4 stroke oil question?

[Thorpe]

Does it matter what kind of oil you dump into your 4 stroke atc's crankcase? I.E. Valvoline 10w40 vs. Valvoline Motorcycle 10w40? Does it have a friction modifier for the clutch like what you would have for the posi on a car...?

[atc500x]

Yes there is a difference for the friction,I have see many worn motorcycle clutch after the guy using standard car oil in there engine.....

[lndy650]

Klotz makes a good 4 stroke oil now... and it still smells like bananas and apples :beer

[rdlsz24]

It needs to be for wet clutches. ATV or motorcycle oil.

Rob

[harryredtrike]

hell yea there is a difference,dont put auto oil in there.motorcycle oil has high shear strength and designed for the wet clutch with added zink.i'd only run auto oil in a pinch,but change it out as fast i got home.

[Thorpe]

Thats kinda what I thought...

[85Tecate]

WOW Really?? I've been using auto oil for 10yrs with no problems what so ever.....Is it really that big of a difference?

[lndy650]

when i was 15 all i had for my banshee was regular 10w40 and the clutch plates were slipping by the time i got to work. i hear oem yamaha plates destroy themselves with car oil some plates probly hold up better

[85Tecate]

when i was 15 all i had for my banshee was regular 10w40 and the clutch plates were slipping by the time i got to work. i hear oem yamaha plates destroy themselves with car oil some plates probly hold up better

Thanks for the info, im about to change my oil anyways so ill get the right stuff this time.... Ive got a new clutch and its only seen 10 40 QS 4x4 oil lol...Im curious to see if it grabs better or not, not that anything is wrong with it the way it is.

[Jonpin]

When i was useing car oil i used to have to add oil to my 250 bigred and after i switched to Silkolene it always stays at full after months of riding, I thought i was being tricked into buying 8$ quarts of oil but its the only thing ill use now.

[jasonb01]

I have always used the oil that the Honda dealer gives me when I buy the filter. It is for ATV's. I have never head a problem with my Big Red. It is a little more money, but I think it's worth it.

[hublake]

I have had an 85 BR since new and have never used anything but automotive oil. Either Quaker State or Pennzoil. Never had a bit of trouble.

[1100xxben]

Just my 2 cents... In the 3-wheelers, I use motorcycle/ATV specific oil because I don't change it very often and it doesn't require very much. In my motorcycles, I use diesel engine oil (Shell Rotella-T). The Rotella-T doesn't contain the extra friction modifiers that most automotive oils have, so you don't have to worry about the clutch slipping, and it's supposed to have a better shear strength which helps with the gearbox.

[Dirtcrasher]

I've been running Walmart Oil (Might be Pro Tec or some crappy name) in ALL my trikes for over 10 years.

I've never lost a clutch or seized an engine and I ride.... I do change it after 3 or 4 hard rides that took the whole day though, maybe thats why it works for me.

Aside from the wet clutch stuff, Consumer Reports used like 10 different oils in NY taxi cabs (long hours, stop anjd go, tough conditions) and as long as the engine oil had the same certification (ASE AGI or???) no synthetioc or other oil showed significantly less wear on the Taxi's after 100 and 200K miles.... Thats why I dropped the Honda 8$ a quart oil.

When they have Valvoline, I do buy it as it's only 12$ for 5 quarts but otherwise I run the other oil with the same certifications. I can't find the VR1 oil at any auto shops and NAPA is an hour ride for me.

The frequency that I change my oil at may be the diff, but like I said, I've never lost a clutch.............

Just sharing my thoughts with you guys :D

[daniel_250r]

i used to run motomaster car oil with my 200s but now that i have my freshly rebuilt 200es i am running cheap 3.50 oil to heat cycle and flush out the clutch dust, and i bought some amsoil synthetic motorcycle and atv specific wet clutch compatable to ride on

[Honda_Dude]

Pay attention to the API Rating, if it is automotive ENERGY CONSERVING oil, it will have friction modifiers in it. I'm new to trikes, but I use SHELL Rotella T 15-40 in my Shadow, always had it in my 400EX quad & it's now in my 250ES & 250SX .....Wally World $12 a jug...never lost a clutch either...not worried one bit..

Alot of the 10W-30 automotive oils are energy conserving ..at least were...

...so I wouldn't hesitate in the least to use automotive oil in a wet clutch setup, but never one with ENERGY CONSERVING on the API Rating label...you'll have problems there, these DO contain friction modifers.

....my $.02


...a little reading on the Shadow Forums....LOTS oil reading actually http://www.hondashadow.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65518


it's a honda shadow thread but there's some exellent reading on today's oils. There's a link on cross-referencing filters too you may find handy. Great read !!!!!!!

[PaTriker]

I always use the cheapest stuff I can get my hands on and never had any problems. I do change the oil almost after every ride though.

[Russell 350X]

I've been running Pennzoil in my 350X for years. No issues yet.

[lndy650]

its only certian oils like energy conserving ect... either way why not use good oil? why try using cheap oil when you can treat your engine better? unless its some pile of crap i use cheap oil in my junkers...