Oil?

nomad38028 · 01-20-2011, 09:22 AM

Guys I've been reading the forums. It appears the opinions on oil brand and weight are as varied as your favorite brand of beer.

That said, I used Kawasaki oil the first and second change. A friend of mine gave me two cases of Honda oil 10-40, that he won in an open house. He rides a Goldwing and has plenty. I plan on using the Honda oil in the future until the supply runs out.

My understanding motorcycle oil from any major oil manufacturer is fine. As long as it's changed regularly and kept full. The dealer warned me of using synthetic oil for fear it may cause the clutch to slip.

I'd love to hear everybody's input on this.

AlabamaNomadRider · 01-20-2011, 09:27 AM

The Honda oil will be fine. A lot on here and use Shell Rotella T6 which is a full synthetic 5W-40. I have been using Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 motorcycle oil and it is full synthetic. Just make sure the oil is a 5W-40 or 10W-40 and on the back of the bottle the rating should say JASO MA. If it has that rating it is fine for our wet clutch.

**ringadingh** · 01-20-2011, 09:55 AM

Thats a great deal, I wish I had friends like that. Honda has good oil, use it.

nomad38028 · 01-20-2011, 10:00 AM

The Honda Power Sports dealership has an open house every year. This guy has the best luck in the world. He has two sets of tires for the Goldwing and enough oil to make the BP gulf spill look like a drop in the bucket..lol, I figure its good enough oil for the Godwing so I'm set for awhile. Love that Black /Red combo.

cactusjack · 01-20-2011, 10:08 AM

Correction: OIL from any manufacturer is fine, as long as it doesn't contain friction modifiers. Just because an oil bottle doesn't have the word "motorcycle" printed on it doesn't mean you can't use it in a motorcycle.

Many of us use Shell Rotella T6, a synthetic oil designed for diesel trucks, but it carries the JASO-MA certification, which means it is absolutely safe to use in a motorcycle.

**MAS Tequila** · 01-20-2011, 11:39 AM

Look on the back in the circle, if it has 'Energy Conserving' in the lower half, don't use it.

I've been using Valvoline VR1 racing oil for a while now. Before that it was Mobil 1.

Synth oil is fine for the clutch.

Just be sure and change it regularly, it's not the mileage so much, as it is the oil will carbon foul. The two stroke design uses loose tolerances, and experience a significant amount of blow by.

MT

landman · 01-20-2011, 03:45 PM

i wouls say that your dealer doesn't know what he is talking about or just wants to continue selling you kawasaki oil.

ndbigfish · 01-20-2011, 06:16 PM

I have tried lots of oil and have settled with Shell Rotella T6 5W-40.

**Cajunrider** · 01-20-2011, 06:24 PM

I only used Mobil 1 MC oil before changing over to Rotella T6 full syn. I'm staying with it.

**Jared** · 01-20-2011, 06:51 PM

I too use the Rotella T6 full syn. It does a might fine job imo.

01-20-2011, 07:19 PM

+1 on the Rotella T6. Seems I'm in very good company!

**cnc** · 01-20-2011, 11:20 PM

If synthetic will make your clutch slip as your dealer says, then why does Kawasaki sell a full synthetic oil? I have been using Kawasaki 10/40 full synthetic since my second oil change with no clutch issues.

**ringadingh** · 01-21-2011, 12:14 AM

In the past it was said to not add synthetic oil until the motor was broken in, at least a 1000 -3000 miles. Now there are quite a few high end cars that come with synthetic oil right from the factory. Im not sure if any bikes come with it yet.
If synthetic oil made your clutch slip there would be thousands of guys around with bad clutches. It doesn't appear to be like that from what I see.

**coacha** · 01-21-2011, 12:35 PM

If you had said Harley-Davidson oil in a Nomad, that would be a major problem ;)

cocheese72 · 01-21-2011, 02:46 PM

Shell Rotella T6 for me. Shifts as good as anything else, and can't beat the price.

