Want to change the oil (recommendations?)

[MtnEX]

First let me say I love the sight glass...
EVERYTHING should have one.

I want to change the oil and filter.

I'm open to recommendations on both.

I usually try to use the best within reason, because I prefer to drain often on most things, and I am not stingy about filters either. I change them and use good ones.


I just don't really have a clue on this engine though... other than I realize it probably needs and deserves special attention.

I don't know what filter fits much less what to get. I don't have access to "boutique" oils, and I do not typically buy into the manufacturer's oil, because ATV mfg's manufacture ATV's not oil.

[k4f5x0r]

i use amsoil 0-40. 10-40 works just as good. and for oil filters just go to a kawi dealership and ask for OEM oil filters. been using them since i got the quad and they always work the best. i change mine everytime i change the oil but some guys say you can just change them every2 times. i like to be safe then sorry ;)

[MtnEX]

I figured I would do Wix/NAPA filters or the stock Kawasaki.... which is likely the same filter.

The oil, I have not settled on yet. Sometimes I can get the Amsoil motorcycle oil here. I've been told availability will be more consistent. I've converted my Polaris to pre-mix and I'm using Amsoil there with better results.

Otherwise, I can get Mobil 1 motorcycle and Valvoline ATV. Anything else I would use would be non motorcycle specific.

Shell has been suggested to me, both the Rotella T 15w40 and the Rotella Synthetic 5w40.

I also have 2 quarts of Mobil 1 15w40 that were suggested to me for my 400EX.


I may be over-reacting, but I'm thinking this engine might be real hard on it's oil fill. The capacity is small and shared, there is no oil cooler, and this is a high reving high performance engine.

[k4f5x0r]

i changed mine about every 12-15 hours JUST INCASE. especially because i ride HARDD track hours. talking about rev limiter alllll day.

amsoil has made this engine run much better then before. i used to run mobile 1 10-40 then i switched to amsoil motorcycle 10-40 and it shifted/ran and clutched ALOT smoother.

im using the 0-40 now and after a hard track day today everythings still fine.


oh and a tip for filling the oil up. put a quart in right away. then little by little watch until the sight glass gets about halfway. then run it for 5 minutes and turn it off. look at the sight glass and make sure its at or a little above half. ;)

[MtnEX]

Well how about that!...

I was starting to think something was getting ready for adjustment on the last ride.

I remember thinking this thing felt like a work of art. Very easy shifting with a very positive click you could feel quick in a short throw as you shifted.

They changed the oil and sent it home with me, and it seems to have gone downhill since instead of getting even better with break-in.

To me, it has seemed like it was taking more shifter throw to shift, the positive click is gone... plus a few times I have caught neutral by accident... and a few times I've had to hunt it more when I wanted it.

So it is going to be interesting to me once I get a chance to change the oil.

[MtnEX]

Well, I read that pdf on Amsoil's site... the study of motorcycle oils... and I tell you, after that, I am afraid to run most motorcycle oils... except Amsoil and Mobil.

To me, the really alarming part is that over half of the oils tested FAILED the RUST prevention test. 6 of 12 in the SAE40 group failed and 9 of 16 in the SAE50 group.


The Shell Rotella T 15w40 dino and 5w40 synthetic come highly recommended, but I haven't looked more into them yet.

[MtnEX]

Well, I scooted up to NAPA for a filter and some Amsoil.

They didn't have the filters in stock, which was a good thing because they wanted $26 for 2 quarts of Amsoil Motorcycle 10w40.

That seems a little out there to me....

[KFX450Rrider490]

k4f5x0r u say that u change ur oil every 12-15 hrs and on a track which isnt bad by any means cause u chane ur oil filter but most guys i know that race even ride 450s say to change oil every 2 to 5 hrs and change the filter every other oil change and i cant help u with what type of oil to run because so far ive only run gn4 10w-40 throught mine now im ****ching to shell 15w-40

[k4f5x0r]

changing oil THAT ofte is just pointless. especially synthetic. i dont have that kind of money to dish out on oil and filters.

MTN: thats way too expensive. with my sponsorship from amsoil its about 100 shipped directly from amsoil for 12 quarts of 0-40. chheck their website. kinda pricy but its all worth it to me ;)

[MtnEX]

Originally posted by k4f5x0r

MTN: thats way too expensive. with my sponsorship from amsoil its about 100 shipped directly from amsoil for 12 quarts of 0-40. chheck their website. kinda pricy but its all worth it to me ;)

OK... that's what I figured... way too...


So now I have to decide what I'm going to do... stay a buy it off the shelf local guy... or change totally and give in to e-ordering.

$100 / 12 = $8.33 qt

High, but reasonable considering Mobil 1 price.


