Oil, which one

[Jamtndll]

Ok this will be my first summer with my magna.  Which brand and weight of oil is best for the texas heat.  First gen.
Jim

[TLRam1]

If you do a search for "OIL" there will be a few threads with varying opinions. The main thing you do not want to purchase an oil with ENERGY CONSERVING in the bottom of the round circle on the back of the bottle. Look at 10W30 and you will see the "saying".

In a nutshell;

Synthetics are good for extended oil changes, normally by at least double. Mobile makes a synthetic  with a guarantee of 15,000 mile between changes.

Shell Rotella T is a Heavy Duty Diesel oil (meets gas engine requirements also) is economically priced and will give you extended change intervals also.

The regular oils as mentioned in the first paragraph and motorcycle specific oils, though these are not recommended for extended oil intervals.

Get your popcorn and indulge in some reading!!


This is Under the FAQ SECTION of this forum.

All you ever wanted to know about Oils and Filters

a. http://vfrworld.com/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm
b. Consumer Reports oil testing http://smokeriders.com/surprising_truth.htm
c. http://www.tobycreek.org/oil_filters/purolator.shtml
d. http://www.knizefamily.net/minimopar/oilfilters/index.html (Mopar site but good info on oil filters)
e. http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest3.htm (Generic testing on air filters)

[Greg Cothern]

It has been my experience that Motorcycle specific oils, especially synthetics, keep the shifts smoother, and clutch happier.

[drkngas]

Over 30k miles with Honda GN4.   Since I change my oil pretty often I figure the factory stuff must be ok.  I recently added the kevlar clutch and it seems to be ok with that oil also.

[guywheatley]

I didn't want to start a new thread on such an old topic.
There is a video on the Victory Owners Group forum about which oil to use. The forum admin asked a Victory Dealer which oil to use. Surprise, surprise, the Dealer says to use Victory oil. But, he did go into an explanation of why he recommended it, and he emphasized that his recommendation was for Victory bikes only. My ignorance on this topic is legion. What do some of you lube heads think?
http://thevog.net/forums/display_topic/id_2995/

[Charles S Otwell]

This is just a wag, but it's highly likely that the oil company and Victory got together and picked a nice logo to put on the bottle and poured there oil in it. The Freon pitch sounds more like it came from the sales department. Whatever cools your engine be it water or air, is what cools your oil, IM_O, notice I left out the H   no use lying   ..

[hootmon]

Any site you go to, you will find long threads of endless debates on this topic...

I personally use a synthetic oil made for motorcycles..
I have recommended to others to not use the same oil.. and other to use the same oil..
The answer is ... The answer is different for each bike owner...
If you only ride less than 5K miles per year, then a good conventional oil is probably fine as you will only be changing oil once to twice a year anyways..
I average 10K/year and my wife about 8K per year.. So I went with Synthetic.. It cost more, but I only change my oil once a year (No need for comments on this from the peanut gallery)...
The Motorcycle specific oil has better rust and corrosion inhibitors in it and is part of the reason I use it..

I'm a little confused on your post.. You say "1st gen" in your post, but then there is a picture of a 3rd gen..  

I know someone close to me that pays for synthetic, and then changes it every 3K miles.. I'm thinking about changing his oil for free, and re-using the oil in my bikes.. I can use it for 3K-5K miles and get it for free!!! Just the cost of a new filter!!!

Speaking of Filters, this is a commonly overlooked area.. Although the Magna book recommends 7K mile oil changes (you did look that up right???   ) If you are going to run extended periods, then you should replace the filter at about 7K ( or about half your interval mileage) and top off the oil.. IM_O.. Which filter is another can of worms that you may not want to open for times sake!!

I don't know if this helps... But understand that you are going to get such passionate opinions from each individual and all of then can not be right.. SO you have to decide what is comfortable for you between quality of the oil, cost, and change frequency.. Then stick to it, because you have thought it through for yourself..

