Does oil matter?

[Impala400]

I am about to purchase a 400ex and was wondering if it mattered what kind of oil to use? could i use mobil 1? or do i need to use the stuff from honda? or can i just use regular automotive oil non-syn? thanks

sorry i think this has been covered before but i just want to double check.

[Rip_Tear]

So only as its SAE rating is right for your temperatures and it doesnt say not to use it.... I am not going to us Mobil 1...

[Stevie-D]

id stick with oil specially formulated for quads. the automobile oil isnt synthetic, and is only used to lube the engine, not the tranny and clutch. the quad oil is designed to hold up and lube everything.

[Impala400]

ok i thought that people would just use Mobil 1 which is Syn.
well i can pick this oil up at any dealer or you recomend honda's oil?

[Colby@C&DRacing]

I agree stick with oil that is made for quads. I run the Amsoil 10w40 full syn it works great and keeps the heat down.

[luvmyex]

i didnt think you were supposed to use a synthetic oil in a quad???

[AtvMxRider]

I use Mobile 1 and love it. If it is a new quad make sure you break it in before you switch to a synthetic oil.

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

You sure can as long as it is designed to be ran in a wet clutch.

[luvmyex]

how do ya know if its for a wet clutch?only a motorcycle oil? and should i run it just after a rebuild?

[AtvMxRider]

It is the automotive type with the red top. break you motor in with regular oil before switching to any synthetic.

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

Always break the motor in with regular oil. The amsoil says motorcycle oil. You need to be cautious with synthetics don't use one that has added friction modifiers that will clog the clutch plates..

[Impala400]

well i will look for some Mobil 1 motorcycle oil

[Silverfox@C&DRacing]

Don't believe that mobile 1 makes a motorcyle oil..;)

[AtvMxRider]

Get the automotive type. 15w50 with the red cap.

[RIDER11X]

A friend of mine who is a Honda Tech told me that Honda HP4 oil is a product of Mobil distributed by Honda.:cool:

[Impala400]

I believe it, and shows you that you don't need to pay the extra $$ for the Honda stuff. i can't wait to get my 400 out and blazing.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Impala400
I believe it, and shows you that you don't need to pay the extra $$ for the Honda stuff. i can't wait to get my 400 out and blazing.

My bad!:o Forgot to mention that he said that there are extra additives added to the honda blend to make it more clutch friendly. I had shifting problems in my 250x because the previous owner used automotive grade oil in it but, after an oil and filter change to HP4 and about 45 minutes of ride time the shifting problem disappeared.:) There is a difference.

[Impala400]

:( i am so conflicted Can i get any ATV wet clutch stuff or do i need the honda stuff? the closest honda dealer is 35min away depending on traffic and i have a Yamaha Dealer 5min away.

[AtvMxRider]

You can get Mobil 1 at any parts store or Wal-Mart.

[Impala400]

i know i can get the mobil 1 almost anywere but i was talking about the honda spec stuff.....would it be the same as the yamaha spec stuff?

[K_Fulk]

I use 2 dollar a quart kendall gt-1, My clutch still looks new after 3 years and 2 of them being a 440. Thats what Curtis Sparks recomends.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Impala400
:( i am so conflicted Can i get any ATV wet clutch stuff or do i need the honda stuff? the closest honda dealer is 35min away depending on traffic and i have a Yamaha Dealer 5min away.

If buying the Honda oil, just stock up like I do. I use Honda GN4 (100% petroleum product) that is $3.35 a qt. and buy about a dozen bottles at a time. Lasts a good while.:)

[Impala400]

the honda oil is only 3 bucks a qt the way some people were talking it was like $10 bucks a qt.

Now for the question i don't know how much oil does the 400 need each oil change?

[K_Fulk]

You need right around 2 qts maybe a little more for the stock bike.
I havent changed the oil on one with a stock oil tank in a long time though.

[luvmyex]

A hair less than two qt's.1.9,but i usually put in two.and yes i would think yammalube is just as good as the hd4.buy it by the gallon and its like getting a free qt. almost.

[Ryan]

What do you guys think of Castrol GTX? Thats what im running in my atv....


I think the company is called "Locus".... They make a thing for the oil to kinda thick in it up or something :huh . I heard it is a great product.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Impala400
the honda oil is only 3 bucks a qt the way some people were talking it was like $10 bucks a qt.

Now for the question i don't know how much oil does the 400 need each oil change?
I run GN4 (petroleum) at about $3.35 a qt., they also sell the Mobil made HP4 (synthetic blend) at about $8.50 a qt.. I ran hp4 in my 250x because the clutch liked it better. My 400 doesn't seem to care.:D

Also I use about 2 1/4qt. in my 400 with filter change.

