whats oil do you use and why?

[400EX2GO]

what oil do you use and why? synthetic or conventional? what are the pros and cons? the stories youve heard which led you to use or not to use a certain oil. how often do you change your oil? stock or aftermarket oil filter and y??

look forward to hearing everyones responses!!!
Q

[honda8&3]

I run Honda GN4 10W40 motor oil. Im almost positive that it is conventional oil. I am thinking of switching over to KLOTZ 10W40 next oil change and see how it runs in the ole 250x. I usually change my oil every 50 hours b/c mainly I'm a cheap polak LOL J/K.:p :chinese: But it all depends on how hard you ride it. I put on about 50 hours every 1-2 months so 50 hours is more practical for me. I usually ride mine pretty hard on a scale from 1-10 about an 8 so the engine takes somewhat of a beating LOL:p :macho

[cincy250R]

i use 10w-40 in the winter and 20w-50 on the hot summer days i use mobil1 motorcyle oil cause it has friction additives for the clutch and i just use the stock honda oil filters

-Dave

[Exrider434]

CAM2 10w-40 or Amsoil 10w-40 one or the other.

[zdowell]

mine was born using just the honda oil, so that is what i run in mine. I think they know what their doing, and know what is a good oil to use in their quads.

[trx400EXtreme]

i use honda GN4 10W-40. never had any problems.

[garrettpen]

mobil 1 10w-40 and wix filter

[tar]

Bel Ray Semi Senthetic 20w-50 in the summer and 10-40 in the winter. I run this with a fram oil filter.

[glamiskid395]

i use valvoline atv oil that is 10w-40.
ive used others and i like the Valvoline the best. but thats just me.
oil filter is just the honda, but i forget to change it most of the time.:rolleyes:

[bcg717]

I use Lucas motorcycle/atv oil. It might be in my mind but i feel in the summer my engine is cooler.

[400EX2GO]

i use MOBIL 1 full synthetic from the day of the build. honda or emgo filters. as a matter of fact i told them the day i bought it i wanted to see the oil go in the engine. they called me told me it was ready , i went to go get it and he drove it around to the trailer , and i was like ummm. do it have oil in it ? i mean i KNOW u dont ride em with no oil do ya ? and just as i said that , he remembered. i was like , ill be back. he said are u serious, cant you jus change it out later, and i was like i could , but i specifically told you what i wanted when the deal was being made and it wasnt followed through. so i got aNOTHER new one the next day......
reason i asked this question , is me a a friend of mine got to talkin bout conventionals and synthetics, and which is best for them. we had got to talkin to a honda sales guy. not TECHNICIAN but he was sayin that the conventional oil is better due to the tranny uses the same oil. he said the synthetic was too slippery. now my quad doesnt slip the clutch engages jus fine. anyone else heard anything similar ? i see a few others are using synthetics or semi syn. i figure the guy was jus tryin to sell us on some honda conventional oil for 8 bux a qt. which is how we got started on this whole topic. i was showin my friend the price, and said, DAMN ... i can get full synthetic MOBIL 1 oil for less than that. and of course thats when the sales cat came over ........ post your thoughts and comments ....

[Exrider434]

dot get synthetic!! Because of the wet clutch system it will make the plates slip just like you said. just use regular 10w-40 oil

[Eviltanker]

Originally posted by Exrider434
dot get synthetic!! Because of the wet clutch system it will make the plates slip just like you said. just use regular 10w-40 oil

Really? I believe your wrong.
I use Klotz MX4/ 10w40 Synth . You can use synthetic if it is wetclutch safe.

[<DRS>GPF]

Bel Ray EXL 20/50..



bought it for my streetbike, then started using it on the quad.
http://www.atlantacycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=1986

my clutch seemed better on 2nd gear starts, but it couldve been my imagination.

