Engine Oils

[catchdoon]

Now (on 27/3/2012) it is Rs. 319/-.

It's currenty i.e. today (10/06/2012) MRP-ed at 340/- INR to which the dealer gave me at 330/- INR.

[Honda_CBF]

Now I was stuck with the issue that XXw rating is fine no issue, but since my bike is recommended with XXw-40 so I should not play with upper limit with oil change which thereby I ended up with the mentioned oil.

well, you can play with the oil grades quit a bit. In xxWyy recommendation you can go with the lower xx than recommended and go with the (next level only) higher yy. But dont vice versa it.
For example: if 20w40 is recommended than you can use following grades:
10w40, 15w40, 20w40, 10w50, 15w50, 20w50
ss oils are available in all these grades expect 20w40.
p.s. And plz dont make posts back to back (its against form rules) use edit or multi quote options.

[catchdoon]

well, you can play with the oil grades quit a bit. In xxWyy recommendation you can go with the lower xx than recommended and go with the (next level only) higher yy. But dont vice versa it.
For example: if 20w40 is recommended than you can use following grades:
10w40, 15w40, 20w40, 10w50, 15w50, 20w50
ss oils are available in all these grades expect 20w40.
p.s. And plz dont make posts back to back (its against form rules) use edit or multi quote options.

I am sorry for that. realized only after posting that. Apart from that coming to playing with oil grade usages; If I have been recommended 20w-40 then changing the 20w to a lower grade is okay but changing 40 to a higher grade? really? I mean the viscosity of the Oil of a w40 grade in cSt is less than w50 grade at 100C and relatively likewise at 90C, 80C etc. So using a higher wYY grade oil not recommended shall just make engine more sluggish with it's high viscosity. Also the oils with grades w50 are recommended where the engine temperature shall rise more and thereby more heat.

As far as my knowledge seems to be, one shouldn't play with the upper limits of the oil grade.

Your further comments and advices are most welcome

[Honda_CBF]

^ yup, you are right about sluggishness it will be most noticeable when engine is running at temps lower that its operating temps.
And sluggishness will be more in winter or rainy season than summer.
But one can use higher grade oil (only next higher grade) no problem.
And also some people shift to higher grade oil after their machine runs old, this thicker oil helps make better seal in engine, around piston rings, etc (reason being the engine has worn to a level where it losses compression/oil pressure etc with recommended grade and owner/user wants to delay engine rebuild)
Another case is mine, in summers i shift to 20w50. I know 45' C summer heat can be handled by any 20w40, but why take chance, thicker oil acts as a buffer and Our punny little air cooled engines, can overheat, can develop heat spots. Will 20w40 able to deal with that? May be, may be not.. Again will 20w50 able to deal with that? May be, may be not. But what I'm sure is w50 will provide better protection, (or technically) it'll provide more buffer. As we all know our oil temps in engine sump (coolest area) can easily exceed 100' C, at where oil viscousity is rated & tested.

[catchdoon]

^ yup, you are right about sluggishness it will be most noticeable when engine is running at temps lower that its operating temps.
And sluggishness will be more in winter or rainy season than summer.
But one can use higher grade oil (only next higher grade) no problem.
And also some people shift to higher grade oil after their machine runs old, this thicker oil helps make better seal in engine, around piston rings, etc (reason being the engine has worn to a level where it losses compression/oil pressure etc with recommended grade and owner/user wants to delay engine rebuild)
Another case is mine, in summers i shift to 20w50. I know 45' C summer heat can be handled by any 20w40, but why take chance, thicker oil acts as a buffer and Our punny little air cooled engines, can overheat, can develop heat spots. Will 20w40 able to deal with that? May be, may be not.. Again will 20w50 able to deal with that? May be, may be not. But what I'm sure is w50 will provide better protection, (or technically) it'll provide more buffer. As we all know our oil temps in engine sump (coolest area) can easily exceed 100' C, at where oil viscousity is rated & tested.

Yeah true.... Engine getting worn out and hence a bulkier oil was the same thing going in my head. Anyways I changed to Castrol Power 1 15w-40 as of now, As Shell Advance 10w-40 was not available anywhere. Will look out for a a better XXw-40 SS oil next time until summers hit next

[Honda_CBF]

^ what you are using is already one of the best. Just keep sure you always get genuine oil. There been cases of fake oil, I've been the victim twice too .
Stay safe, ride happy.

[amitmalve]

^ what you are using is already one of the best. Just keep sure you always get genuine oil. There been cases of fake oil, I've been the victim twice too .
Stay safe, ride happy.

This is the reason I am afraid of using castrol oils. All I want to know is -
How to guess whether the oil is genuine or fake after pouring it in the crankcase? I mean after how many kms you came to know that it is a fake oil. What abnormalities you observed in the bike which told you that this is the fake oil?
(As you have been a victim twice you would be the best person to answer these queries.)

[vinay1552]

Thanks for all xbhp Brothers for guiding me to choosing right engine oil for my FZ16

[V!RU$]

motul 5100 SS 15w50 is available in lucknow in the market front of HAL.

thanx man will try it this time .
also there is a rumour that castrol is changing the oil grade for power1(15w40).
i guess it should be soon available in 15w50.

[ariendj]

went to upgrade from mineral to SS and got the Motul 5100 4T 15W50.
the 10W40 wasn't available and hope the one i got was good alternative.

planning to try the shell advance next time..

[catchdoon]

Castrol Power1 15w-40 SS

I just rode 150 odd kms after shifting to Castol power1 15w-40 SS and it's already started to impress.

1. Engine makes so less noise.
2. Engine feels smooth.
3. Pick up has increased impressively.
4. The ride runs like butter.
5. No impact on mileage.

I am totally happy about the choice I made, but yea fellas, be sure to get a GENUINE Castrol Lubricant

[Akshaysharma]

Motul 5100

Hey everybody please help me about motul engine oil. will motul 5100 15w50 be good for my karizma as i am not getting 10w30 and don't want to use Synthetic hence not considering the 10w40 .

[muztariq]

Hey everybody please help me about motul engine oil. will motul 5100 15w50 be good for my karizma as i am not getting 10w30 and don't want to use Synthetic hence not considering the 10w40 .

try shell, gulf or elf.. Dont use 15w50 on a honda engine.

@catchdoon.. Casteol power 1 ss is a good oil, rather better in smoothness than shell ultra fs 10w40 in the initial 500kms. After that the performance detiorates and the oil also become pitch dark.. Not once but i have seen this on my as well as many other users.. Hated the colour when it was drained after just 1000 kms.. Any other mineral would have retained much of its color after 1k run.. Would be a good oil for a 100 cc but not anything above it.

[catchdoon]

@catchdoon.. Casteol power 1 ss is a good oil, rather better in smoothness than shell ultra fs 10w40 in the initial 500kms. After that the performance detiorates and the oil also become pitch dark.. Not once but i have seen this on my as well as many other users.. Hated the colour when it was drained after just 1000 kms.. Any other mineral would have retained much of its color after 1k run.. Would be a good oil for a 100 cc but not anything above it.

Maybe... Lets see how it fares, ahead

[Honda_CBF]

try shell, gulf or elf.. Dont use 15w50 on a honda engine.

valvoline has good oils too. Btw, have been using xxW50 on my Honda bike (but only in summers as temps easily stays around 45 & max temps can be seen at 47-48)