Wilsons Sandbox

> I was told by the parts guy at the local honda shop to wait about 3k > miles before switching, but in general I have come to not trust their > opinion. >

That's about what engine rebuilder Vey de la Cruz advised me to do. He also believes in braking a motor in per instructions in the manual + avoiding steady rpm. Bogdan

Is anyone else snickering at this? I think 3k is fine; what's the rush? Oil is oil. Now when you get talking armed bears and cops, that's a whole other thing.

> I was told not to break my motor in using synthetic oil. I now have > just over 1200 miles on her and am wondering how long I should wait > before I switch to synthetic. > > I was told by the parts guy at the local honda shop to wait about 3k > miles before switching, but in general I have come to not trust their > opinion. > > > What do you guys think? > > Thanks, > Russ > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ > courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to > http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

oil is not oil, there are significant differences between synthetic and mineral oil and their respective abilities to lubricate and cool. Russ

On Wednesday, October 08, 2003, at 08:26AM, Chris wrote: >Is anyone else snickering at this? > >I think 3k is fine; what's the rush? Oil is oil. > >Now when you get talking armed bears and cops, that's a whole other >thing. > >> I was told not to break my motor in using synthetic oil. I now have >> just over 1200 miles on her and am wondering how long I should wait >> before I switch to synthetic. >> >> I was told by the parts guy at the local honda shop to wait about 3k >> miles before switching, but in general I have come to not trust their >> opinion. >> >> >> What do you guys think? >> >> Thanks, >> Russ >> >> >> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ >> courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >> Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >> DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . >> >> >> >> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to >> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ >> >> > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

You are wise to have heeded his advice, and used dino oil for your break-in. Synthetic oils work very well at reducing friction. So well in fact, that they suspend the "wearing in" or "seating" of your piston rings. In other words they won't fully seat to the piston wall properly. Using dino oil allows them to seat, then you can switch to synthetic. Now, how long does that "breaking in" process take? Most of the ring seating happens in the first 20 miles. The rest of it takes longer, and this is where you need to decide how long. I've heard/read to go 1,000 miles, 1,500 miles, and now your saying that you were told about 3,000 miles. My opinion is that IF you were ON the throttle, to help seat the rings, they should be done seating by 1,500 miles. If your babying your motor everywhere you go it will take longer. Waiting to put more miles on the motor is just a little more insurance that the rings are done seating. I would change to synthetic oil after 1,500 miles, but not more than 2,000 miles. MrMoose A8 (Barbie and Ken special)

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Russ wrote: > > I was told not to break my motor in using synthetic oil. I now have > just over 1200 miles on her and am wondering how long I should wait > before I switch to synthetic. > > I was told by the parts guy at the local honda shop to wait about 3k > miles before switching, but in general I have come to not trust their > opinion. > > > What do you guys think? > > Thanks, > Russ

> oil is not oil, there are significant differences between synthetic and > mineral oil and their respective abilities to lubricate and cool. > > Russ >

How right you are. For example: Synthetic allows my ride to turn over easier on cold Colorado mornings. You could use a lighter dyno but.....If you live in a place - like Colorado - where temperatures vary greatly from day to day and even hour to hour it might then be too thin. Snicker on, hell ain't half full. Bogdan

> > >

> My opinion is that IF you were ON the throttle, to help seat the > rings, they should be done seating by 1,500 miles. >

Ole Vey also made a point of reminding me that rings are not the only thing that needs to break in. There's also the tranny and other stuff. Bogdan

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Russell Niesz wrote:

> oil is not oil,

Can I quote you on that?

absolutely! Russ

On Wednesday, October 08, 2003, at 10:36AM, Judson D. Jones wrote: >--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Russell Niesz > wrote: >> oil is not oil, > >Can I quote you on that? > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

> I was told by the parts guy at the local honda shop to wait about

3k

> miles before switching

I've heard the same thing. But frankly, the way my KLR consumes oil at freeway speeds (nearly 1 qt./1K miles), I doubt I'll ever put synthetic into it. Paul A16 01 M750 'G' SF, CA