Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Yes, infact my intention was to change to the Bajaj oil, but came to know that its semi-synthetic. So changed to Motul 15W50 semi-synth. Are you sure that its mineral?

That super smoothness is the real villain that hinders a proper run-in. Engine during run-in process needs rough surface that need to rub each other to create a fine and finished proper structure. Fullu synthetic engine oils have much superior lubricating properties that reduce friction to maximum extent. This delays a proper run in. Even if you think of changing the oil go for mineral or semi but best would be mineral.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

FS oils don't hinder the run-in. They just slow down the run in process when compared to mineral.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Ya, exactly what I meant. My bad

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

IMO 10W50 or 15W50 or 20W50 doesn't matter as long as you stick to "W50" as recommended in the manual ...

More on this you can read here : Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Lol. Did not meant of beating.

I changed the oil to 300v during the first service. When the oil was changed i looked at old oil. It appears to be a mineral oil or at most semi synthetic. So I assume that 390 comes with mineral oil from factory. I was to change the oil at 150kms but could not because of time and logistics constraints.

I am happy the way 300v is performing on 390. Done 2600kms till now. Milage in city around 30kmpl and on highway around 33kmpl. Top speed attained was 166kmph with loads if wind blast. Using normal fuel.

An as above post says, any oil is fine until it is w50 grade. European and Indian climates have loads of difference. So it is not must that you have to use the same oil recommended in European manual.

Sent from my GT-P3100 using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

What is more concerning to me is the difference of oil requirement in the owner's manual handed out to us vs the online version. 1.6Ltr vs 1.5Ltr

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review



I got mine on 1 nov

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Are you sure in making the above statement. Irrespective of the oil type your engine will run in if manufacture instruction are followed. Fully synth molecule handle higher temps for longer during resulting in longer life of oil and engine.

I don't think bike manufactures are naive to recommend fully synth oils, but yes when they deliver the bike they come with mineral for cost saving purpose epically in India so that helps improve their margins, but you will be surprised that the same guys sell their bike abroad with fully synth or semi synth. Example is bajaj, KTM, BMW Suzuki, Ducati, hyungsong ... Shall I go on..

Could you also clarify on mineral being best? Facts will epically on how the oil manages to rebound on cooling handling of shrapnel, and heat dissipation and absorption etc..





--
Riding is all I know, my pictures prove it.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Yes, I agree that whatever oil you use, the engine will break in. But using synthetic will stretch the process to a couple of thousand kms more as synthetic oil is very superior to mineral in lubrication. Synthetic molecules wont break easily with heat and friction. This is what we never want to happen inside a new engine. There should be wear and tear inside the engine and synthetics slows it down. This is the reason synthetics makes engine more durable.

Bike manufacturers recommends synthetic oil and if you explore the things abroad, most bikes are sold with run-in specific semi-synthetic oils specially formulated according to the bike, exceptions are the liter class bikes that generates huge amount of heat which even fully synthetic oils finds difficult to handle. So in that case using mineral oil during run-in may prove disastrous to the engine and may even cause engine seizure. Here the Duke 390 generates heat but is nothing when compared to those big street fighters. So naturally, the duke will go well with mineral during run-in.

And regarding facts and figures, I don't have extensive knowledge in petrochemical or automobile engineering. Maybe the engineers here can throw some light on it
BTW Hyungsong ?

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Sorry dude iPad auto correct issue
hyosung is what I meant
[MENTION=63353]Eternal Wanderer[/MENTION] your the preto chem guy , your inputs if 390 should use mineral or synth during and after run in....



--
Riding is all I know, my pictures prove it.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

With all the talk going on about engine break in, thought this would be a relevant read:



On an entirely different note, mineral oil has no added benefit over synthetic oil when it comes to engine break in. Nor does synthetic oil help in a better break in. The type of oil used has more relevance only on the long run unless specifically mentioned. However the grade of the oil used does directly effect the engine breakin process. Viscosity of the oil at various temperature is what effects the engine wear while running. Just my two cents

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Have always found the debate on running in wrt mineral vs semi-synthetic vs synthetic very very confusing. If i read an article which is mineral pro for running-in, i get convinced, if i read another one, which says to use synthetic, even that makes sense. seems like a case of whether chicken came first or the egg?

My bike is at 170kms on the odo and i want to change the oil now. Can someone please suggest me which oil do i go for which is a safe bet and easily available in Bangalore.


Thanks

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

Exactly what I have been saying. The oil with same grades have same properties irrespective of synthetic or mineral oil. The only advantage of synthetic oil is that it is able to sustain high speed runs for a prolonged duration and the bonds don't break down as easily or as early as mineral oils when working at high temperature.
The misconception that synthetic oil is finer and that is why it results in leaks from the head and other areas of the engine is absolutely wrong. The reason synthetic oil leaks in bikes is, the poor seals used and those seals reacting with the esters present in the synthetic oil.

Synthetic oils are absolutely fine for running in your bike and big brands like ktm have invested a lot in r&d and when they say its good, it is good. No second thoughts about that. Do you guys think they would feel happy to entertain warranty claims every now and then?

I had written a long article on this before as well but was not able to follow up when my point was being debated.

Cheers, Ride Safe!!

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

The Synth vs mineral debate is never ending. The only way to prove one way is better than the other is to dyno test a bike broken in with synth versus a bike broken in with mineral oil at the end of first 1000kms. I get pissed off reading posts how the bike "feels" great after breaking in with synth or with mineral oil.

Re: Duke 390: Long Term Ride Review

[MENTION=63586]DukeDey[/MENTION]...you must be sick and tired of explaining this to people... couldnt go out for rides off lately..bike's done only 160kms so far. got married this may.. but so far i've been revvin it pretty decently. doin another 50kms and changing oil and filter. since i couldnt get mineral...going with synthetic. bike's doing great.