Switching to synthetic oil...

[shdwghst457_imp]

Sure love an oil thread. Is there a reason why one *wouldn't* switch to synthetic? Price isn't really a factor if you're changing less often. For the record I'm still on conventional oil, but the only oil change my bike has gotten so far is the 600 miler.

[Pauley]

Gotta love these oil threads.

I have oil changes at 600 and 2,000 with regular oil behind me. I have about 3,000 miles on my bike now. Planning my next oil change at 4,000 miles and I have some Castrol Activo X-tra 4T 10w-30 synthetic blend all ready to go. What is the best oil change interval for synthetic blend? Same question for full synthetic?

[Ack-CB11_imp]

I go every 2k with a wet clutch bike, no matter what the oil.
Overkill I'm sure, buy I like my oil clean.

[CIP57_imp]

Gotta love these oil threads.

I have oil changes at 600 and 2,000 with regular oil behind me. I have about 3,000 miles on my bike now. Planning my next oil change at 4,000 miles and I have some Castrol Activo X-tra 4T 10w-30 synthetic blend all ready to go. What is the best oil change interval for synthetic blend? Same question for full synthetic?

I go 3000

[dBuster_imp]

With my old 1980 Yamaha XS850 it did not like synthetic. The clutch would slip like crazy when running synthetic and once I went back to conventional all was fine again.

So why would one not run synthetic, there is a good reason there.

But then again, not all bikes are created the same and even though they have the same model number and are made the same they are all unique.

[wildezt_imp]

Switched to synthetic right around the first change.

[the Ferret]

Not sure I want to participate in this but here goes..

Why would one NOT run synthetic?

Well,

Have never used synthetic..don't see where it is an advantage

Change oil at 4000 mile service intervals on all my vehicles ( exception..put fresh oil in my ST before going to Cali, changed it when I got back 5424 miles)

Always use a new oil filter even though Honda says I can skip every other oil change

Have never had an engine failure for oil related reasons or any other reasons for that matter.. I've never had an engine failure for any reason

Have only read of one or two instances where riders actually stretched their changing habits when changing to synthetic ie: going 8-10,000 miles between changes. Most still change at 3-4000 miles ... Anyone here run their synthetic 8,000 miles?

[wayne van horn_imp]

It really does't matter what oil you use as long as it is for your bike. there was a test done on 2 cabs in new york, one on cheep oil and one on syn. both changed there oil at same milage over 200,000 miles. both engines were then torn down and compare for wear, they found no extra wear in the one running the cheep oil. bottom line, change oil and filter at 4,ooo miles or less to get max. life out of your engine.

[lukeduck_imp]

This is kinda disappointing for an oil thread. Here is the way it's done 1)Oil and filter at 600 mile service, dino oil as specified. 2)Change again at 1200 miles, new filter and 5-80 wt synthetic snake oil. 3)Change oil and/or filter whenever (50 to 50,000 miles). 4) If oil level needs to be topped up add only small snakes, big ones can cause overfill. So folks there you have it in a nutshell-whats that-this nut should crawl back in his shell. OK, but before I do, Have a great 4th of July and ride extra safe. Have fun.

[CIP57_imp]

Not sure I want to participate in this but here goes..

Why would one NOT run synthetic?

Well,

Have never used synthetic..don't see where it is an advantage

Change oil at 4000 mile service intervals on all my vehicles ( exception..put fresh oil in my ST before going to Cali, changed it when I got back 5424 miles)

Always use a new oil filter even though Honda says I can skip every other oil change

Have never had an engine failure for oil related reasons or any other reasons for that matter.. I've never had an engine failure for any reason

Have only read of one or two instances where riders actually stretched their changing habits when changing to synthetic ie: going 8-10,000 miles between changes. Most still change at 3-4000 miles ... Anyone here run their synthetic 8,000 miles?

You can run synthetic longer in car ,truck etc do to the fact it does not run through other parts of the motor therefore does not get dirty and contaminated at 3000mi.

Synthetics run cleaner and leave less deposits than dino that's why you should not run them in vehicle's with high mileage that have never run synthetic. The tend to clean deposit and seals than can cause seal breakdown. The oil is thinner when hot and gets into area dino doesn't.

Also the longer you stretch out the number 15-40 10-40 the more insert ingredients are added to get that number higher to make the oil thicker. All 10W's start with straight 10W oil. The larger the span between ### the more crap is added to the oil.

Edit: Also synthetic will attach and bond better to transmission gears causing less wear. Did you ever try that spin wheel in the auto parts store that show synthetic to dino, how much longer the residual bonds not to mention cold start ups.

Don't take my word for it, do a internet search to confirm the above.