[lragan]

I haven't figured out if Charles left all that space in his post for effect (if so, I didn't get it --someone will have to explain), or

His return key is sticking...

[roboto65]

Royal Purple I need not say anymore  Just messing with ya like has been said as long as the changes are made at the intervals they all will work !!!

[Charles S Otwell]

I haven't figured out if Charles left all that space in his post for effect (if so, I didn't get it --someone will have to explain), or

His return key is sticking...

I have no idea what your talking about!!

I guess I sounded a little cynical and mistrusting, but in another life I hauled gas for Shell Oil Co. We picked up gas from where ever, I set in line behind transport trucks from several different Companies besides Shell. I sold welding alloys for Delta-Tron who formulated special alloys for specific welding problems for Companies Like Texas Utilities, I quit when I found out that our specially formulated rods came a mfg who simply put our Co's color codes on their rods. I toured a plant that packaged for several different companies out of the same line by simply changing name brands. I believe that there is a difference in quality of  products and that that are specific oils for specific applications I don't however believe that every company that sells a product under their on label, has their very own special formula. Sorry just call me the doubting Thomas!!

[lragan]

When I started my career in electronics, I went to work for Sylvania.  I was shocked to learn that vacuum tube manufacturers, like Sylvania, tooled up to make a particular tube on a particular schedule, then contacted everyone else who sold that tube to see how many they wanted!  Sylvania would make 12AX7 tubes with their logo, then a batch with RCA logo, then GE, then ... anyway, you get the idea.  All the other manufacturers did the same.  There were stocks of boxes printed up and delivered for packaging with each company's design on them.  Then they had the unmitigated gall to advertise that their tubes were better, more reliable, obtained longer life, whatever.  What a crock!

The practice continued for a short while with individual transistors, then virtually died out when integrated circuits took off.

When my sons were young, we arranged on two occasions a tour of the GM plant in Arlington, Texas.  It was fascinating, too.  There would be a Chevrolet, then an Oldsmobile, then a Buick, two more Chevrolets, then a Cadillac or two, coming off the line one after another.  So don't talk to me about Cadillac workmanship!  The same guys welded the top on the Cadillac that welded one on a Chevrolet, using the same materials and the same tools.

In the little town where I grew up, I had observed the same unmarked gasoline tanker truck unloading at the Gulf station, the Mobile station, and the Texaco station, all in the middle of the night, so I was aware of the practice in gasoline before I even left home.

So I don't know how this boils down to oils.  I have paid dearly for motorcycle specific oils, and wonder whether I am being taken for a ride in more ways than one...

[Capt. Howard]

I haven't figured out if Charles left all that space in his post for effect (if so, I didn't get it --someone will have to explain), or

His return key is sticking...

Thanks for asking Lawrence...I was wondering also!!!!

[hootmon]

So I don't know how this boils down to oils.  I have paid dearly for motorcycle specific oils, and wonder whether I am being taken for a ride in more ways than one...

The best you can do is go directly to the company that you know manufactures the product..
They are much more likely to produce the best product under there name and equal or less quality to others - preserving their brand name being paramount.. (at least in theory if anyone has a brain at the company!!!)

This is one of the reasons I use Amsoil.. They do manufacture their own.. Of course they manufacture it from components that they have to rely on other companies for.. We can only hope there is a quality check before the components are used in the manufacturing process...

May the bashing begin..

[roboto65]

Annnndddd well Royal Purple makes there own to and are Texas proud!!!!  I have heard alot of good things about Amsoil too though 

[Irisheagle]

The practice of selling the exact same product from the same production line under various brand names and through different companies is pretty common practice no matter which industry you're talking about.

As for oil, the last mechanic who worked on my engine put in conventional oil (which brand, I don't know). I'm paranoid as hell my cam's are going to go bad again, so I change my oil about every 3,000 miles with mobile motorcycle synthetic, although the only weight available at our hobby shop is 20W-40. Costs about $40 to bring the oil capacity to within operating limits.