01-20-2011, 09:22 AM	#1
nomad38028 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 66	Oil? Guys I've been reading the forums. It appears the opinions on oil brand and weight are as varied as your favorite brand of beer. That said, I used Kawasaki oil the first and second change. A friend of mine gave me two cases of Honda oil 10-40, that he won in an open house. He rides a Goldwing and has plenty. I plan on using the Honda oil in the future until the supply runs out. My understanding motorcycle oil from any major oil manufacturer is fine. As long as it's changed regularly and kept full. The dealer warned me of using synthetic oil for fear it may cause the clutch to slip. I'd love to hear everybody's input on this. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-20-2011, 09:27 AM	#2
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Oil? The Honda oil will be fine. A lot on here and use Shell Rotella T6 which is a full synthetic 5W-40. I have been using Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 motorcycle oil and it is full synthetic. Just make sure the oil is a 5W-40 or 10W-40 and on the back of the bottle the rating should say JASO MA. If it has that rating it is fine for our wet clutch. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
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01-20-2011, 09:55 AM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Oil? Thats a great deal, I wish I had friends like that. Honda has good oil, use it. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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01-20-2011, 10:00 AM	#4
nomad38028 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Memphis, Tennessee Posts: 66	Oil? The Honda Power Sports dealership has an open house every year. This guy has the best luck in the world. He has two sets of tires for the Goldwing and enough oil to make the BP gulf spill look like a drop in the bucket..lol, I figure its good enough oil for the Godwing so I'm set for awhile. Love that Black /Red combo.
	0

01-20-2011, 10:08 AM	#5
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Oil? Correction: OIL from any manufacturer is fine, as long as it doesn't contain friction modifiers. Just because an oil bottle doesn't have the word "motorcycle" printed on it doesn't mean you can't use it in a motorcycle. Many of us use Shell Rotella T6, a synthetic oil designed for diesel trucks, but it carries the JASO-MA certification, which means it is absolutely safe to use in a motorcycle. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-20-2011, 11:39 AM	#6
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	Oil? Look on the back in the circle, if it has 'Energy Conserving' in the lower half, don't use it. I've been using Valvoline VR1 racing oil for a while now. Before that it was Mobil 1. Synth oil is fine for the clutch. Just be sure and change it regularly, it's not the mileage so much, as it is the oil will carbon foul. The two stroke design uses loose tolerances, and experience a significant amount of blow by. MT __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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01-20-2011, 03:45 PM	#7
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	Oil? i wouls say that your dealer doesn't know what he is talking about or just wants to continue selling you kawasaki oil. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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01-20-2011, 06:16 PM	#8
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	Oil? I have tried lots of oil and have settled with Shell Rotella T6 5W-40. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
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01-20-2011, 06:24 PM	#9
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Oil? I only used Mobil 1 MC oil before changing over to Rotella T6 full syn. I'm staying with it. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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01-20-2011, 06:51 PM	#10
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	Oil? I too use the Rotella T6 full syn. It does a might fine job imo. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
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01-20-2011, 07:19 PM	#11
Guest Posts: n/a	Oil? +1 on the Rotella T6. Seems I'm in very good company!
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01-20-2011, 11:20 PM	#12
cnc Join Date: May 2009 Location: Montreal QC Posts: 12,034	Oil? If synthetic will make your clutch slip as your dealer says, then why does Kawasaki sell a full synthetic oil? I have been using Kawasaki 10/40 full synthetic since my second oil change with no clutch issues. __________________ Norm Ward 2008 blue / silver nomad kawanow / VBA #01136
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01-21-2011, 12:14 AM	#13
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Oil? In the past it was said to not add synthetic oil until the motor was broken in, at least a 1000 -3000 miles. Now there are quite a few high end cars that come with synthetic oil right from the factory. Im not sure if any bikes come with it yet. If synthetic oil made your clutch slip there would be thousands of guys around with bad clutches. It doesn't appear to be like that from what I see. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

01-21-2011, 12:35 PM	#14
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	Oil? If you had said Harley-Davidson oil in a Nomad, that would be a major problem ;) __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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01-21-2011, 02:46 PM	#15
cocheese72 Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Nomad Posts: 524	Oil? Shell Rotella T6 for me. Shifts as good as anything else, and can't beat the price. __________________ 12 Victory Cross Country 08 Vulcan 900 Custom
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