1/4" torque wrench...

DSN_KLR650
monahanwb@yahoo.com
Posts: 912
Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2000 11:31 am

synthetic oil...really!

Post by monahanwb@yahoo.com » Fri Sep 28, 2001 11:54 am

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., david.smith@s... wrote:
> How many miles is the break in period. So the question is when is
it
> safe to switch to synthetic.
I could feel my motor break in at 3500 miles or so. I've heard from other KLR devotees that the synthetic shouldn't go in until at least 7500 or 10,000. I just started using Golden Spectro 4 in my KLR at 24000 miles. It is one of my favorite oils. The clutch does not stick at start-up in my bike, using this oil. Spectro 4 is a semi-synth.

k650dsn@aol.com
Posts: 965
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2000 1:35 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by k650dsn@aol.com » Fri Sep 28, 2001 12:07 pm

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., monahanwb@y... wrote:
> > I just started using Golden Spectro 4 in my KLR at 24000 miles. It > is one of my favorite oils.
My KLR's favorite oil is Kawachem 10w40. Especially with a twist of lemon and one of those little umbrella thingies. Gino

David Kelly
Posts: 304
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2001 8:20 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by David Kelly » Fri Sep 28, 2001 12:28 pm

On Fri, Sep 28, 2001 at 04:22:55PM -0000, david.smith@... wrote:
> How many miles is the break in period. So the question is when is it > safe to switch to synthetic.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mobil-1 as the first load of oil in your motorcycle right out of the crate. And lots of "right". The issue of "break-in" vs. "synthetic" is a Modern Urban Marketing Fear Uncertainty And Doubt (MUMFUAD) myth. Synthetic motor oil is what the refined motor oil makers would produce if they could figure out how. Fundamentally they are the same thing. Probably as much difference between refined brands as between refined and synthetic. And lots of difference between the synthetic brands. -- David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@... ===================================================================== The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten percent of its capacity -- the rest is overhead for the operating system.

RM
Posts: 1977
Joined: Tue May 09, 2000 7:20 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by RM » Fri Sep 28, 2001 1:22 pm

--- PRBKLR@... wrote:
>My decision is based partly on my riding habits, i.e. riding to work just >about every day, however it is a fairly short trip (approx 4 miles). I >get in an occasional jaunt off road on some local trails, and lately few >and far between some 150+ mile runs on the weekends.
Many four mile trips back-to-back with cold starts each time definitely qualifies as "severe service". I'd consider frequent changes... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone. http://phone.yahoo.com

RM
Posts: 1977
Joined: Tue May 09, 2000 7:20 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by RM » Fri Sep 28, 2001 1:23 pm

--- PRBKLR@... wrote:
>My decision is based partly on my riding habits, i.e. riding to work just >about every day, however it is a fairly short trip (approx 4 miles). I >get in an occasional jaunt off road on some local trails, and lately few >and far between some 150+ mile runs on the weekends.
Many four mile trips back-to-back with cold starts each time definitely qualifies as "severe service". I'd consider frequent changes... __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone. http://phone.yahoo.com

PRBKLR@cs.com
Posts: 236
Joined: Fri May 12, 2000 10:41 am

synthetic oil...really!

Post by PRBKLR@cs.com » Fri Sep 28, 2001 1:46 pm

Mine seems to enjoy the KawaChem as well...that's why I'm not sure about switching... hate to have the old girl spit it out like a little kid being fed puree'd lima beans! ugh! Maybe a twist of lemon is all she needs? k650dsn@... wrote:
>--- In DSN_klr650@y..., monahanwb@y... wrote: > >> >> I just started using Golden Spectro 4 in my KLR at 24000 miles. It >> is one of my favorite oils. > > >My KLR's favorite oil is Kawachem 10w40. Especially with a twist of >lemon and one of those little umbrella thingies. > >Gino > > >Checkout Dual Sport News at >http://www.dualsportnews.com >Be part of the Adventure! > >Visit the KLR650 archives at >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > >Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com >Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com >Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

PRBKLR@cs.com
Posts: 236
Joined: Fri May 12, 2000 10:41 am

synthetic oil...really!

Post by PRBKLR@cs.com » Fri Sep 28, 2001 1:53 pm

Absolutely, the oil gets changed too frequently, if that is possible... rarely do I go beyond 800 miles before changing the oil, ideally I try to hit it around 500 miles. Probably not necessary to do it so often, but I figure with my short trips, and very dusty conditions, the K&N filter and the oil need to be cleaned and changed frequently. I think it is most obvious when the shifting characteristics begin to change, or a mild backfire occurs... time to clean and change! Paul Frisco, TX RM wrote:
>--- PRBKLR@... wrote: > >>My decision is based partly on my riding habits, i.e. riding to work just >>about every day, however it is a fairly short trip (approx 4 miles). I >>get in an occasional jaunt off road on some local trails, and lately few >>and far between some 150+ mile runs on the weekends. > >Many four mile trips back-to-back with cold starts each time definitely >qualifies as "severe service". I'd consider frequent changes... > > > >__________________________________________________ >Do You Yahoo!? >Listen to your Yahoo! Mail messages from any phone. >http://phone.yahoo.com > >Checkout Dual Sport News at >http://www.dualsportnews.com >Be part of the Adventure! > >Visit the KLR650 archives at >http://www.listquest.com/lq/search.html?ln=klr650 > >Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com >Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com >Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com >List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

monahanwb@yahoo.com
Posts: 912
Joined: Thu Jun 01, 2000 11:31 am

synthetic oil...really!

