my ATV's since 1996. My clutches have always lasted years and have only worn out from wear on the clutch basket, not fiber wear. I have a 2004 YFZ 450 that made it 3 years on the stock clutch, I changed it out just to be safe, and still keep the stock clutch for backup.

I run Mobil 1 20w50 in my 2000 400EX, 2004 YFZ 450, 1986 ATC 250R (tranny), 1982 ATC 110, 1985 Big Red, 1986 ATC 250SX, and other ATVs I've owned throughout the years as well.

Does anyone actually have any proof or even an experience where this has happened? I think its phooey personally.

[stalefish_132]

i have a heap of older chevron delo 400 15W-40 non syn. diesel engine oil. clucht has never skiped a beat, runs cooler than it did on the thin motorcycle snake oil. i believe that the newer chevron delo has friction modifiyers but i'm not sure.

if its good enough for a $30,000 diesel engine then its good enough for a little 440;) cheap to, along with K&N oil filters PN# KN113

[1965 honda]

any 4 stroke motorcycle oil will work do not use motor oil made for cars. unless its for race cars.

[Def-e-nition]

Originally posted by stalefish_132
i have a heap of older chevron delo 400 15W-40 non syn. diesel engine oil. clucht has never skiped a beat, runs cooler than it did on the thin motorcycle snake oil. i believe that the newer chevron delo has friction modifiyers but i'm not sure.

if its good enough for a $30,000 diesel engine then its good enough for a little 440;) cheap to, along with K&N oil filters PN# KN113
Thats always been my point exactly .
Sadly , it's either my riding style of permanently pinned throttle , or the car oil , that has caused my engine premature wear . ??

2005 model smoking in 2007 , and i got it 27 October . perhaps Im just going crazy , and this wear is normal . The problem is that one cannot prove or Disprove that car oil works .

[whiteEX]

red ridder dumonde tech oil is a rich 4 stroke and 2 stroke motor oil not for cars and its real thick and is easier on clutches than most