An oil (experience) thread

[DaSwami_imp]

Alright my peeps, this is a short story on my Suzuki DR650, and it's oil. Oil brands are "A" "B" and "C".

Factory fill on the 2017 bike was unknown, and changed at the 600 mile break-in service.

Oil "A" was added at 600 miles by the dealer until 2000 miles. All oil mentioned here was 10W40 motorcycle oil.

I used the bike to commute to work 120 miles roundtrip on the exact same route, using the exact same gas at the exact same pump.

After 11 trips, this was the average miles to reserve and average mpg

Average miles to reserve: 112

Average mpg: 44.9 mpg


At 2000 miles I drained and changed the oil to brand "B". I took six roundtrip commutes using the same route. To me, the bike felt like it was breaking in again, shifting was notchy and the bike just didn't seem happy. Below is the mpg for each trip and best and worst miles to reserve:

Lowest miles to reserve: 99.7
Highest miles to reserve: 107.1

MPG:

Trip 1 = 41.9
Trip 2 = 42.4
Trip 3 = 42.6
Trip 4 = 42.1
Trip 5 = 42.8
Trip 6 = 43.1

Avg= 42.5


Not happy, I drained and switched to Brand "C" at 2750 miles.

I noticed right away the bike shifted smoother within a few miles and seemed to rev freely again. After one 120 mil round trip, check this out:

Miles to reserve: 117.1
MPG = 46.75

Folks, that is a 10% increase in MPG in just the first trip, that can not be a coincidence. I'm a believer!

Brand A = Suzuki EcStar
Brand B = Honda GN4
Brand C = Amsoil Metric 10W/40

I am not an Amsoil salesman nor do I have any financial stake in the company.

But...Amsoil did a study on 32 motorcycle oils and in the 40 weight class oil Honda's GN4 finished 12th out of 15 oils!

All I know, on my CBs I will run the Honda oil until 2000 miles and then I am switching to Amsoil. Honda makes great bikes, but for me, their oil did not work well at all in my DR650! Not even as good as the Suzuki OEM oil..

[PowerDubs_imp]

Good post- and as far as motorcycle oil specifics go I don't know anything- but I know where to go!

Put this exact same post in the forum over at Bob Is The Oil Guy and see what they have to say. Completely independent thoughts from very knowledgeable guys over there.

They will also turn many of you on to Blackstone lab testing.

[DaSwami_imp]

Just to be clear, I ran the Suzuki Ecstar until 2000 miles, not 200 as the post sates.

[PowerDubs_imp]

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com

Check out the forums there- trust me!!!

[Cormanus]

Just to be clear, I ran the Suzuki Ecstar until 2000 miles, not 200 as the post sates.

DaSwami, I've edited the post for you. Did I get the right 200?

By the way, I've been running Honda GN4 10W30 for a while as the dealers had a special pack with 4 litres of oil and a filter for a reasonable price. I used to think that when it got really hot, it made the gear changes feel less smooth. Last change I used a Penrite (Australian brand) 10W40 semi synthetic and, on a recent trip, the bike felt smoother.

But I'd better look at the bobstheoilguy.

[DaSwami_imp]

You got it right, Cormanus, and yes it is really hot here in Florida right now. I will switch the presumed factory 10W/30 out of my new CB's at maybe 500 miles for Honda 10W/40, run until 2000 miles then switch to Amsoil, and see what happens! Stay tuned.

[peterbaron]

Fine, whatever was said above..
I use "my synthetic 10W40"" oil since possession of CB and I am happy.
Do not care if other oils are bit better or worse and if fuel consumption is 1/2 drop of gas less or more

Everyone choice



pb

[Houtman_imp]

I have used 10/40 Mobil synthetic for all my bikes in the last 30 years , oil is cheap !

[max]

What's inside your oil filter? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZicO-ZmPGcw
a practical approach to evaluate how you may want to filtrate your oil.

[DaSwami_imp]

Did another round trip to work today, same route.

Miles to reserve: Reserve not hit at 120.2 miles
MPG: 47.3

Going up!