Post by monahanwb@yahoo.com » Fri Sep 28, 2001 2:00 pm

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., k650dsn@a... wrote:
> > I just started using Golden Spectro 4 in my KLR at 24000 miles.
It
> > is one of my favorite oils. > > > My KLR's favorite oil is Kawachem 10w40. Especially with a twist
of
> lemon and one of those little umbrella thingies.
That's nice, an umbrella. One reason I like the Spectro goes back to an experience I had with it and a K100 motor that had a leaky main seal. After winning four quarts of the Golden spectro 4, I put it in the K-bike and the seal stopped leaking, and never leaked again as long as I used the Spectro 4. I rode that bike for about five years after that and it never leaked again. Bill, with a less-than-current gun collection Fox Mdl B 12 ga. Marlin Mdl 36 .30-30 S&W Mdl 15-2" Ruger .22 Single six

FGJ
Posts: 113
Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2001 8:36 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by FGJ » Fri Sep 28, 2001 2:48 pm

> There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mobil-1 as the first load of oil > in your motorcycle right out of the crate. And lots of "right". > > The issue of "break-in" vs. "synthetic" is a Modern Urban Marketing Fear > Uncertainty And Doubt (MUMFUAD) myth. > > Synthetic motor oil is what the refined motor oil makers would produce > if they could figure out how. Fundamentally they are the same thing. > Probably as much difference between refined brands as between refined > and synthetic. And lots of difference between the synthetic brands.
David I think synthetic oils come from different base stocks, I barely survived my college chemistry, is Castrol Syntec and Mobil 1 materially different ? I'd always assumed that that the supposed shear resistance of synthetic precluded the piston rings seating easily or even properly, but then again it's just what I've heard Fred J

David Kelly
Posts: 304
Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2001 8:20 pm

synthetic oil...really!

Post by David Kelly » Fri Sep 28, 2001 4:22 pm

On Fri, Sep 28, 2001 at 02:50:08PM -0500, FGJ wrote:
> > > There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mobil-1 as the first load of oil > > in your motorcycle right out of the crate. And lots of "right". > > > > The issue of "break-in" vs. "synthetic" is a Modern Urban Marketing Fear > > Uncertainty And Doubt (MUMFUAD) myth. > > > > Synthetic motor oil is what the refined motor oil makers would produce > > if they could figure out how. Fundamentally they are the same thing. > > Probably as much difference between refined brands as between refined > > and synthetic. And lots of difference between the synthetic brands. > > David > > I think synthetic oils come from different base stocks, I barely > survived my college chemistry, is Castrol Syntec and Mobil 1 materially > different ?
Yes, Mobil and Castrol can not agree on how to make a synthetic oil. Their products are vastly different. Also vastly different additive packages. But their refined oils are also different. Everybody's oils are different. IMO it is a mistake to ask, "Should I use synthetic?" The mistake is lumping all synthetics in the same pile. The mistake is in assuming all synthetics might be equal, or that all synthetics are superior. Or as one motorcycle aftermarket specialist claims, "synthetics are inferior." Focusing on base stocks or additive packages is myopia. What matters is the end result. Mobil-1 works for me. For example my 8 year old Kawasaki-engined John Deere 21" push mower has always had Mobil-1 15W-50 and still has 140 psi compression.
> I'd always assumed that > that the supposed shear resistance of synthetic precluded the piston rings > seating easily or even properly, but then again it's just what I've heard
30 years ago this might have been an issue requiring really awful "break in oil" as many were trying to solve engine life issues with super hard rings. If you can find an old JC Whitney catalog you'll see Good, Better, and Best, replacement rings. Marketing focused heavily on "harder is longer life, therefore better." Everybody had a hard time making the cylinder and rings conform to each other so the "solution" was initial accelerated wear on rebuild. The super hard rings were hard to seat no matter what oil you used. About this time synthetic oils started making their presence known on the market. Suspect the same marketing geniuses who pushed "whiter teeth" leveraged the hard ring seating problem with FUD and forever etched into the psyche the myth of the synthetic lubricant which is so good your engine won't break in. The reason there is so much debate is that its very hard for mere consumers to tell the difference between one oil and another. This is compounded by the FTC preventing manufacturers from claiming their oil is better than the competition, or from publishing tests making that claim. The best they can do is argue additive content, extended temperature, or "protect in ways other oils can not." The Syntec commercial where engines were drained and run to failure could not name the competition's products due to the FTC, not because of fear of lawsuits from the competition. -- David Kelly N4HHE, dkelly@... ===================================================================== The human mind ordinarily operates at only ten percent of its capacity -- the rest is overhead for the operating system.

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