Oil for a Thumper???

bigjohn · Mar 16, 2009

I have recently acquired two, Honda XL600....big 'ole Thumpers. These bikes are 1983 and 1985 and are air cooled. Everyone tells me that they can run very, very hot.

I am wondering what oil you Thumper owners out there like, especially for air cooled dirt bikes, where the mph might be really slow sometimes when trail riding and the engine tends to get hot.

What are the opinions out there in BITOG land????

Steve S · Mar 16, 2009

Engine heat is caused by power output how hard do you run the bikes? Are they MX bikes or enduros?

bepperb · Mar 16, 2009

If it were me, I'd get some 5w-40 synthetic Rotella.

I assume they're 4 cycle? A 600cc 2 cycle would just be a ridiculous amount of power.

I had an 1986 NX 125 when I was younger, air cooled 4 cycle. I don't remember what weight, but all I ever used was YBP and it always ran great. Unfortunately halfway through college I sold it...

Bill in Utah · Mar 16, 2009

I just sold my 1978 XT500 with 35k miles on it. Ran fine with 10-40 and 20-50 oil.

My dad has a 1981 XT500 which has about 70k miles on it and all he runs is 15w40t HDEO oil.

Starts every kick and runs great. His in tank oil temp gauge reads around 200-230 degrees as did mine.

Bill

bigjohn · Mar 16, 2009

Yeah, I just looked up the Specs for Rotella Synthetic 5w40 and I really like the flash point of 475....it is one of the highest.

These XL600's are 4 stroke thumpers with dual exhaust ports. As for power output...these puppies ROCK, at 44hp. Guys have reported that while running 70-75 mph down the interstate at night, the exhaust headers begin to glow orange. Yeah...they get hot.

ccdhowell · Mar 16, 2009

If you're gonna run them hard, I'd say take your choice of weight from Maxima. They have a rediculous additive levels for 4stroke performance engines. Their Maxum4 Ultra 5w40 has a flash point of 424 for example.

Silk · Mar 17, 2009

They don't run that hot - you can run them all day off road in 2nd gear in summer temps and they won't seize up.I sold my XT600E last year,I had it for 5 years.I normally used a 15w40 HDEO,but also used Silkolene Pro 4 15/50 sometimes.These big air cooled thumpers are designed to be tough,you have to be pretty stupid to abuse them enough to destroy them.

dnewton3 · Mar 17, 2009

This is the engine that preceeded the XL-650 engine, that is still made today. It just grew in displacement. They have made this engine in different sizes, but the design has been the same for probably 25+ years?

It runs hot, but not so hot that it can't survive. I had one for a few years (1993 model). I had just as much success with the HDEO 15w40 as I did trying Mobil 1 15w-50 or other PAOs; no better or worse.

Follow the OCI set forth in the manual. These engines are renowned for their longevity. About the only thing that ever goes wrong with these bikes is the regulator/rectifier will go bad, and strand you in the boonies somewhere. Your money is better spent on a good quality aftermarket reg/rect than a boutique oil ...

SAJEFFC · Mar 17, 2009

Just sold my 05 XR650L a few months ago. Put about 8k miles on it mostly offroad in the Big Bend area. I ran Mobil 1 10W40 and never had any trouble with it. I ran a 25 mile trail once in Big Bend park in the middle of August!

It was 102 degrees in the shade that day. That big Honda never missed a beat. You should be fine with any 10W40 oil but I did like the idea of synthetic in an air-cooled motor. Just my .02c

JDD · Mar 17, 2009

ROTELLA 15-40. If you change out the oil a lot like me (650cc thumper & 3 other bikes), don't bother with the Rotella 5-40 syn. It's a waste of $$. Rotella is a long time favorite for the motorcycle crowd. It's very inexpensive by the gallon. I run 15-40 Rotella in everything that I have that goes on dirt or works in the yard.
Mixes fleet HDEOs are great for bikes as well as diesels. Both engines have higher temps, localized hot spots. Higher film strength is great for both. Rotella also does not have moly (like delo) and is clutch safe.

dwendt44 · Mar 17, 2009

Rotella is JASO rated too!

jldcol · Mar 17, 2009

Is this a 1 cyl. 4 stroke of this size? if so explains the thumping knickname. Usually the most efficent size for a cylinder is 450-500cc, in liquid cooled blocks, mostly a surface area to volume thing. Air cooled is hotter so maybe can go bigger. If like to use dino, 30/40 mono is good and if syn a multi visc is less troublesome. Probably don't need 50wt. unless really worn and smokes a lot.

bigjohn · Mar 17, 2009

One of my XL600's have M1 R4T 10W40 in it. Yeah that is $9 a quart oil, but I wanted to run some good stuff through it after purchasing....plus, it was in my garage from an earlier purchase.

My second XL600...I haven't done anything with it yet. It is sitting in Phoenix in a friends garage and I will soon ride it home to Colorado. Anyway, before leaving on that trip, I will change out the oil and drop in a new filter. I will go with Rotella 5W40 Synthetic.

By the way, how often do you guys change the oil in your thumpers? I think our 1983 XL600 Service manual says something like....every 1,500 miles. Sound right?

TLAR640 · Mar 17, 2009

I had an '83 and an '87 XL600 and always used Honda 10w-40 without problems. I think Rotella 5w-40 or even 15w40 would be a good choice. I think I changed oil and filter every 2,000 mi.

ZGRider · Mar 21, 2009

Do a search for sunruh's VOAs from his 4-stroke bikes, he has some very interesting information that you may not have expected.

02zx9r · Mar 23, 2009

i run Rotella 15W40 or exxon 20W50 in my crf.

hinterlander · Jul 7, 2009

I've been using Amsoil 15w40 Synthetic Blend (PCO) in my old Yamaha XT250. It has a flash point of 450f, but that engine gets pretty hot riding with the bigger bikes in the sand on a hot day. It gets so hot that I MUST use Shell V-Power 93 or it knocks like crazy pulling a long grade.

budrow79 · Jul 7, 2009

I run Rotella 15w40 in my Big Thumper. I've never had any problems and it gets hot here in Socal.

bigjohn · Jul 8, 2009

We are currently on an OCI of Delvac 15w40 in both bikes and the oil seems really good from a feel and shift perspective. We plan to run this oil for 2,000 miles.

I think I will change to Rotella 5w40 synthetic in both bikes in the near future, as I am moving to Rotella Synthetic in my Strom and it is much more convenient to run the same oil in all three bikes.

live_to_hunt · Jul 8, 2009

I Have been running Delvac in my Harley all summer so far it has been great. I had run Amsoil for years I am very happy with delvac so far.

Oil for a Thumper???

Similar threads