[donmega]

AMSOIL

woot

[The CyberPoet]

LOL, great post CP and thanks.

I saw the specs but didnt know for sure, now i do.

Everything you need to know is covered in detail at this link (post above, reposted here for your benefit):

CyberPoet's "Everything you ever wanted to know about how to pick motor oil for your motorycle" at MotorcycleAnchor.com, now offering 400 degree all-weather open-cockpit oil temp gauges for Katana's and other oil cooled bikes!

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[The CyberPoet]

Just for the record, Exxon-Mobil corp owns the ESSO, EXXON and MOBIL petroleum firms...

Polar Plus is a brand of United Farmers of Alberta Co-Operative Ltd.

Their primary PolarPlus oil's viscosity is 0w30, thus it is too thin at room temp for your Katana's happiness. The higher number is also insufficient at any ambient temp over about 65 F / 18 C. Esso/Exxon does offer a number of XD-3 oils, including a 10w30 and a 15w40, but they are all engineered primarily for diesel and newer small water-cooled gasoline engines, and none are designed for motorcycle engines.

Additionally, the SL and SJ ratings of the PolarPlus imply that it is an energy conserving oil (contains friction modifiers that are incompatible with your wet clutch). Finally, it's also a CH-4 oil, which would mean that it is very high in anti-soot chemicals (intentionally, to help prevent build-up of diesel particulate by-products), again, something generally not desirable for your bike's engine.

All in all, I would think that it was a very poor choice, about as bad as you could possible pick for a high-revving air-oil cooled motorcycle with a wet-clutch unless you intentionally picked "no name" brand rock oil from central Romania under the Walmart label. On the other hand, it would probably be an excellent choice for any farm tractors or construction equipment engines.

Finally: Exxon does not make any motorcycle oils under the Exxon brand. Both Exxon and Esso's websites recommend using Mobil 1 motorcycle oils instead...

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[kiba]

I would get another from an auto parts store or wal-mart and return that one to the dealer. Even though it's going to be the same one you have, I wouldn't let the dealer get away with that.

/kiba

[WildKat]

2 weekends ago i order a oem oil filter from the local stealership and they said about 3-7 bns. days.
3 days pass, 7 days pass, 8,9,10, so i call them and they said yeah it should be in in a couple days
so i get some rest and head off to night shift. while i was sleeping they called and my girl went and picked up the oem (fram) filter. came in on sat i found the filter on monday their store is closed on mondays and i just wanna ride had high hopes of riding bout a week ago. now should i go ahead and use the damn filter and change it out real soon or wait 2-3- 4 weeks for another. not gonna put manny miles on it for the next couple of weeks either way just to and from work 4 miles and around town. what do u sugest

If you're only going to use it for a couple weeks and not put that many miles on it.. I'd say go for it too...and I'd be having a few choice words for a dealer who can't sell me a simple OEM filter over the counter immediately !

[The CyberPoet]

I suggest ordering three or four filters from RonAyers or via a dealership that actually stocks them (I would be suspect of any Suzuki dealership that doesn't, since it's the OEM filter for quite a few Suzuki bikes). Having extra's around always makes sense...

EDIT: I now sell OEM Suzuki filters directly cheaper than RonAyers or your local dealer... PM me for them.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[crypt dog]

2 weekends ago i order a oem oil filter from the local stealership and they said about 3-7 bns. days.
3 days pass, 7 days pass, 8,9,10, so i call them and they said yeah it should be in in a couple days
so i get some rest and head off to night shift. while i was sleeping they called and my girl went and picked up the oem (fram) filter. came in on sat i found the filter on monday their store is closed on mondays and i just wanna ride had high hopes of riding bout a week ago. now should i go ahead and use the damn filter and change it out real soon or wait 2-3- 4 weeks for another. not gonna put manny miles on it for the next couple of weeks either way just to and from work 4 miles and around town. what do u sugest

[bwink]

Yesterday I changed my oil for the first time. I intended to buy synthetic motorcyle oil, Mobile 1. After seeing it was $8 a quart, I went with Castrol syntec 210w40 for cars. We will see what happens! I feel confident that there will be no problems. I will let you guys know if it turns out otherwise.