Don't know if I'm going to sign up or just say f-it and try one of the Rotella oils.

golden spectro is good oil. but pricey, i have alwase used rotella in my 450r, 10w-30 i believe it is not sure would have to look on the can. i have had no problems. used it for years

[MtnEX]

Well, I'll tell ya, I read an extensive oil report... and by the end, from what motorcycle oils they tested, I'm pretty much only really comfortable buying 2 of them.... Amsoil and Mobil 1.

I'll either run one of those 2 or one of the Rotella's...

[spanky101]

Rotella oils are highly recomended oils and for a very very good price. I know a ton of people who ride ktm's swear by that oil over some of the top brands like amsoil, maxima, etc... Just food for thought.

[MtnEX]

Well, I had decided to run a Wix filter and Amsoil from the local NAPA. But they did not have the filter and wanted about $26 for 2 quarts of the motorcycle oil.

I went to an accessory shop for Amsoil and a filter. The price was a little more reasonable but still $10 a quart, and the owner actually said he didn't recommend it for ATV use. He said some users had problems with clutch glazing, and suggested Maxima instead for high performance ATV use.

Wow..... there is so much information, and mis-information floating around out there about oil...

I bought a HiFlow Filtro filter and a gallon of Rotella T 5w40 synthetic (CJ-4).

To tell the truth I considered getting the Rotella T 15w40 Triple Protection (CJ-4) instead to run dino the first few oil changes. But I went with the synthetic instead. I hope that was the right thing to do.

[MtnEX]

Originally posted by MtnEX
Well how about that!...

I was starting to think something was getting ready for adjustment on the last ride.

I remember thinking this thing felt like a work of art. Very easy shifting with a very positive click you could feel quick in a short throw as you shifted.

They changed the oil and sent it home with me, and it seems to have gone downhill since instead of getting even better with break-in.

To me, it has seemed like it was taking more shifter throw to shift, the positive click is gone... plus a few times I have caught neutral by accident... and a few times I've had to hunt it more when I wanted it.

So it is going to be interesting to me once I get a chance to change the oil.

Well, I changed the oil out to Rotella T 5w40 Synthetic, and the trans/gearbox does indeed feel remarkably better already.

I also picked up this do-hicky by ProMax called the SPILLBUSTER 12-IN-1 spout, which made feeding the oil in from the one gallon jug a breeze. It has a small tip and a valve in it like a water line. It can also be made even better with the addition of 1/2" flexline.

[chromecreeper]

So, its okay to run the rotella??? Is that motorcycle atv specific?? I was going to switch to amsoil. Whats the diffrence between 10w 40 and 0w 40?

[spanky101]

No Rotella isnt a motorcycle/atv specific oil but it does lack the friction modifiers in some other vehicle oils making it ok for the wet clutch we all use in the atv's.

[MtnEX]

Came back to update...

Yes, it is absolutely fine to run Rotella in ATV's/Motorcycles.

It's actually an excellent oil for the application too.

My 400EX really loves the stuff.

My KFX 450R liked it too. It just seems to be super-super hard on oil. I was having to change it after every ride on the 5w40. So I went to the all dino 15w40 for less viscosity index improvers to break down. It did a bit better on that. I could get maybe 2 rides out of it.

So I started to convince myself I was going to have to try higher viscosity for longer life. But I just was not willing to pay $10 a friggin quart for Mobil 1 or Amsoil motorcycle oil... and both of those are 20w50, which might not have served year-round.

So I decided to take a chance on the 15w50 Mobil 1. For $22 (5 qt jug) I'm at $4.40 per quart.

To update.... I'm sticking with this stuff.

It seems to do great... seems to stand up a lot better to the KFX oil abuse.
The viscosity is also OK for the lowest temps I ride in...
Upper 20's after a snow is about as cold as I'm ever motivated to crank up in...
And it does fine...

My only problem is that I'm now having trouble judging "when" to change my oil now.
I used to be able to feel when it was time by the feel of my tranny.
I haven't went that far yet on the Mobil 1.

And I have noticed that as far as color, the oil somehow looks darker when completely settled than right after running or while running. A little air entrainment maybe?... Doesn't really look like it though...

I might have to install an hour meter and go from there.
An hour meter is probably a good idea anyways....

well i ran the same rotella for a year in both sides of my 450r motor. and after a while it was impossible to find neutral so i switched to honda oil from my local dealer and havent had a shifting problem since then. the way i see it, the oil is made for each particular bike. which is why i run honda oil in my honda.

[fastjunkie131]

i have been using repsol synthetic blend atv 10w40 for three years no problems i also use a stainless steel filter that you clean and reuse

[kfxracer72]

The rotella i run is in a white jug. Never tried the blue. And stock kawi oil filters work fine

[Drewltr450]

Amsoil motorcycle 10w40 Lucas Oil Stabalizer, Little Bit of Seafoam Every other oil change

[DEVINF450R]

My whole race team runs Rotella T. We have had no problems but we change oil after every race and every 2 practices. run 15w-40. if you guys switch to synthetic, make sure you clean your clutch plates and resoak them in the synthetic