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Scooters - 125 to 300 => People GT 300i => Topic started by: NeoGenesisMax on July 23, 2014, 04:51:05 AM

Title: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 23, 2014, 04:51:05 AM
Ok I have been reading up on oil in regards to the 300gti. I havent found the suggested 5w-50 it suggests just yet but I'm not done.

My dealer told me to always use a motorcycle oil a while back. It would seem that the only difference is that there is a JASO rating for wet clutches. Well the GTI has a dry clutch so that rating isnt needed. The service manual and owners manual only list an API rating and that it should be for four stroke and synthetic. So does this mean I can use a good quality car motor oil in it?  Motul Scooter power is what i used ij the past but its 15 a quart and i think it isnt any different than a normal oil except the word scooter on the bottle. I could buy royal purple for less than that.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: BettinANDlosing on July 23, 2014, 07:09:15 AM
People have personal preferences on this topic, and these engines aren't complex like cars (low oil pressure) so there's a little more wiggle room. Recommended oil from Kymco is diesel oil, 15w40. The diesel oils are designed to absorb more carbon before breaking down, single cylinder engines and small engine in general have more blowby causing the small amount of oil to break down quickly. That being said I use Motul 7100 synthetic, like I said personal preference. If you use non synthetic I wouldn't personally let it go more than 1000mi per change, synthetic is good past 2000 if you check the level. 5w50 will be good for summer riding but if you ride in the cold, best to use 10w40 or even 10w30.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: de dee on July 23, 2014, 08:49:54 AM
my manual says 5W 50   that is good for high temp, and low temp,  next oil change ill try rotella T6 5 W 40 full syn.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: nushipwright on July 23, 2014, 09:54:56 AM
the question may be stupid but here it comes:
is it a bad idea to mix various oils? for example: I've got almost a liter of 10w40 semi synthetic left from previous oil change. am I safe mixing this with other brand 10w40 if I can't buy more of the same? or should I use only same manufacturer brand type?
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: mrmike on July 23, 2014, 10:51:46 AM
       I don't believe there is any problem with mixing oils. I've used two different brands at times when working on my vehicles. In my GTI300, I run a 10w-40 full synthetic in the engine and a 75w-90 full synthetic in the rear diff. I use a good quality automotive oil with no problem. It's cheap and easy to do, so I change my oils out at 1000 mile intervals. Everyone will have different opinions on this, but I prefer full synthetic oils and change them frequently.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: nushipwright on July 23, 2014, 12:16:15 PM
thank you for your answer! if changing oil every 1000 miles, how often do you change the oil filter? how does the oil coming out look like after 1000 miles? should be pretty clean I guess...

bit back on mixing oils subject. maybe i'm pushing it but is it wrong to mix 10w40 with 5w30 for example? I don't intend to do that but would like to learn more about this.
also why some people say it's better to use diesel engine oils in our scooters? what's the point?
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 23, 2014, 02:59:02 PM
I work at a lube shop and everyone makes fun of rotella. Do yourself a favor anf buy better than rotella. Nowhere in my repair manual or owners manual does it suggest deisel oil. And no it doesnt call for 15w-40 it calls for 5w-50.  If you think 5w if for summet than you dont know what youre talking about. There is no reason to change from 5w especially where I live. 30 may or may not be fine in winter but there is no reason to switch from.5w-50 or 5w-40 at different seasons those two oils are great all year long just check the charts. I was mostly conserned about car vs motorcycle oil in my GTI. Looking at using Castrol Edge full syn 5w-50. It's API rating is higher than required so alls good there. I just dont want to pay $15 a quart for over kill or the illusion of something better. There are many high quality syn oil that are cheaper than that.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: mrmike on July 23, 2014, 03:10:27 PM
  I bought a dozen oil filters and change them with every oil change. The filter and a quart of oil probably cost me less than $10.00. I also clean the screen every time. It probably takes me twenty minutes to do my service. I come from a military background and believe in PM (preventative maintenance). It's probably overkill, but that's my choice.

