The CB1100 Community Forum

(04-03-2014, 02:57 AM)thessler3_imp Wrote: [ -> ]I have read that you should avoid using oils that are blended for higher gas mileage. I used to be an oil fanatic, using the very best oils and changing at very short intervals. As I got older, I started using good API rated motor oils like Pennzoil or Rotella and have never had a problem with many different bikes. I typically change about every 3000 miles. I have read suggestions to use oils blended for motorcycles, as they have additives for the transmission gears but I have never had a transmission or clutch problem when using car oil. For very high revving bikes, I do use oils blended for high performance engines. On another point, I have read that viscosity modifiers are rarely effective for more than about 20 points over time, so 10W30 probably is effective but 10W50 or 15W60 is probably a waste of money.

The suggestions for motorcycle oils is primarily to avoid friction modifiers that are becoming more prevalent in automotive oils. Bikes with wet clutches have the friction plates immersed in engine oil and you can get some slippage with certain friction modifiers. It used to be safe to just avoid automotive oils with the "energy conserving" stamp in the API circle, but later API specs (such as SM) allow for friction modifiers without the "energy conserving" label.

There is a Japanese specification that is specifically for motorcycles with wet clutches. JASO-MA is the spec and most motorcycle oils (and some automotive oils) are compliant.

I used to use automotive oils until the API SM spec (which does not make allowances for wet clutches). Since then I've used whatever complies with JASO-MA.

Can someone with a CB Owner's or Service Manual handy please quote me the exact wording of Honda's recommendations for oil in this bike. Thank you.

Service manual page 3-14

Recommended Engine Oil
ProHonda GN4 4-stroke oil (U.S.A. and Canada) or equivalent motor oil
API service classification: SG or Higher
JASO T 903 standard: MA
Viscosity: 10W30

There is a chart (and a note)that shows that 10W40 can be used if the average temps are 60 or 70F or higher. I say 60 or 70 as it does not show an exact place where the viscosity changes, which means arguments may now ensue

Thanks popgun. I'll be trying to stay as close to the recommended oil as possible. I'm guessing that the ProHonda stuff specified here is outrageously expensive... correct?


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Pro Honda GN4 10w-30 is about $6 per qt.
If I'm not mistaken, the Honda part code for the oil is 08C35-a131m01, so if you google

08C35-a131m01

you can find it under $5 per qt.

Hope it helps,

Rolls

Well that seems surprisingly reasonable. So, why all the debate about which oil to use? Seems pretty cut and dried to me. While many of you seem quite knowledgable on this topic, I seriously doubt that any of us are better informed than the engineers who designed the bike in the first place. Just my $.02


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I promised myself never to post again in an oil thread but here I am again. I just wanted to pass along that Shell Rotella is now JASO rated. I use it in my 750 and it seems fine. My understanding is that nothing has changed on the oil but they just added the rating since it was mostly marketed to the diesel engine guys. Its long been a well kept secret to motorcycle users because its readily available and pretty cheap to boot. Just passing along the info that is all.

(08-24-2013, 09:53 PM)wildezt_imp Wrote: [ -> ]Honda HP4S 10W30.full syn.. great stuff..!.. tried amsoil 10w30 for a week...dint like it..shifting got tight after a few minutes ride.and it smells bad after a ride...drained it all out, replaced filter and put HP4S 10W30 full syn in less than 7 days after the amsoil change...shifts like butter, the bike loves that Honda blood..

I'm using amsoil 10/30 and mine shifts like butter and I don't smell the oil, how is it your smelling your oil after a ride?

I'm using Marvel Mystery Oil. It smells like cinnamon buns, fresh from the oven. For even more cinnamon scent, you can put a capful in your gas tank every fill up.

Marvel Mystery Oil...since 1923!

http://www.marvelmysteryoil.com

In the 90's I would put marvel mysteryoil in my Harleys' gas. But after a,while I didn't know what good it did so I stopped using it.