Oil - possibly a stupid question

[Neepling]

Hi all,

a quick question.
Is there any reason why I can't put car oil (10/40) in my ZX6R?

cheers

John

[jeddy11]

Yes and no

One camp says not to as the car oil has extra slip qualities that bike clutches do not like..

The other camp says feck it and use any oil ...
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Fuelly My Z1000SX
cbt 06/08/11 mod1 (second go) 01/08/12 mod2 21/09/12
Varadero Viking YBR125>Varadero125>ER6F>Z1000SX !!!

[Islander]

I use a bog standard semi-synthetic 10w40 (Comma Euro something or other) in my Hornet. No problems at all.

[J.M.]

Use whatever, change it more frequently.
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2004 R1 & 2018 XSR900

[RhynoCZ]

Beware of some oil, if your engine's got magnesium parts then you shouldn't use certain oil, but other than that, the only thing you should care of is the clutch, if you've got dry clutch, which I do believe you don't, then it does not matter, but be careful about the magnesium parts of the engine.

It does not matter what oil you use, in general ,,the sport super awesome, even rossi uses that oil'' is just a waste of money.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Snorty]

What I've heard is to make sure it doesn't have friction modifiers. Things like Magnatec are bad for a wet clutch.

So I hear.
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Current: Yamaha FZ1 '07 | GSXR 750 SRAD

Past: CB125TDC | TZR125 | GPZ500 | CBR600F3 | ZX9-R | GSXR1000 K4

[Sako]

[Scotsman37]

Opie oils are a good source for reasonably priced car/bike oils and they give a discount to bikechatforum users which I like!

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/c-338-motorcycles.aspx

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

[Kradmelder]

depends on your bike. some engines call for race spec or fully synthetic due to temperatures or wet vs dry clutch
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2011 KTM 990 Dakar
2009 BMW 1200 GS

[Copycat73]

this is what I use

from asda £20.00
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[Kradmelder]

[flumpy7]

[weasley]

Have a read.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[goodlifefarm]

Why don't people just use the oil that the manufacturer specifies? If you want to try using the wrong specification oil, why don't you also try filling the bike with the wrong specification of fuel, like diesel.
Try hydraulic oil in the engine, you'll save a couple of pound on the price of a gallon of oil, who cares that it'll cost you hundreds of pounds repairing the engine.

[moppy]

My bike manual just specifies SG grade 10-40. Nothing about bike specific oil, and I'm fairly sure most bikes would be the same (at least pre 2000)

[goodlifefarm]

[Old Git Racing]

Why would you want to put a car oil in a bike. One has a dry clutch and one has a wet clutch and the oils are tailored to suit.
If you want take all the advice of the ones who've done it and 'never had a problem' or do what the people who build and design them say and use the right oil. It doesn't really come down to cost its just a case of getting an arse into gear and going out and getting the right stuff. there is a difference.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[moppy]

[goodlifefarm]

[Islander]

[goodlifefarm]

[Davie J]

[Polarbear]

It's not just the clutch. Remember that bike oil has to protect the gearbox as well, which isn't the case with a lot of cars.

Put it this way, the oil company i work for have a specific list of oils that we must use on every piece of machinery on ship, whether it be turbine, diesel, compressor, etc. They don't say 'Use what you want, it's all the same'.

In the end it's your choice, Use what you want in your bike, but personally I don't see the point of ignoring what the people who make the product say.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]