Synthetic oil tip

[azshooter]

Just wanted to pass this tip along - My wife rides a Honda Recon and I really love the way the way the little Honda engine runs like a champ.  I have used Mobil 1 synthetic from the first oil change.  On a cold start it never stalls and is as smooth as can be.  I recently bought a new Yamaha Kodiak 400 and one thing that was bugging me was having to keep re-start the engine it after it stalled on a cold start.  I just switched the Yamaha to Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oil like the Honda and I can't believe the difference.  It now starts and idles perfectly without stalling at all.  It just fires up and runs like it was alerady warmed up.  Needless to say, I am very impressed how much synthetic oil smoothed out the engine.

[Camper]

I was wondering about mobile 1 for my 99 450 Foreman but did not know if this would damge the engine?

Does anyone know the pro's and con's.
I have been using Honda's brand
Is there any reason to switch?

I know that Honda's can be hard to start in the cold generally!

Camper

[azshooter]

Mobile 1 is one of the best oils made.  Synthetic oils such as Mobile 1 surpass by far the JASO requirements of Honda and other motor manufactures.  Don't use the automotive version of the oil though.  Mobile makes a formula specificly for motorcycle and ATV use (MX4T).  This is to protect wet clutches that motorcycles and ATV's have.

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_MX4T_10W-40.aspx

http://www.mobil1.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Motorcycle_Oils.aspx

[Special Ed]

Those oils are for stuff that shares the oil between the engine & tranny. I use regular Mobil 1 in my Polaris.

[azshooter]

Those oils are for stuff that shares the oil between the engine & tranny. I use regular Mobil 1 in my Polaris.

Correct - probably 99% of the Japanese machines have a wet clutch.

[Old Syko]

Those oils are for stuff that shares the oil between the engine & tranny. I use regular Mobil 1 in my Polaris.

Correct - probably 99% of the Japanese machines have a wet clutch.

Now most Japanese motorcycles are made with a wet clutch but those days are going fast in the atv world.  Already the majority of utes and sport utilities have wised up and gone to a cvt with a belt transfer.  Even Honda has is pushing their automatic. (pun intended)

[azshooter]

Are you confusing a wet clutch and CVT tranny?  My new 2005 Kodiak has both a wet clutch and CVT.  Anyway, the best thing is to tell what oil is to open the manual.  If you have a wet clutch, use the non-friction reducing synthetic oils for motorcycles and ATV's otherwise use whatever the manual says.

[Old Syko]

Are you confusing a wet clutch and CVT tranny? [/quote]

I'm not at all confused.  Pull the cover off the right side of the Kodiak and take a look.  There is no wet clutch.  What you'll see is the cvt which consists of a drive and a driven clutch with a belt between the two.  The rear clutch feeds a conventional gear driven transmission to a shaft drive output.  Again, there's no wet clutch!  Yamaha's website shows a breakdown schematic that is much easier to look at rather than taking your bike apart though.

[azshooter]

I guess page 10-2 of the owners manual that states that it has a wet clutch is wrong then. :roll:  The Yammaha CVT tranny is a no slip design.  The clutch is still wet and using the wrong oil will wear it out.

[LongShadow]

If you have a wet clutch, use the non-friction reducing synthetic oils

Do you know if this is stated on the oil containers?  You say that Mobil 1 makes a specific brand "MX4T".  What about the others?  Do they all make specialized synthetics for wet clutches?

[Special Ed]

I did an oil change on my Polaris last weekend, couldn't get the usual Mobil 1 so I ended up with Penzoil full synthetic. The same grade, 10w30. After starting the machine I noticed a LARGE reduction in "engine noise".
Anyone else ever had this happen just by switching oils?
I think I'm gonna stay with the Penzoil.

[azshooter]

If you have a wet clutch, use the non-friction reducing synthetic oils

Do you know if this is stated on the oil containers?  You say that Mobil 1 makes a specific brand "MX4T".  What about the others?  Do they all make specialized synthetics for wet clutches?

Usually it will say safe for wet clutches on the container.  AMSOIL is another I know of and then there is the Yamaha/Yama lube synthetic etc. you can get from the dealers ad pay through the nose for.

[jgalar]

I've been using automotive oils in my motorcycles for 25+ years and in that time have only replaced one clutch and that was on a used, clapped out dirt bike.

[azshooter]

I've been using automotive oils in my motorcycles for 25+ years and in that time have only replaced one clutch and that was on a used, clapped out dirt bike.

Some people put DOT 3 Brake fluid in cars that spec DOT 4 fluid too.  When its your money and equipment so you can do what you want with it.

[jgalar]

I do not recommend using brake fluid in your engine nor engine oil in your brake's hydraulic system. I simply stated that I have used automotive oils in all my motorcycles with no ill effects.  Automotive oils especially the ones developed in the last few years are equal to motorcycle oils and do not cause clutch or engine wear as the dealers will tell you. It is BS to frighten you into buying their expensive oil. Here are a couple of web sites to look over that have had research on the subject

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm
http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/oiltest1.htm

We are all grownups and can make our own decisions on what to use in our bikes or atvs, but I having been a mechanic for many years will not fork out extra money for motorcycle engine oils based only on marketing claims.

[jack19512]

I also use Mobil 1 in my motorcycle.  Always have and never a problem.  Generally, but not necessarily always, any oil  10W30 and lower contains friction modifiers that are not good for wet clutch applications.

I always use 10W40 or higher synthetics in my motorcycle and ATVs.  If you look on the back of the oil container and it says "Energy conserving"  it is not safe to use on machines that use wet clutches.

[MT4XFore]

Hi fellas,  I use AMSOIL 0 - 40 Synthetic made especially for ATV's and personal watercraft.  It is also specially formulated for wet clutch application.I find it to be excellent.  Here is its web site: http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/aff.aspx  Hope this helps ya'll.