Oil Ranking

[asviridov]

Hello Everybody,

GS500 Manual recommends 10W-40 SAE (SF, SE, SG) oil. I am clear about 10W-40, but not sure about SAE ranking. There are plenty of oil ranked SL, SJ, SH. Are they of better quality? Does anybody know what those rankings mean?

In addition, I found Valvoline brand that is specifically marked for motorcycles. It is slightly more expensive than Castrol GTX, while Castrol is ranked higher.

Any thoughts?

[Jace009]

SAE=Society of Automotive Engineers....in plain english these are the guys/gals in the US that say this or that meets manufacturer specifications.

[The Buddha]

As the ratings get newer the oil has fewer and fewer additives, especially zinc, copper etc... these are what help when oil starts to break down, but if it burns it makes for ashy, powdery residue... that clogs up the sensors in a new car... so they have less of it to keep that from happening... so I use oil rated SE... available at walmart for 74 cents a quart. Only problem... is its 30 wt or 10W40 only. so once the weather gets hot... I go to 20W50 motorcycle castrol... also at walmart but $1.68 a quart. Nothing scientific... I like oil that is loaded with additives that comes out of the bottle grey in color... unlike the watery crap they have these days.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Jace009]

ya I second that 20-50wt in the summer...My bike has alot of miles on it and it need that thicker stuff to keep lubericated....

[Jace009]

ya I second that 20-50wt in the summer...My bike has alot of miles on it and it need that thicker stuff to keep lubericated....

[asviridov]

As the ratings get newer the oil has fewer and fewer additives, especially zinc, copper etc... these are what help when oil starts to break down, but if it burns it makes for ashy, powdery residue... that clogs up the sensors in a new car... so they have less of it to keep that from happening... so I use oil rated SE... available at walmart for 74 cents a quart. Only problem... is its 30 wt or 10W40 only. so once the weather gets hot... I go to 20W50 motorcycle castrol... also at walmart but $1.68 a quart. Nothing scientific... I like oil that is loaded with additives that comes out of the bottle grey in color... unlike the watery crap they have these days.
Cool.
Srinath.

Thank you for the reply. When you say hot, what do you really mean. I live in CT, USA so is can be 100F during the summer. Do you consider 100F hot?

[The Buddha]

Yes 100F is hot, heck 80F is hot enough for the oil's point of view... but how much riding do you do at 100F. If its 100F in the afternoon, but your morning ride is at 50F then its well not 100, its 50F. Common sense. I typically switch to 20W50 when its clacking enough for the neighbors to say... oooo that sounds bad... you sure you wanna be riding to work on that... you think it'll make it.
Cool.
Srinath.

[bigdaub]

i work in the motorcycle industry and we manufacture oils to the manufacturers (we do all honda stuff, and to bust a myth, mobil is not the manufacturer of honda motorcycle oils, they just distribute).  believe it or not, the motorcycle oils are made specifically for motorcycle use.  engineers from honda or suzuki or whoever actually work with oil manufacturers to come up with their own secret sauce.  when i first started here they had me convinced pretty good that if you put in car engine oil in your bike your bike will blow up, with scientific backing.  but now, i'm not so sure anymore.  from my personal experience and talking to people that ride, it does look like it makes no major difference between using a "motorcycle oil" and a "car oil" for your bike.  i still use motorcycle oil for my bike though.
i'm really starting to believe that it is just a marketing ploy trying to 'educate' motorcyclists to use motorcycle engine oils.  just don't let my boss know what i think!

[sprint_9]

I think Im gonna use Shell Rotella 15w40 or is it w30 anyhow Ive heard only good things about it, a few use it on here and a whole bunch on svrider use it. I used Vavoline 20w50 Racing oil last year cause it was free, but the racing program has died down unfotunatly   .

[asviridov]

I agree, that companies are trying to fool people around. Especially here in the US, as motorcycle is not really considered a mean of  transportation, but rather a luxury good.

So I have seen Valvoline motorcycle oil with low ranking been more expensive than Castrol GTX with higher ranking.

Just a thought.

[yamahonkawazuki]

i use the castrol gtx in mine. (car oil), no probs as of yet