[The CyberPoet]

It's Tech 2000 from WallMart Semi-Synthetic 15W40 Diesel engine oil. Its NOT energy conserving. Label says it meets the following API CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF, SH, SJ, SL.

Thanks

The oil probably contains an extreme amount of sulfated ash (almost all diesel oils do), which is detrimental in two ways:
(A) Sulfated ash creates a build-up much like carbon build-up, which displaces combustion chamber space and can build-up high enough to cause piston damages (interference engine), and
(B) Sulfated ash content turns into sulfuric acid in the presence of water (such as condensation from the ambient air), which will readily eat into the weaker metals used in the transmissions. These behaviors are why the JASO-MA is very strict on sulfated ash content.

Whether it contains additives that may make the clutch slip over time is beyond me; I haven't done much looking into the product itself. I'm willing to bet that it doesn't contain the viscosity break-down inhibitors that motorcycle-specific oils contain, which means that it wouldn't stand up to the same amount of use before it breaks down.

Personally, I wouldn't use it, but if you do, pay attention to clutch's behavior and accelerate your oil change schedule.

Good Luck!
=-= The CyberPoet

[kiba]

It's Tech 2000 from WallMart

Ahhh, the quality stuff I really don't trust the name brands at Wall-mart, so I'm definitely not going to use the store-brand stuff... Wal-mart cuts corners everywhere they can, so quality is non-existant.

And I'm pretty sure oil that is formulated for a diesel engine will not work so well in a motorcycle...

/kiba

[pmkls1]

Since we have so much talk about motor oil I just thought that I would put in my 2 cents worth here. If there were anything that I would spare no expense on with my own bike it would be oil. These bikes are oil cooled and place a large demand on the oil systems because of it. Plus you have the clutch and crankcase running off of it too. I would ONLY buy a namebrand motor oil specifically formulated for bikes like these. I use my bike to commute almost everyday and I ride hard so I get carried away and change my oil every 1500 miles or so. It is more expensive especially since I run synthetic, but I can rest assured that I am going to have a reliable bike that should have a long life expectancy because of it.............

[The CyberPoet]

I have some oil that is rated SH, SJ, SL. Can i use this in my Katana?

-Vidal

You can use any oil in your Katana -- the question is whether you'll regret it later. Since you didn't tell me anything else about this oil, I can't give you an informed answer -- does it say "energy conserving" in the API category mark on the bottle? If so, the answer is no. Is it a car oil? If so, the answer is maybe, but probably shouldn't.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[zleviticus]

that's awesome CP...

[The CyberPoet]

The following response was received today from the API concerning a question I had about the new API SM rating (I have highlighted important sections):

Although the primary market is for automobile engines it can be possible to use the oil in a motorcycle. This is dependent on the design of the motorcycle.

Higher performance engine oils such as API SM and ILSAC GF-4 (Typically SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades)
will contain some level of friction modifier. While the friction modifier improves fuel economy it is not compatible with wet clutches used on motorcycles. The friction modifier causes the wet clutch to slip. This is especially true if the motorcycle manufacturer recommends using only engine oils carrying API SF or SG Service Categories.

API recommends following the Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEMs) oil recommendations. We have heard that some OEMs have included SJ as an acceptable engine oil for motorcycles. Typically an API SJ engine oil would include some friction modifier. If the OEM indicates that higher performance engine oils such as API SJ, API SL and API SM it is possible to use the engine oil in these motorcycles.

I hope this helps answer your question.

Regards,

Dennis L. Bachelder

American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street NW
Washington DC 20005 USA
Send To: [email protected]

Thus the final word, even from the API is the same as I've been telling everyone for years now:
API SJ, SL and SM are NOT compatible with your Katana engine's design (which calls for an SF/SG rated oil).

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[Jarhead767]

Thanks to all that took time out to reply!!

Cyber .... as always you are fact based and informative ... Thanks to you too!!

I am a Castrol fan ... been using it in my cars since i started driving ... I will go for the GPS!!

Thanks again!!