  I'm not an oil expert but I do not believe mixing oil weights  will hurt anything. I would use the recommended weight for your climate. I believe you could also mix oil, synthetic blend, and full synthetic if it was necessary. I personally use full synthetic in everything from my vehicles to my lawn mowers, so for me it's not a issue. I have not heard of "diesel engine oil" before, so I can't say anything about that.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 23, 2014, 06:23:22 PM
Mixing brands of oil or mixing syn vs conventional will not matter as long as the API is the same and the viscosity is the same.  Evidence that mixing syn and conventional is fine is sitting on the store shelves right now.  I'm just not sure when it comes to automotive vs atv vs motorcycle.  It would seem to me that for my purposes automotive oil will be fine since the owner's manual doesn't say anything about specifically getting motorcycle style oil. I was really curious if Zombie would have anything helpful to say on this. And then finish off with some drunken Irish nonsense that we love so much.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: BettinANDlosing on July 24, 2014, 02:25:23 AM
Don't diss on rotella, anyone who talks sh** about rotella is talking nonsense, jiffy lube rhetoric I assume. It's one of the best all around conventional oils you can get for cheap. Also the only added benefit of motorcycle oil is additives for a wet clutch. Your dealer just wanted to sell you $16 oil. Also my suggestion for weight of oil comes from experience, I prefer using the correct oil for the season rather than a spread out viscosity for "all season".
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: alphaBETAdog on July 24, 2014, 02:33:24 AM
...I also clean the screen every time...

mrmike,

Do you ever get much grime or shavings in the screen?  I got just a tiny bit if fine shavings at the first oil change, but nothing since.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 24, 2014, 03:33:30 AM
Do you have any concrete facts to support Rotella?  I would love to see scientific support.  Any lab's showing how Rotella stacks up?  The cheapest has never been the best in my experience.  Especially for something you care about. I've read a few studies that showed Mobil One syn and Royal Purple to be very close.  I also saw that Mobile one was close to Castrol full syn.  Mobil one being better in each.  I have also seen that an oil with a 50 rating resist viscosity loss better than several 40s.  Here in KS we get wild temp shifts from high fifties in the morning to hundred in the late afternoon.  Changing oil's with the season is a left over from decades past. I haven't heard one certified master mechanic or any of my auto class text books that say you need to switch oils with the seasons anymore.  Maybe in the 60s or 70s.  If you have credible material stating otherwise I would like to read it.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: TLRam1 on July 24, 2014, 05:25:52 AM
I work at a lube shop and everyone makes fun of rotella. Do yourself a favor anf buy better than rotella.

So all of you guys are equally educated and oil experts, huh? And you all choose to be wrong?

Won't get into one oil brand is better than another, read enough oil analysis and comparisons about conventional vs diesel vs Syn blends vs full syn and extended oil changes. 

Buying quality name brand oil, diesel oil is a heavier duty cycle oil than conventional and will last longer, be it (these seem to be the most popular) Shell Rotella, Mobile Delvac, Chevron Delo 400, etcetera.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: TLRam1 on July 24, 2014, 05:37:57 AM
Do you have any concrete facts to support Rotella?  I would love to see scientific support.  Any lab's showing how Rotella stacks up? 

Yes there are many which I won't waste my time looking for as I already satisfied myself through out the years looking over testing between conventional and diesel oils.

Not between conventional vs diesel but here is one such test, you can't open the analysis but reading the forum you get the jest.

http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/maintenance/81265-rotella-triple-protection-oil-analysis.html (http://www.duramaxforum.com/forum/maintenance/81265-rotella-triple-protection-oil-analysis.html)


Can you prove Rotella is not any good? I don't believe you have any analysis showing such compared to conventional oil.

Today's Brand Name oil is good stuff and there is a lot to choose from, buy what you like, in vehicles with oil filters you can do extended oil changes with better oils if you choose. If you need proof, send your oil in for an analysis and get involved over at Bob is the Oil Guy forum.   
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: BettinANDlosing on July 24, 2014, 06:36:45 AM
^^^^^^ couldn't have said it better myself
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 24, 2014, 11:08:31 AM
You said rotella is good. Its your job to prove yourself right its not my job to prove you wrong. Thats why I asked for facts not opinions.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: tortoise on July 24, 2014, 01:59:18 PM
Any lab's showing how Rotella stacks up?
15W40 comparisons (http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/HDEO%20SUMMARYrev2.html).
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: TLRam1 on July 24, 2014, 03:36:48 PM
You said rotella is good. Its your job to prove yourself right its not my job to prove you wrong. Thats why I asked for facts not opinions.

