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Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan



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  #1  
Old 18 Nov 2001
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 21
Car Oil
Forgive me if this is a stupid question but....

Is it OK to put car oil into my 620 Adventure? We bought oil in Turkey to carry with us to India. We wanted 50/20 rather than the standard 40/10. We ended up being given 50/15 by someone who seemed to be a pukka bike mechanic and who had raced sports bikes in Turkey, so we assumed he was gving us the right oil.

But later when we checked the label in more detail it appeared to be car oil. Now I was under the impression that car oil contains additives which would not be good for a bike clutch; and there could possibly other implications for the engine longer term.

Hopefully I have been listening to too many old wives' tales but I would be most grateful to anyone who can shed some light on the subject.

Regards,
Graham.
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  #2  
Old 15 May 2002
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 33
Hi,

oil is oil. Look for the class SAE10W40 or SAE15W50 (specs in Germany) or whatever is recommended for the bike. Motorbike oil is just a marketing thing - its higher priced. Inside is the same stuff.

have a good ride

sam
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  #3  
Old 16 May 2002
Ian Ian is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2000
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Posts: 443
...but don't forget the quality, something like SF or SG on the container. It specifies what you need in the manual. There's an FAQs on the KTM website (Magazine) covering oil. For what it's worth I've run my Adventure on car oil, synthetic and mineral, with no problems.
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  #4  
Old 16 May 2002
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Join Date: Jul 2001
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Posts: 21
Thanks for the replies.

I used the 'car oil', changing it in Goa and it was indeed fine for a few thousend km in India.

Also the 20/50 works well in countries with high temperatures. In Nepal I put in a 10/40 semi-synthetic and it has been running a bit noisier back in the 40 degree heat of India. I will change to a 20/50 again before crossing into Pak. even though its a mineral oil.

Graham.
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