[Impala400]

Could i run regular 15W50 Napa oil? thats like a $1.30...i don't mind running the ATV/Motorcycle stuff its just that 10hours the oil is toast....thats kinda gay
and depending on the oil brand its like 5-7 bucks a qt.

[RIDER11X]

Originally posted by Impala400
Could i run regular 15W50 Napa oil? thats like a $1.30...i don't mind running the ATV/Motorcycle stuff its just that 10hours the oil is toast....thats kinda gay
and depending on the oil brand its like 5-7 bucks a qt.

I change it every 18-20 hrs.. At $3.35 a qt. (or less by the gallon) that's not bad. Air cooled motors get really hot, so even though I have $8 in oil and $4.75 for a k&n oil filter, I consider it good practice. How much do you spend on your machine for accesories and parts? Why skimp on oil?JMO :cool:

I love this subject and debate :rolleyes: :blah

With the higher heat of the air cooled ex motor the synthetic oils should last and hold up much longer.

If only there was an honest oil mfg that would spell it out in simple english :)

I know of several people who run reg everyday auto mobil-1 full syn in bikes and quads. I also know many more who will never put anything that doesnt say MOTORCYLE etc on the can.

Still not fully convinced either way myself and currently trying out mobil-1 as a test. SO far 2 rides no problems but its too soon to know much more than that.

I have seen oils by mobil, valvoline, kendal and some others marked "motorcyle" or some other similiar wording. Some were syn other not but all were twice or more the orice of the auto equals. Besides some fancy talk about how they were made for this or that I couldnt find anything on the packaging that showed them to be any different.


Some of you posted about syn oils made for wet clutches etc can you tell us more about these? (besides the hp4) Like typical price and where to buy etc.

[dawzie]

AMSOIL - period - www.amsoil.com - they make a quad oil, wet clutch recommended.

[badass250x]

USE HALF POWER STERING FLUID AND HALF 10W 30 MOTOR OIL.............I USE CASTROL GTX AND IT WORKS GREAT.............MANY RACERS USE THIS BECAUSE IT IS REALY THIN WHEN MIXED...........ALL POWER STERING FLUID IS , IS A FINER QUALITY MOTOR OIL

[Impala400]

Vavoline makes some oils for wetclutches.....i got a chuckle when i asked the sales clerk at my local autozone, "Whats the difference between the Motocycle 10w40 and the ATV 10w40?" he replied "Ones Specially made for Atv's and the other specially made for Motorcycles" i laughed and was about to argue with him to get his facts straight but i didn't want to waste my time.

they were both designed for wet clutches.

[ieatglue]

i run what curtis sparks recommends, which is 5w-30 motor oil. any brand. and it is also recommeded to change your oil every 10 hours not 18-20 hours. all i do is mx race so i change mine every 4-5 hours.

[twisted threads]

Originally posted by AtvMxRider
I use Mobile 1 and love it. If it is a new quad make sure you break it in before you switch to a synthetic oil.

I agree 100%

Vavoline makes some oils for wetclutches.....i got a chuckle when i asked the sales clerk at my local autozone, "Whats the difference between the Motocycle 10w40 and the ATV 10w40?" he replied "Ones Specially made for Atv's and the other specially made for Motorcycles" i laughed and was about to argue with him to get his facts straight but i didn't want to waste my time.

Impala, dont be so hard on the clerks cause there are many people with lots of experience in on or off road machines that arent that far ahead of him :)

This debate may go on for ever but it is looking like std good ole everyday auto type mobil-1 5-30 is working without problems for 3 rides on the 440 on the orig oem clutch and springs etc.

[Impala400]

i would use mobil 1 but i can't find the one without the friction modifier.

[Rip_Tear]

Just like to mention here; Really so long as you put oil in its not really going to hurt the quad, it cant hurt it a whole ton anyways, and if you pay attention to your engine and clutch you will know if you shouldnt use the oil. If you clutch slips, well empty the oil and try another one. I just wanted to mention this so you dont get to worried. I just use what we use for everything else in my quads.

[toby400ex]

i just put some syntec full synthetic 20w50 in my 400ex, im hoping thats good:huh

[yellowrider]

i thought once you broke a motor in you should not change oils beacuse it will casue it to do 2 things

1. smoke
2. use more oil


right now i am using oil cause i switched from the golden honda bottle to the black with red top,, becasue the guy told me to and by gosh it sucks i think i add more oil than i do gas

[400exInMI]

Mobil 1 15w40....2 quarts should do it