*** Advised needed on 1985 Honda 250R ATC 2 stroke oil ***

[bkvette3]

Hello guys, I am sure this topic has been beat to death before but I have to ask. Just want to make sure I am doing this right. Went to my local Honda dealership to purchase 2 stroke oil for my newly acquired stock one owner '85 250R ATC. Guy behind the counter said the best oil out there is Polaris VES full synthetic snowmobile oil (which is what I purchased).



They also carry Honda HP2 synthetic oil at 32:1.



What should I use??? If using the Honda HP2 oil - can I use at 20:1 as per the owner's manual (bottle says 32:1)??? Not sure what the original owner of my trike used for 2 stroke oil. I am guessing not synthetic - will switching to a synthetic be better overall??? Or should I stay with a conventional 2 stroke oil???

Thanks in advance.... BK3

[manbearpig]

motor was designed to run with castor oil, thats what you should continue to use.

Maxima Castor927 mixed 32:1

[bkvette3]

motor was designed to run with castor oil, thats what you should continue to use.

Maxima Castor927 mixed 32:1

Hello manbearpig - thanks for replying - dumb question here. Castor oil is conventional oil, right??? BK3

[manbearpig]

if by 'conventional' oil you mean car motor oil, NO. CASTOR, not CASTROL

Castor oil is bean oil. Im sure someone with a better technical explanation than i can provide will chime in soon

[bkvette3]

if by 'conventional' oil you mean car motor oil, NO. CASTOR, not CASTROL

Castor oil is bean oil. Im sure someone with a better technical explanation than i can provide will chime in soon

NO, definitely not Castrol (automotive oil) - I hear you there.

I guess my question is: synthetic or non synthetic 2 stroke for the 250R??? What was used when the trike was new in '85??? Was synthetic even around back then??? I am guessing no.

[manbearpig]

Castor was the pinnacle of 2 stroke oil tech when your bike was made. NON synthetic. Castor oil mixed 20:1 was used in your bike when new. modern day castor oils are better run at 32:1

[Dave_D]

Barnett. 3. 2. 1.

Kidding aside here's a thread that might contain some useful information
http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthr...light=Barnette

[bkvette3]

Castor was the pinnacle of 2 stroke oil tech when your bike was made. NON synthetic. Castor oil mixed 20:1 was used in your bike when new. modern day castor oils are better run at 32:1

Just curious - I checked the website for Maxima Castor927 oil and in the description it indicated synthetic. Not sure if this brand is available around here. Have not seen it in stores here.

[3wheelenfool]

Nothing like some bel ray mc1 mixed at 50:1, more power and lower engine operating temp. Just my opinion

[yaegerb]

manbearpig is correct and CASTOR or bean oil is all I run. Specifically I run castor 927 at 36:1. Below are some helpful links.

To get educated on what oils to use...this is an excellent article from Harry Klemm and the benefits of castor oils

http://www.klemmvintage.com/oils.htm

here is where I buy my oil. Castor 927 is excellent and I hear that Super M (produces less smoke) is a good product as well.

http://www.maximausa.com/shopping/in...=index&cPath=2

[jb2wheels]

I have a bone stock 85 250R. I run the HP2 and I run it 32:1 with no issues. I run the piss out of it in the OK dunes with my "abundant" girth on it with no issues.

I don't know anything about the snowmobile oil but those things take a beating so it should be fine.

[RIDE-RED 250r]

2 points:

1) DO NOT use oil for outboard marine engines. It is usually a different formulation and may not be suitable for your non-marine engines. Also, many modern 2-stroke outboards have oil injection and the oils available for them are often for oil injection only and not suitable for pre-mix. It will state that on the container if that is the case.

2) Use caution when using snowmobile oils. As with outboards, some snowmobile oils are for oil injection systems only and not suitable for pre-mix. It will state this on the container as well.

For the record: I have switched from Amsoil Dominator at 50:1 to Maxima 927 Castor at 32:1 based on a variety of reasons, chief among them being the links provided by Yeagerb and the fact that I found surface corrosion inside my engine on all the major components (piston, cylinder, crank) when I tore it down to do the ESR big bore. It had a nice puddle of Dominator in the base as you want to find, but I could not believe the level of corrosion I found everywhere else! Bye-bye Dominator, hello Maxima 927. Have not found this problem since I switched to Maxima Castor oil up to this point....And I have heard from some other sources that Dominator leaves alot to be desired in the area of corrosion prevention.

For no reason other than my own personal preference, I do not under any circumstances run "universal" 2-stroke oil in my R's. That stuff is fine for my $100 weed eater, but it doesn't get anywhere near my pro-grade Husqvarna chain saws, my R's, or any other 2-stroke I own that I care about. Again, that is just a matter of personal preference in my case. Some will tell you they run it in their R all the time, and that's fine.. I'm not here to dispute them.

[yaegerb]

2 points:

1) DO NOT use oil for outboard marine engines. It is usually a different formulation and may not be suitable for your non-marine engines. Also, many modern 2-stroke outboards have oil injection and the oils available for them are often for oil injection only and not suitable for pre-mix. It will state that on the container if that is the case.

2) Use caution when using snowmobile oils. As with outboards, some snowmobile oils are for oil injection systems only and not suitable for pre-mix. It will state this on the container as well.

For the record: I have switched from Amsoil Dominator at 50:1 to Maxima 927 Castor at 32:1 based on a variety of reasons, chief among them being the links provided by Yeagerb and the fact that I found surface corrosion inside my engine on all the major components (piston, cylinder, crank) when I tore it down to do the ESR big bore. It had a nice puddle of Dominator in the base as you want to find, but I could not believe the level of corrosion I found everywhere else! Bye-bye Dominator, hello Maxima 927. Have not found this problem since I switched to Maxima Castor oil up to this point....And I have heard from some other sources that Dominator leaves alot to be desired in the area of corrosion prevention.

For no reason other than my own personal preference, I do not under any circumstances run "universal" 2-stroke oil in my R's. That stuff is fine for my $100 weed eater, but it doesn't get anywhere near my pro-grade Husqvarna chain saws, my R's, or any other 2-stroke I own that I care about. Again, that is just a matter of personal preference in my case. Some will tell you they run it in their R all the time, and that's fine.. I'm not here to dispute them.

AMEN and well said sir!

[c_hustle]

I have used redline for the last 7 years with no problems at all. And at the dunes you run wfo allot. But bean oil and race gas smells the best haha

[lokisbuddy]

I use klots mixed 40:1 in my bikes and rotella-T in the crank case.