Engine oil choice - choices, choices, choices

[CT_Ron]

My 96.000 km service interval is coming up soon, so amongst all things like coolant, brake fluid, brake pads, spark plugs etc, oil change is coming up.

- All SAE 10w30 (except all energy conserving oils).
- 3.3 liters incl. oil filter change.

That's what my service manual says. So, 10w30 is what I'll use. But, the manual says nothing about using full synth, or mineral, or a mixture of both. And the Repsol oil promoted by Honda...

...IS "FUEL" CONSERVING, what??!!

There are so many types and brands, it's making me hard to choose. At least, I need to know if I have to use full synth or semi? That would help a lot. For my smaller 50hp bikes I used a fairly cheap Procycle semi/synth oil. I do NOT want to make a mistake pooring in wrong oil with this high power engine...

Advice much appreciated!

Ron

[mzflorida]

Ron, I really thought you were a nice guy...until you reopened the oil conversation.  That is in jest...I know you are a nice guy! 

GN4 is what I use.  Big John, who seems to know a TON about bikes, uses a custom blend, other use Motul.  Some have reported issues with changing from the recommended oil to anything other while others have reported increased performance, real or perceived.  Adam Usher, on the Facebook site, has great data on oils, heat, load, and personal experiences.  I know little about oil so I stick with the GN4.  Honda does make a synthetic GN version...can't recall its name. as to the energy-saving classification on a Honda recommended product, I am at a loss.

One thing I do know is that internal clearances of engine components go to the manufacturer's recommendation as to what weight oil to use.  Higher viscosity may impact lubrication, maybe not.  It would take a mechanical engineer to weigh in I think. 

[CT_Ron]

Sigh, I knew I was opening a can of worms... I'll quickly close the topic and go for a GN4 (which I didnt even knew existed lol..). The specs are what the manual says!

By the way, luggage; should I go for hard or soft panniers? *puts on riot gear*

[DaveinNC]

10w30 is specified to meet emissions, nothing else other than Euro and Carb emission and fuel economy standards. I run 10W40 Mobil-1 4T, The Honda stuff is good, but I wouldn't run a 10-30 in the Southern US. Colder climates yes, but 10-30 in a car at 100f is much different than a bike. Not many car motors spin up to 10500 RPMs.   

[CT_Ron]

Originally Posted by DaveinNC

10w30 is specified to meet emissions, nothing else other than Euro and Carb emission and fuel economy standards. I run 10W40 Mobil-1 4T, The Honda stuff is good, but I wouldn't run a 10-30 in the Southern US. Colder climates yes, but 10-30 in a car at 100f is much different than a bike. Not many car motors spin up to 10500 RPMs.   

Hey Dave,

I'm having a year average of 60f here with standard drops to 40f - 25f during winter up to a few weeks of 70 - 86f in summer time. I drive during night and day, all year round, so I'm guessing 10w30 would suit my climate. I also read that modern engines require much thinner oil because of their construction and oil size 'cannals' which it flows through. I can understand in your beautiful southern states you need a thicker oil all year round.

It's just still a mystery if the CT needs full or semi-full synthetic oil...

[Younger06]

Ask who has the highest mileage on there CT........ then ask them what oil they use.

[DaveinNC]

Originally Posted by CT_Ron

Hey Dave,

I'm having a year average of 60f here with standard drops to 40f - 25f during winter up to a few weeks of 70 - 86f in summer time. I drive during night and day, all year round, so I'm guessing 10w30 would suit my climate. I also read that modern engines require much thinner oil because of their construction and oil size 'cannals' which it flows through. I can understand in your beautiful southern states you need a thicker oil all year round.

It's just still a mystery if the CT needs full or semi-full synthetic oil...

That's fine, that's what they recommend. If I did run a 10/30 and spent any time in summertime traffic it would be a full synthetic. I run Mobil1 4T because I can get it at Pep Boys one mile down the road. I have to ride quite a distance to get Honda oil. Finding 10/30 cycle oil anywhere but at a Honda dealer is almost impossible. I do notice that 1st to 2nd is not as harsh with syn 10-40. All that being said, Honda recommended 10w40 up until 2006 when they switched to 10w30. A Honda rep told me a few years ago the change was strictly for meeting government emissions and fuel requirements. There were no mechanical changes to engines from 2006 to 2007+ unless it is a completely new model motor such as on the new generation Goldwing. I only run 10w40 because of my location and riding conditions, besides, 10w40 shears to a 30wt in a shared sump pretty quick. I'm sure the 30wt also shears down to a 20 wt.

I just bought a new Toyota 4 Runner with a 4.0L V6, it calls for 0W20 with a 10,000 mile service interval, this drives me nuts but they come with a factory fill of synthetic, recommend synthetic for the life of the motor and I would hope they know what they are doing. I got 15 years of hard use out of my 2005 4Runner.

[CT_Ron]

Originally Posted by DaveinNC

That's fine, that's what they recommend. If I did run a 10/30 and spent any time in summertime traffic it would be a full synthetic. I run Mobil1 4T because I can get it at Pep Boys one mile down the road. I have to ride quite a distance to get Honda oil. Finding 10/30 cycle oil anywhere but at a Honda dealer is almost impossible. I do notice that 1st to 2nd is not as harsh with syn 10-40. All that being said, Honda recommended 10w40 up until 2006 when they switched to 10w30. A Honda rep told me a few years ago the change was strictly for meeting government emissions and fuel requirements. There were no mechanical changes to engines from 2006 to 2007+ unless it is a completely new model motor such as on the new generation Goldwing. I only run 10w40 because of my location and riding conditions, besides, 10w40 shears to a 30wt in a shared sump pretty quick. I'm sure the 30wt also shears down to a 20 wt.

I just bought a new Toyota 4 Runner with a 4.0L V6, it calls for 0W20 with a 10,000 mile service interval, this drives me nuts but they come with a factory fill of synthetic, recommend synthetic for the life of the motor and I would hope they know what they are doing. I got 15 years of hard use out of my 2005 4Runner.

You know, I've done some digging in this 10w30 or 40 oil outside temperature ranges. And I might as well go with 10w40, since the outside temperature can get hotter than what 10w30 is meant for (more than 86f) and like you said, 10w40 is better accessible than 10w30. And since summer time is nearby, 10w40 might just be the better choice when I start changing in probably a month.

Do you have any info as to why you choose full synth during summer time? Better quality? Or is it engine specific? The whole synth/HC/semi-synth is something I don't know anything about.