Already did that, although you have to sign into the forum to pull it up the sheet, I would say the people on the forum substantiate what is on the analysis. Did you not read that?

I can turn around what you said above, "you said it's bad, it is your job to show me Rotella is no good". This is what is happening in your place of employment, you are following the majority where no one steps up as a leader and conducts your own research.

I don't believe what I read from others on this and conducted my own research to my satisfaction and I am not willing to do that to convince you. YOU should do your own research and convince yourself one way or the other and not follow your compadres.

It looks like someone above has provided some info on several heavy duty diesel oils.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: mrmike on July 24, 2014, 04:19:23 PM
mrmike,

Do you ever get much grime or shavings in the screen?  I got just a tiny bit if fine shavings at the first oil change, but nothing since.


  Same here. A little bit first change and none for the last three. As long as the oil and filter are being changed anyway, it only takes another minute to remove and check the screen. I service mine every 1000 miles which may be overkill, but it's quick and inexpensive so I do it. The differential I will change every 2000 miles.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: BettinANDlosing on July 24, 2014, 06:27:06 PM
This thread is feeling a little hostile. People are very protective about their oils LOL
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 25, 2014, 03:08:14 AM
I never said it was bad. I implied that people who work with oil every day and deal with hundred of people a week and talk about it with these people know better about oil.  I never said rotella was bad. I said get something better. Also one analyasis is void of interpritation to put those figures in perspective and it involves a bunch of oil nobody uses. Also it says nothing about viscosity loss, metal wear, or pretty much any data of any relevance to your claim.  Oh and it was all deisel oil.  So no supporting fact and a lack of any regular auto oil or motorcycle oil makes for a very narrow comparison. I would like to see more please. Maybe something relevant that supports your claim. Making blind assumptions of where I work and whom I work with is pretty ignorant and so is failing to prove your point giving up and being condesending. Admitting you dont believe what others say is odd what do you gain from ignoring potentially helpful information?  You conducted your own research? What lab? What equipment did you use? Since you believe no one I assume you did the lab work alone. What data did you collect? Under what conditions were the oils tested in? What was the control?  Are these findings verified by anyone... oh wait you wouldnt believe them. i ask for proven fact not opinion. Dont make this personal. You asserted it was good and offer no fact to support this. Challenging me to prove you wrong is just shifting the burden of proof. You've offered no reason to believe you. If you have read enough then how about sharing these sources so I can be better informed. Please show me the material where industry leaders, scientists, engineers, or any credible authority says to use diesel oil in nondiesel applications. I honestly want to learn and am not looking to bicker over opinion.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: TLRam1 on July 25, 2014, 03:47:50 AM
I work at a lube shop and everyone makes fun of rotella. Do yourself a favor anf buy better than rotella.

My mistake, I took this as you saying it was bad.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: mnpugdog on July 25, 2014, 05:27:45 AM
that whole tread basically said use Rotella or Amsoil. There was a few others but those 2 names were clearly leading the charge.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: BettinANDlosing on July 25, 2014, 06:41:43 AM
http://vfrworld.com/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm (http://vfrworld.com/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm)
If you read the whole thing he is very educated in the science of oils. Scroll down to the heavy duty oils section. If you read back to my previous post I never said rotella is the best, I didn't even say that's what I personally use. I do however work with oil, and small engines on a daily basis. Listening to people is very important to me, but to use "my buddies at work that change oil say rotella sucks" as a basis to not choose a lubricant is ironically ignorant. I'm sorry you didn't like my input on the subject.
Title: Re: Better understanding oil
Post by: NeoGenesisMax on July 25, 2014, 04:43:11 PM
http://vfrworld.com/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm (http://vfrworld.com/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm)
If you read the whole thing he is very educated in the science of oils. Scroll down to the heavy duty oils section. If you read back to my previous post I never said rotella is the best, I didn't even say that's what I personally use. I do however work with oil, and small engines on a daily basis. Listening to people is very important to me, but to use "my buddies at work that change oil say rotella sucks" as a basis to not choose a lubricant is ironically ignorant. I'm sorry you didn't like my input on the subject.

Now that is informative. Thank you.