Your gona slate me but... which oil.. Synth or semi?

TheGazWaz · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :

Hi all,

Sorry for yet another oil question but there's soooo many posts on oil and I'm brain ragged as to which to use because so many people have so many facts and opinions.

At least my Bike and situation could be taken into account if I ask the question.

My bike is a K3 GSXR 1000 with 17k on the clock. It's due oil and filter change. I normally use Putoline 10/40 semi but I'm considering going fully synthetic for the reported smoother gear changes.

I commute a 36 mile round trip for 10 months of the year with a good few weekend twisty thrashes.

Just tell me... Do I just shut the F**k up about oil and carry on as I am or could anyone give me good enough true reason to go fully synthetic.

Much appreciated.

Gary
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

TheGazWaz · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :

Cheers for the quick reply Rogerborg.

For the extra few quid I can only see benefits of using fully synthetic.

Certainly don't know of any negatives.

Seems daft not to.

Gaz
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

DrSnoosnoo · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2012 Karma :

What's the difference in price? Are you happy to spend the extra fiver (guestimate) per oil change? If so, crack on lad.
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MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

The main difference is that fully synthetic will stay in Grade throughout its life. Non synthetic molecule chains are disrupted in-service so it loses protective 'phisical/mechanical' properties.
All oil can degrade chemically over time in service due to the effects of components of fuel, temperature and friction but synthetic can resist the mechanical destruction.
It's a mixture of what you can afford and real measured benefits.

I use the best, maybe just for peace of mind.

The best oil is possibly best. I know from experience that fully synthetic in a diesel car meant less frequent top UPS (Honda Prelude 2.4) supermarket blend needed a top up every 1000 miles. Mobil full synthetic every 3000 miles. I was surprised to notice the extreme difference my self.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

Good try, 7/10. Thumbs Up

Oils made with synthetic base oils need less viscosity modifier in them to resist temperature-induced thinning. It is the VM that shears (mechanically breaks down), hence a synthetic oil will tend to resist it more by virtue or having less VM in it. Base oil molecules themselves are very shear resistant, whether synthetic or mineral types.

To OP - if you can pony up for a decent synthetic oil then give it a go and see if the shifts get smoother.
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~~Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT~~ | BMW F900XR TE

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

Oh, oil! Fascinating. Could the OP use 5W-40 fully synthetic rather than 10W-40?

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

MCN · Super Spammer Joined: 22 Jul 2015 Karma :

https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/30730/base-oil-formulations
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

TheGazWaz · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :

Thanks all for the info.

Just looking around I'm finding that the price difference doesn't seem to be that much.

I generally pay around £35 for my oil and £10 for filter. I've seen on fleebay 4L Motul 7100 10w/40 with HF Filter for £45.

Not sure about the 5W/40. I'd need to check my Haynes for that one but I'm thinking one step at a time. Do the Synthetic change first and see how it goes.

If it quietens down my power plant a bit then that would be a bonus. Since I've had the bike around 3.5k under load I get an awful raspy rattle. It gets quieter as the motor warms up. Apparently it's normal and all part of the GSXR ram air experience.
____________________
Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

What about using 5W-40? The specs., when looked up, for many oils are confusing. Some are interchangable (e.g. ACEA A3/B4 can be used instaead of ACEA A3/B3 (yes, I know it's not relevant to "grade")) and specificatoins go out of date quite quickly.

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

Cancer doesn't kill everyone.

I'm still here Wink

Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

grr666 · Super Spammer Joined: 16 Jun 2014 Karma :

True dat, my best mate had it twice. Once at 7 years old. Full chemo the whole 9 yards and again when he was about 30
which resulted in thyroid gland removal and an awesome full width of the neck scar. He then went on to father a boy so the
treatments didn't stop him from having live rounds in his love gun either.

And on oil, I'm about to use some Mercedes Benz semi synth low ash 10w40 left over from my last van to do an
oil change on the XR125 I'm tinkering with at the mo. Probably later today actually.
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TheGazWaz · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :

So I now have fully synthetic oil in my bike.

The first thing I noticed was that the oil was a rose colour. The other thing was that it smells quite fragrant. Didn't expect that.

Also don't know why I have this weird instinct to sniff oil when first opened but there you go.

Now then, road to work this morning, still had the tapping for the first 10 minutes of riding and the raspy rattle under load at 3.5k for the fist half hour but I can honestly say the bike feels a whole load smoother.

It changes up and down about the same but instead of a metallic clunk into first from neutral it's more a thud like the gears have been wrapped in cloth before the hammer hits.

At speed everything sounds and feels smoother/softer.

I tried hard to not let this be a placebo effect going on here and I honestly believe the bike feels a lot better.

Win win I think. I'm now trying to think of why fully synth isn't a lot more popular amongst bikers. Price is now negligible.

Cheers all
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

WmY · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 21 May 2018 Karma :

(with snips...)

BusterGonads · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 May 2018 Karma :

TheGazWaz · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 12 Feb 2014 Karma :

I hear you Tony and I'm inclined to agree with everything you've put and I recon a few more journey's will probably bring me to the same thoughts.

I've always, maybe foolishly, spent good money on oil and this particular change was done 2500 miles ago so under what it should be and I don't race the bike that hard.

I might just want it to make a difference but I'm still sure the bike is smoother. It's like when you've just washed your bike. It definitely goes faster until it gets dirty again.

The engine is quieter than it was and that can be heard more so at idle. No where near as rattly.

We'll see.

Anyone else gone through the 'Change'.
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Went like this.. 43 years old(2013) decided to do CBT to get a 125 for new job. Bought 2011 YBR, loved it for three months then hated it because it was too god damn slow. Did DAS 4 months later then bought RF600 Loved it, sold it bought Bandit 1200(K3). EFFIN lOVED IT. Wanted something a bit more sporty so got Triumph Sprint ST 955i (53). Not sporty enough so now on my GSXR 1000 K3 and absolutely love it. 1 year down the line, nearly died way too many times on this bike. Sold it. Had a 6 month break. Missed biking so now, Aug 2019 have a 1999 ZX9r. What a beauty she is too.

BusterGonads · Trackday Trickster Joined: 18 May 2018 Karma :

What's really great GazWaz is that you're enjoying riding it so much and that it feels just right. Not much better than that is there? As for the fragrant smell, I was just put in mind of how we daft lads way back used to tip a bit of Castor Oil into the tank and get a great smell out of the exhaust. I think it might have been called Castrol R.

The daft things we did to make our old nineteen-fifties Beezers 'go better' had to be seen to be believed. Still. I was never happier than rolling down the street, trailing a castor smelling stink and grey haze behind me. I felt like I was King of the Road. Smile

)