Another oil question

[Tony Down Under]

I purchased my used 2011 S10 with 5000 km's on the clock. Just for peace of mind I decided to take it to my local Yamaha dealer for a look over and to make sure everything was in order. While it was there I asked them to drop the engine and final drive oil out of it and replace the oil filter accordingly.

When I went to pick the bike up I was having a conversation with the mechanic regarding what type of engine oil he'd recommend for the life of the bike. He said he'd stick to a mineral engine oil. He said that in his experience, the S10 riders that choose to use semi synthetic or a full synthetic engine oil tend to have more issues with the engine burning oil. He suggested changing the oil and filter every 6000 km's (In Oz the engine oil change interval is 10,000 km's).

I had planned to eventually use a synthetic oil in my S10 as I have done with most of my other bikes but now he's got me thinking. Just wondering what the collective wisdom/thoughts or opinions are on this forum. I'm not an oil expert but I thought if an engine was going to burn oil it would burn a mineral oil faster than synthetic oil??? I would appreciate some enlightenment......I'm all ears or eyes.

 

[hANNAbONE]

well...I can debunk that tech's thinking with my personal timeline.
I received my bike 3 years ago TODAY...took it for a hard romp - up n down the gears, no redline but almost for the first 100 miles, dumped the oil and rear drive lube,
and replaced it with full synth Mobil1 10/40 (*now I'm using full synth Castrol 10/40).
Haven't looked back and haven't burned one drop of oil in 22000 miles.
Terrific running scoot.!

 

[squarebore]

Is that Tony in Toowoomba? I use castrol 4 cycle oil and change very 5k kms. Can't see any advantage to synthetic when changed so often.

 

[coastie]

Mine did not use a drop, the first 6k miles. Switched to synthetic and it started to burn oil. But this could be due to many factors. Daily riding it hardly burns any. On my last three trips, it uses almost a quart every 4k miles.

 

[Wistrick]

Mine uses 1/2 a quart between oil changes...Have used both dino, blend and full synthetic with same result...Thinking of trying a 20/50 next change...

Dan

 

[Rudolph]

I like reading up about oils, and I am also considering going to full synthetic, I have run semi for the last three changes. On semi the bike does not use any oil, I am a steady kind of rider, if that makes any difference. I keep reading that full synthetic is a very good oil, and that it has longer service life. I feel that full synthetic will be closer to its original spec when you drop the oil at service time. But I would assure you that mineral oil at the service intervals, with the change of the filter every time of course, would bring you and your bike many, many years of happy riding.
in fact, you will ride further with mineral oil, because you will have change left in your wallet, more fuel you see.

 

[carrot]

I just started changing my oil every 5000 miles when I fill the crankcase I make sure its at the high mark when I hit 4800 miles the oil level light came on it took 2 or 3 ounces to get it back to the top mark im runing castrol synthetic oil.

 

[Philistine]

I was told buy a race mechanic a few years back that it is better for your engine to use cheaper mineral oils and change your oil more often, than to run top shelf oils for the recommended oil change period, I though that made a lot of sense to change the oil before it gets dirty, you could do the same with fully synthetic oils but it would be very expensive.

 

[Rudolph]

Reading carrot's post makes me wonder if these synthetics are too high a spec then. The bike merely require a SG oil. Carrot, is that castrol oil you use "power 1 racing 4T"?

 

[carrot]

Rudolph im running castrol power rs racing 4T 10W-40 and they do recommend changing it every 4000 miles

 

[Rudolph]

Thats what I was thinking of changing to. I run power 1 gps, which is the same breed, but its semi. I change oil at 10000km. It has not use any yet. Im halfway through my interval.

 

[carrot]

i don't feel 3 ounces in 5000 miles is anything to worry about i think if the engine was broken in a respectful manner that most engines shouldn't be needing any oil added between oil changes

 

[Tony Down Under]

::004::

Is that Tony in Toowoomba? I use castrol 4 cycle oil and change very 5k kms. Can't see any advantage to synthetic when changed so often.

No mate, I'm down At Bathurst.

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll continue with mineral oil and see what eventuates.

 

[Rudolph]

Howmany miles on your bike Carrot?

 

[carrot]

it has 30500 miles its been my only transportation for the past two an a half years