[j450rking]

i use maxima 10w40 full synthetic i have never had any problums with a stock clutch or with my ebc

[QuadManiac]

Rotella synthetic 5-40. Best quality for the cost. And instead of listening to joe blow saying "No, don't use that, you gotta use this!" and bob black saying "this is the best sh*t ever... you gotta use this!" read a little bit and learn what truly is best and what is okay to use in a wet clutch system. There are as many opinions as there are people who respond. A couple of good places to get some FACTS instead of OPINION, are:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html#Oil

and

http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm

THey take a little reading and digesting, but they tend to dispell most myths that circulate throughout all forums.

Bottom line, since we change our oil so often relative to the intended use (you do, don't you?), just about any good quality oil (automotive or motorcycle specific) will work fine, as long as it does not have friction modifiers in it. All oils with the high temp weight of 40w or above, e.g. 10-40, are free of these modifiers. Only some lighter oils are similarly free.

No firestorms please! Read the articles.

Good Luck!

[SpeedyWho]

In my Hondas I always use Honda Oil HP4 or GN4. I've never had any problems with thier oils. The biggest thing is to use the correct viscosity oil make sure its at the correct level and do your normal change, if thats done you'll have no problems

[flauge]

As of now Im using Klotz like eviltanker is using but in 15\50. The biggest difference I could tell from that and convential was that shifting was smoother. I think I might be going to another brand now tho since the price of the klotz went up by almost a dollar at RMATV:mad:

[underpowered]

rotella T, 15w-40. simply the best oil for the buck, proven in independent test to be one of the best oils on the market.

since i now know the 5w-40 is safe to use in a wet clutch system i will be switching to it next oil change.

although i am currently running Klotz 10w-40 since thats all i had at the time on hand at the shop.

[440challenger]

Been using Bel Rays Thumper 20w50 for years. Great stuff! They just came out with 10-40.

[Exrider434]

Originally posted by Eviltanker
Really? I believe your wrong.
I use Klotz MX4/ 10w40 Synth . You can use synthetic if it is wetclutch safe.

my bad. your right i forgot about that

[SG1]

I use 10w-40 Valvoline ATV oil year round.
I've used others and i like the Valvoline the best. But thats just me. My
oil filter is Tusk. I don't get a chance to ride much at all and I'm somewhat easy on the engine so I only change the oil and filter once a year. It really depends on how I ride to weather or not I change the oil more frequent. But like I said I don't ride much except around the yard once a weekend and maybe a weekend trip like once every 4 or 5 months. And the reason I use Valvoline ATV Oil is because it's made specifically for ATV's. And you can find it at Autozone and other places.:D

[Mercedes]

Repsoil 20/50 in summer and 10/30 in winter and change oil filter every second oil change.

If I ride in sandy conditions and airbox is very dusty and dirty I'll change the oil every 10h.
If I ride in conditons that airbox is clean I'll change the oil about 20h.

I do push the engine to the max.

[priebo15]

honda hp4s fully synthetic

smells good

[imc188222]

Rotela T 15w40, why? because it is a great oil that does not cost alot. If running oil that costs you $10 a quart does it for you thats fine but I believe that changing your oil before it is destroyed is more important than what brand or blend of equivalent oil you run. Granted, synthetic oil is better than conventional oil but I can't justify the price for a low rpm, air cooled, carbureted, old technology engine. There are many opinions about oil, and many of them are based on the old wifes tales that frequent the engine world. Anyway, good thread.

Originally posted by SG1
I use 10w-40 Valvoline ATV oil year round.

same here, its cheap and easy to find. my oil filter I use Fram for the same reason, its cheap and easy to find. Best oil if you can afford it is synthetic. Mobil 1 makes the best oil you can find. Most mechanics will even tell you that. I used to run it until I started riding more and more and had to change the oil more often so I couldnt afford the Mobil 1.

[Big - D Racing]

I run Maxima Full Synthetic Race Oil 20w-50. Desinged for high revving, high horsepower motorcylce/atv engines and is designed to work with wet clutches, which is what the 400ex's and most bikes have so the clutch won't slip.

[07400ex]

i run the honda oil, 10-40 winter 20-50 in summer. kn filter & lid