Hi All,
I have three bikes here now (well, two bikes, one scooter). The bikes are a 2010 Husky TE630, and a 2009 ZX-6R. The scooter is a 2018 Yamaha XMAX 300.
My thinking is that I can afford to get a better, fully synthetic oil and/or change it more frequently, if I buy it in bulk....which makes sense, but really only if I can run it in all three bikes. There's basically two candidate viscosities, an XW40 or an XW50. API SM or better is what I would hunt for.
Both the TE630 and ZX-6R will be being used in relatively hard riding (club racing, once every 2 months or so). The TE630 is also used for long distance travel, including a planned 7000km trip across Australia's deserts, which also involves some 'spirited' application of the throttle and heavy loading with luggage in sand dunes etc. Ambient temps up to 45c are entirely possible, but not common. Typical range would be ~0c to 35c ambient. The XMAX just commutes around town in similar temp ranges.
Some say they run a 0W40 in the TE630's, but I'm very wary of running a lower viscosity than recommended at the operating temperature, which seems very high risk. Given the operating conditions are hardest for the TE630 and ZX-6R, I'm inclined to go for an XW50, but am generally happy to run a thinner viscosity with better pumpability for the cold temp rating and cold cranking (5W or 0W rather than 10W).
The manual specs for oil are:
TE630: 10W50, no particular specs, just says 'CASTROL POWER 1 RACING 10W-50'. Presumably also JASO MA since it's wet clutch. Would chase API SL or newer since its a 2010 bike.
ZX-6R: 10W40 or 10W50 (presumably if ambient temp is greater than 40c based on their chart). JASO MA, MA1 or MA2, API SG or higher.
XMAX: 10W40, JASO MA or MB, API SG or higher.
The ultimate question then is for the scooter....Is there a risk in running a higher quality, but slightly thicker operating temp viscosity oil (say a 5W50 API SM) in an engine spec'd for 10W40 API SG or higher?
I realise it will likely make fuel consumption slightly higher, but I'm fine with that on a scooter. More concerned about engine longevity and sufficient lubrication of the engine.
On the face of it, it seems fine since the SM or SN spec is so far ahead of an SG or the like, it's probably okay, but I'd be interest to learn more on this if anyone can share their thoughts on what the main risk would be in terms of possible increased engine wear?
I have three bikes here now (well, two bikes, one scooter). The bikes are a 2010 Husky TE630, and a 2009 ZX-6R. The scooter is a 2018 Yamaha XMAX 300.
My thinking is that I can afford to get a better, fully synthetic oil and/or change it more frequently, if I buy it in bulk....which makes sense, but really only if I can run it in all three bikes. There's basically two candidate viscosities, an XW40 or an XW50. API SM or better is what I would hunt for.
Both the TE630 and ZX-6R will be being used in relatively hard riding (club racing, once every 2 months or so). The TE630 is also used for long distance travel, including a planned 7000km trip across Australia's deserts, which also involves some 'spirited' application of the throttle and heavy loading with luggage in sand dunes etc. Ambient temps up to 45c are entirely possible, but not common. Typical range would be ~0c to 35c ambient. The XMAX just commutes around town in similar temp ranges.
Some say they run a 0W40 in the TE630's, but I'm very wary of running a lower viscosity than recommended at the operating temperature, which seems very high risk. Given the operating conditions are hardest for the TE630 and ZX-6R, I'm inclined to go for an XW50, but am generally happy to run a thinner viscosity with better pumpability for the cold temp rating and cold cranking (5W or 0W rather than 10W).
The manual specs for oil are:
TE630: 10W50, no particular specs, just says 'CASTROL POWER 1 RACING 10W-50'. Presumably also JASO MA since it's wet clutch. Would chase API SL or newer since its a 2010 bike.
ZX-6R: 10W40 or 10W50 (presumably if ambient temp is greater than 40c based on their chart). JASO MA, MA1 or MA2, API SG or higher.
XMAX: 10W40, JASO MA or MB, API SG or higher.
The ultimate question then is for the scooter....Is there a risk in running a higher quality, but slightly thicker operating temp viscosity oil (say a 5W50 API SM) in an engine spec'd for 10W40 API SG or higher?
I realise it will likely make fuel consumption slightly higher, but I'm fine with that on a scooter. More concerned about engine longevity and sufficient lubrication of the engine.
On the face of it, it seems fine since the SM or SN spec is so far ahead of an SG or the like, it's probably okay, but I'd be interest to learn more on this if anyone can share their thoughts on what the main risk would be in terms of possible increased engine wear?
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