Fork Oil Can I use Light 2 cycle oil.

[jefferygs500]

hey guys, I gotta go to a really important meeeting tomorrow, I just notiched that my bike is leaking fork oil. The trip is proablly a 3 hour drive. I really wanna put some into it or i won't be going if i can't use oil. Guys what would be the best oil, 2 cycle, 10W40 er what?? Thanks guys alot.

[cobalt135]

err, you need to use "Fork Oil" made for motorcycle forks.

edit to add:  The correct weight and amount is important and will vary depending if you have stock springs or aftermarket.

[scratch]

Also, so that fork oil doesn't get all over your brake pads and disk, zip tie a sock around each fork leg slider (just below where the seals are). And, use fork oil, please. Bel Ray is the least expensive and you should be able to get a quart at Cycle Gear. $8.99 last time I looked.

[JamesG]

I would not use 2 cycle oil because it has a very light viscocity and might have additives not conducive to the health of your fork components.  Also using a multi viscosity is also not a good idea because its thickness changes with temperature, which will change the damping of the fork.

you CAN use straight viscocity motor oil if you absolutely can't find/get specific fork oils. I would suggest 15wt if you can find it, but 10wt is pretty close to what they put in it at the factory.

[Gisser]

Clymer recommends using a 50/50 mix of 10w/30 motor oil and ATF for the GS450.  

[The Buddha]

Clymer recommends using a 50/50 mix of 10w/30 motor oil and ATF for the GS450.  

Yea ATF the non gritty type (dont know what that is - I believe ford used the gritty type, all others non gritty) Now mix with motor oil - Maybe ... I have heard straight atf. BTW fork oil isn't like motor oil, nothing will happen if its leaking ... maybe handle bad, but adding fluid will not make any diff, it will leak out in a few miles and make it worse for ya.
Cool.
Srinath.

[werase643]

i think the red stuff in a EX500 fork IS ATF!!!!

[Blueknyt]

yeah, atf is spose to be like 17 W

[Gisser]

For some reason, it's hard to nail down a direct comparison of ATF-to-motor oil viscosity.  I've seen 10w, less than 10w, and multi-grade characteristics of 0w20.  In the latter case, since fork oil temp doesn't rise as in an engine, it would seem the lighter viscosity range would be a constant.  Maybe that's why Clymer specifies mixing with 10w30.   :dunno: