Probably I am re-hashing an old thread here (Iapologise for that) but I didn't want to go back through the records of past 13 years to see if it has happened before. I'm just being pedantic here I suppose.....BUT whats the best oil to use in your Suzie? What do you use use; mineral based or synthetic? The handbook for my DR doesn't say anything about the use of synthetic oils nor does it say the engine is best suited for mineral oils. Every dealer ship I've walked into to get oil has synthetic. Why do we believe it is the best because someone says so?

(NOT RELEVANT to a motorcycle but, I found in my 4X4's diesel's over the years that some synthetic oils burn. I change oils in those engines about every 7500 k's but if oil left in, say, to 10K k's, it began to burn but MINIERAL OIL DIDN'T burn at all).

The minimum rating to use according to Suzuki handbook is one that has an API rating of SG or higher (SAE of 10w-40). The API website shows SG as obsolete - meaning its for engines 2001 or older, hence the word 'higher' I suppose. It shows a range of various viscosity types but all those are available in mineral or synthetic. IT DOES say not to use Resource or Energy Conserving oils which I thought may be synthetics (& so how come bike shops are full of synthetics) but it doesnt say that on the API site either - but they are oils related to turbo and/or injected engines. Fair enough.

So what is the best oil to use synthetic or mineral? Does the bloke that you buy oil from know what's the best? I guess it's best not to assume someone knows all about oil 'cause he sells it. I had a chap sell me a NULON brand of mineral oil because it was best suited for my Mitsubishi Challenger. "See it says on the website to use Mineral for it" or words similar, he used. The dealer even said synthetic oil is listed best for the vehicle. WELL IT isn't written in the h/book and it gave grades available in either mineral or synthetic but NOT one word saying specifically best with synthetic. ANYWAY the Nulon container did state on the back ITWAS NOT recommended for turbo diesel engines. When confronted with this and the returned container the back peddling was all the reasons and excuses you could imagine including Nulon website must be wrong (!)

SO what do you think is best for the Suzie - mineral or synthetic. Personally I like the natural element of it all - "oil out of the ground lubricating metals out of the ground", despite they have synthetic additives in the metals to improve tolerances...
Yeah I know...'follow the book & do what the dealer says and you can't go wrong'.

Cheers