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XT600E 2002 Engine Oil XT600E 2002 Engine Oil
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 19 Oct 2011
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XT600E 2002 Engine Oil
Hey guys....in Rabat and about to do an oil change but getting conflicting opinions from fellow overlanders. Please can someone tell me what oil I should put in. Synthetica/ semi synthetic 15/ 40...50 etc.

Any prompt replies would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers!
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  #2  
Old 19 Oct 2011
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The great oil debate!
I've had this discussion so many times. Everyone seems to have a different opinion. Here's mine (based on a lot of reading and discussions over the years and running a number of XT600s over many tens of thousands of miles)

Synthetic is at best a waste of money and unless it is motorcycle specific you risk clutch slipping problems.

I've used semi synthetic or synthetic fortified for many tens of thousands of miles no problem.

If you're going to experience temps near zero degrees at any point, you should use 10W 40. Otherwise, 15 W 40 is probably better for higher temps.

Remember to measure the quantity your putting in carefully - you won't get the total quantity your putting in until the engine's run for a minute.

Mark
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  #3  
Old 19 Oct 2011
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The manual says a Yamalube 4 20W/40 SE/SF or a 10W/30 SE/SF, but any motorcycle oil will do, the XT isn't fussy if you are stuck for choice, mine runs on a Halfords 10W/40 SL.

Use semi-synthetic.
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Old 19 Oct 2011
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I don't get a good reading of oil level easily on my 4PT. I ride the bike round for five minutes, then come back and check the oil level is not overfilled. Then measure the quantity of oil drained, and refill with the same measured quantity of fresh oil, then ride round for 5 minutes before checking and topping up if necessary.
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Old 20 Oct 2011
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I run fullsynth all the time. 10w50, and 5w40 in the winther.

I've un a lot of different brands, witout problem.

Fullsynth is better for high temperatures, and it degrades slower than semi synth and dino oil.

Its a religion, luckily the xt ist fuzzy about using a specific oil.
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Old 20 Oct 2011
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My reason for using semi, not synth, is that the synth is known to cause clutch slip in some bikes, with some oils, and the semi isn't.

If you know your bike has no problems running on any synth, or on a particular synth which you can always get you hands on, then there's no reason not to use it.

If you don't know that and you're in a place with a limited choice, then a semi is the safe choice.

If the only bike shop in town only has synth in stock, then use it. It will probably be fine, but if it does cause clutch slip that is nothing you can't live with for a few days until you find another oil.

Semi does degrade quicker, but so long as you change the oil at the correct intervals, this shouldn't be an issue.

The point of this post is to assist the OP in making a decision, the OP is never going to get universal agreement and a firm answer from a forum, but if people post their reasoning, at least then the OP can read it and decide for themselves what they agree with.
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Old 20 Oct 2011
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Semi-synthetic
I concurr with Mark. Do not use Fully synthetic oil, use semi.

Synthetic buggers up the clutch.

When I couldn't get hold of a motorcycle oil abroad I used car multigrade on my XT. As long as its got the right numbers and letters it'll be fine.

Any old oil is better than none at all!

Dan
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  #8  
Old 20 Oct 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan66 View Post
I concurr with Mark. Do not use Fully synthetic oil, use semi.

Synthetic buggers up the clutch.

You know that semi synth is a mix of "real" synth and dino oil right? For me that would be like taking my favorite , and mix a cupful of bud light in it

Google "oil myth" or something like that. Fullsynth is better on the paper. If youre bike dont like, fine. But that doesnt meen everybody else cant use it.

As to the clutch, I've got over 96.000km on totally stock and unopened engine, so it cant be totally bad, huh?

The main reason for me to run what i consider "the best" type of oil, is that I know its the most capable of handling high heat, which you can/will find in an aircooled engine. The 2nd most important thing for me, is that it takes longer to degrade.

I still change often, oil is cheap. A few extra bucks at the end of the year, saved by using what I consider a lesser oil, do me no good if my engine is blown. It would really suck for me to have any type of engine malfuction, it would have me wondering if a better oil could have done something about it.

I use the bike as my dayly commute, and for enduro-ish type of riding. I need it to be reliable.
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Old 20 Oct 2011
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Yes I am aware that semi-synthetic oil is basically mineral oil with additives.

I can only speak from experience and from others whom I know personally, who have a vast experience of bikes and particularly XT's, and who I trust and respect have told me.

Synthetic oil can penetrate the clutch plates and cause them to slip.

Semi-synthetic oil has been treated to give the molecules longer chains so that they take longer to break down.

Mineral oil is fine but you have to change it more often.

I have worked as a Motorcycle courier in London, quite hard word for an engine and I used bog standard mineral M/c oil but changed it every 500 miles.

When I couldn't get hold of bike oil I have used car multigrade.

My bikes are all fine. If you find that your bike runs on Synthetic oil then use it, but I wouldn't put it in mine. Unless there was nothing else! Any oil is better than none.

Dan
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