OK, I've read the stickies and CP's web site on oil, and umpteen threads on here about oil, and it's left me a bit confused (ok, more than a bit).
I have my NAPA PS1359 oil filter, and my Fumoto valve is on order, so the only thing left is the oil.
I didn't get to ride my '97 Kat much over the summer because of gas tank issues, so I need to change the oil from the old oil that was in it before i bought it (it's been in there over a year!). Not only that, but I ended up laying it down this evening in my driveway (literally laid it down -- nice and gentle -- when the front wheel got stuck at an angle on a raised part of my driveway as I was trying to back it into the garage causing me to lose my balance) Since it has old oil in it and probably some gas now, I need to do two oil changes in quick succession to get all of it changed out.
I've read that lots of folks on here use the Rotella T 15w-40 in their pre'98 Kats, and at $13/gal at Wally-World, it's really tempting for the first full oil change. I want to switch to full synthetic at the following oil change.
What has me confused is this:
CP's site says this about JASO oils:
How can it be both JASO-MA and API SM?? It will save me about $14 or more for this first full oil change (right now that's a lot of money), but that isn't worth the price of hospital bills because my tranny/clutch failed at the wrong time causing me to wreck. So... is it OK to use Rotella T 15w-40 or not???
I have my NAPA PS1359 oil filter, and my Fumoto valve is on order, so the only thing left is the oil.
I didn't get to ride my '97 Kat much over the summer because of gas tank issues, so I need to change the oil from the old oil that was in it before i bought it (it's been in there over a year!). Not only that, but I ended up laying it down this evening in my driveway (literally laid it down -- nice and gentle -- when the front wheel got stuck at an angle on a raised part of my driveway as I was trying to back it into the garage causing me to lose my balance) Since it has old oil in it and probably some gas now, I need to do two oil changes in quick succession to get all of it changed out.
I've read that lots of folks on here use the Rotella T 15w-40 in their pre'98 Kats, and at $13/gal at Wally-World, it's really tempting for the first full oil change. I want to switch to full synthetic at the following oil change.
What has me confused is this:
CP's site says this about JASO oils:
If you ride a Japanese motorcycle build between 1971 and 2005, and it calls for one of the following API specs (SD, SE, SF, SG and/or SH), then the JASO MA standard is recommended (but may not be required) -- as it will help keep your older motorcycle from encountering some of the problems that induced the JASO organization to create the JASO MA standard in the first place.
How can it be both JASO-MA and API SM?? It will save me about $14 or more for this first full oil change (right now that's a lot of money), but that isn't worth the price of hospital bills because my tranny/clutch failed at the wrong time causing me to wreck. So... is it OK to use Rotella T 15w-40 or not???
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