What crank oil are you guys using?

[machine]

What  crank oil are you guys using?

Synthetic, or petroleum??  
And what brand???

My Bro-in-law's trying to talk me into using "Red Line"

??

[Timbowe]

I use full synthetic Ams 20 w 50. No worries at  all including clutch.

[KXcam22]

Machine,
  I run the Belray gear lube.  The amsoil 20w50 is also grea stuff, but I run that in my truck instead. I've heard redline is good oil but have not tried it. With Belray I still have the stock clutch in my '92. Cam.

[hughes]

I use Bel-Ray 80w trans. oil. For about the last year.

[alan]

Silkoline light gear oil!

[James670X]

Right now in my 2000 KX500 I'm running Redline Superlight Shockproof Gear Oil in the transmission and Bel-Ray H1R synthetic for mixing/engine oil (I may change to Redline this season though).

[machine]

Here's some info on the oils I was thiking of;

http://www.royalpurple.com/prodsa/cycle.html
http://www.redlineoil.com.au/product-information.asp#raceoils

But $10 per quart!!!!!!!!
Yikes!!
That hurts!

[Rowdy-Yates]

LOL I use Chevron 10w-30 motor oil. I get it at 10 bucks a case from Costco. Other than this I have learned that a clymer recommends 10w-40. And Rick Super Hunky sieman  recommends 20W-50.
http://www.off-road.com/dirtbike/columns/dntask/archives.html

[Rowdy-Yates]

Hey I just learned something new today. The W stands for winter not weight.

SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Viscosity Grade
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's thickness, or resistance to flow. Lower numbers indicate thinner oil and higher numbers indicate thicker oil. There are two types of motor oils, single grade and multi-grade. Multigrade oil such as a 10W-30, are designed to have the viscosity of an SAE 10W oil at cold temperatures combined with the viscosity of an SAE 30 oil at engine operating temperatures. The "W" or "Winter" designation indicates that the oil meets viscosity requirements for low temperatures (below 30? F).

[gowen]

Machine,
  I run the Belray gear lube.  The amsoil 20w50 is also grea stuff, but I run that in my truck instead. I've heard redline is good oil but have not tried it. With Belray I still have the stock clutch in my '92. Cam.

Cam, what is the weight of that oil? I have been using Castrol GTX 10x40 and would like to change to a stronger oil for my 500. I really like the Bel-Ray products. Thanks

[TomL]

I just use the cheapest full synthetic I can find.  Castrol Syntec 5W50 or rotella 10w40 in the gallon jug.  I use the same approach for the 2stroke oil.  Usually mobil mx2t.

[KXcam22]

Gowen,
  The Belray I run is the Gear Saver 85W.  They have 75W, 80W & 85W.  I can't say I'm using the correct one but it works well.  The weight is misleading though since gear oils don't use the same SAE scale as engine oils.  When compared on a chart it comes out about SAE 30W or 40 (I recall).  It has been good.  I've run 20W50 Castrol GTX oil a number of times (Costco) but then I changed it lots.  The belray I tend to leave in for a long time, maybe too long. Cam.

[John]

A thing to consider when riding in cold climates is that high grade oil (i.e 80-90) makes gear shifting and clutch operation a bit clunky (noisy & hard) when the engine is cold. A good syntectic multi grade oil is probably be the best choise for all year use. Synthetic oils tend to have a higher boiling point than mineral oils and are generally better. The ONLY thing that really matters with gear box oil (any kind) is that they should not have any added silicon (or any similar 'magic' lubricants) in them - they ruin your wet clutch.

The newer syntetic oils can take more engine (metal & clutch) goo and still function where traditional mineral oils degrade (lubricant functions) under the same conditions. Synthetic oils lasts longer that is.

//John

[hughes]

Isn't their a differance between  10w40 auto oil than a 10w40 motrcycle oil. I was under the impression that auto oil's do not meet the demans of the wet clutch or gearbox. I have also read some where that 4-stroke bikes need to use motorcycle oils just because of the clutch and gearbox. I wonder what's diff. Bel-Ray(as other companies) offers motorcycle trans oil that 75,80,85w oil that is specificy designed for gearbox and wet clutches. So why use any thing else.

[NastyNick]

Belray Gear Saver 85W here.  Never had a problem.