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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 2 Jul 2008
Matt Cartney's Avatar
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XT600E oil question
Hi folks,

I usually put a bike specific 10W/40 in my XT, although I don't worry too much about the brand. I have a theory that it's better to use a cheaper oil and change it more often than use a more expensive oil and change it less often. (I am poor as a church mouse). I change my oil well short of the manufacturers recommended interval.

I just got quite a good deal on ten litres of Duckhams Q 10W/40. This is the oil I normally put in my 350 Enfield. It is a part synthetic oil for 'petrol engines' that has been around for donkeys. However, it is not bike specific. I think it is more than adequate for the needs of my Enfield and was thinking it would probably be fine to go in the XT. What do peple think?

I can always put it in the Enfield if it's not suitable for the XT, so no great loss if I can't.

Matt
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Old 6 Jul 2008
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Hi Matt, I have a theory very close to yours, the only difference being I only choose a motorbike specific oil. The reason for this is that the car oil isn't put together with the non shearing properties a bike oil needs, because a car has a seperate gearbox, with specific gear oil in it. (Picture all those gears meshing together, and how they will shear the oil molecules as they try to squeeze through the gaps).

Same as you though, the old adage oil is cheaper than bearings holds true for me.

I'd use the Duckams in your chain oiler. Even the Enfield deserves better!

#Tony#
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  #3  
Old 7 Jul 2008
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Hi Matt,

A definite "no" from me - I would not use car oil in a bike with a wet clutch. Bike oils have special friction modifiers designed to give smooth, reliable clutch take up - car engine oils, particularly synthetics are likely to result in contaminated clutch friction plates leading to jerky operation, or chronic slip.

Pay a little extra for a good quality oil of the right viscosity and avoid costly repair bills!

Best...

Andrew S
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  #4  
Old 7 Jul 2008
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Off topic....
Matt,

I see you're based around Edinburgh?! I am too, at weekends anyway. I wonder if we could meet up for a brew, etc.? Would be great to hear about your travel experience on the XT, and perhaps also compare the engine noise of mine (see new post on forum) to yours to make sure I'm not worrying over nothing.

I would PM you offline, but I haven't posted enough yet!

Are you around this w/e, 12th, 13th July? Perhaps you could PM me if so?

Cheers,

Andrew
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