Kawasaki Concours Forum

The C10, aka Kawasaki Concours - The Original => The Bike - C10 => Topic started by: John_Atkinson on August 05, 2013, 07:45:16 PM

Title: mileage and oil...
Post by: John_Atkinson on August 05, 2013, 07:45:16 PM
all,

I'm sure this is totally redundant, but I'd be interested in what mileage folks have on their Connies, and what oil they've been running.

I know - another oil thread.....
 :P
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Summit670 on August 05, 2013, 09:14:08 PM
I'll bite.  1987 and I'm original owner.  77,000 miles.  I've run dino Kawasaki the first few times,  Valvoline MC 10-40 a few times, Mobil 1 15-50 a lot, Rotella 15-40 a few times, Castrol 10-40 a few times,  until I started hearing a lot of good things about Rotella T6 which I've been running the last 4-5 years.   Generally changed oil every 2000 miles, or twice a year.    Bike doesn't burn any noticeable amount of oil between changes.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Leo on August 06, 2013, 07:25:49 AM
the grey one, 94,000 miles, dino oil, mostly Yamalube 20-40 or Kawachem 10-40.   Sold it running well and not using much oil.   

The Black one, 88,000 miles, dino oil, mostly Kawachem 10-40 or quality automotive grade oil.  Sold it running well and using much oil.

The Blue one.  12,000 miles, Kawachem 10-40.  Totalled it 4 months after I got it.  No problems.

The red one, 55,000 miles.  dino oil, mostly Kawachem 10-40 or 15-40 Rotella.   Still own it but it has been in storage since Jan 2012 due to my health issues.   

No oil related issues on any of them

Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: UD1969 on August 06, 2013, 10:23:47 AM
29,000 on my 2002 C-10, which I bought in September, 2012.  11,000 of these are mine. 

10W40 motorcycle specific dino oil, Castrol, available at Pep Boys.  I've also used Yamalube, since the local Yamaha dealer is an old-time friend of mine. 

K & N oil filter, replaced every other oil change, at 2,000 miles each. 

No problems.  This is the best motorcycle I've ever owned in 43 years of riding. 

Nick Diaz
Middletown, MD
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: turbojoe78 on August 06, 2013, 01:01:07 PM
99 with 41,421 miles, the last 28,000 were mine run with Mobil Delvac 1 full syn 5-40 changed every 4000 miles.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: datsaxman@hotmail.com on August 06, 2013, 03:33:38 PM
2000 model.  Bought in April 2011 with 12,000 miles, now has 53,000.

Rotella Rotella Rotella.  T6.  T6.  T6.  SPOOFAK, so running a car filter. 

Change intervals 3000 - 6000 miles.  That was 5600 miles in one week, ok?
No oil related problems at all.  Filter EVERY time.  With the T6, you would be better off
changing the FILTER and not the OIL than the other way around. 

Just sayin.

Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Strawboss on August 07, 2013, 10:19:06 AM
I used oil once and rode a lot.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: datsaxman@hotmail.com on August 07, 2013, 02:48:33 PM
...and here you are telling everybody.  What will folks say !?!?
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Furbo on August 09, 2013, 01:17:44 AM
50K miles.

Whatever decent dino oil I can find, usually penzoil 10-40.

Change every 10K (Once a year)
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Outback_Jon on August 09, 2013, 06:59:08 AM
2006 C10
61,000 miles
Rotella T6

Used Walmart full-synth before I switched to Rotella.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Roadhound on August 09, 2013, 09:42:51 AM
1986 337,000

2000 215,000

2006 88,000

Nothing but conventional oil except for the 2006, the original owner started it off on synthetic oil, it uses a little oil. The other 2 were raised on conventional oil and used no oil at all.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Summit670 on August 09, 2013, 02:00:48 PM
1986 337,000

2000 215,000

2006 88,000

Nothing but conventional oil except for the 2006, the original owner started it off on synthetic oil, it uses a little oil. The other 2 were raised on conventional oil and used no oil at all.

That's one way to become a marked man. Keep talking.  I don't suppose it was regular automobile oil (surely not Starburst Engery Conserving if it was)?  ;D
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Roadhound on August 10, 2013, 07:52:30 AM
That's one way to become a marked man. Keep talking.  I don't suppose it was regular automobile oil (surely not Starburst Engery Conserving if it was)?  ;D

No, I've always used motorcycle specific oil, I've just never bought in to the synthetic oil thing.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: SteveJ. on August 10, 2013, 10:14:57 AM
'99 bought in '02 with 21k miles. I used 10/40 Amzoil until about 75k, then went with Rotella syn 5/40. The last 30k is regular Rotella. I had an oil analysis done recently. After 4k mi, viscosity was still good, nothing weird. I intend to go about 6k or so on this change and get it analyzed again.

From what I've seen, Shell Rotella syn and dino and Kendall semi syn are the only "diesel" oils to show a JASO spec on them. I don't believe either Mobil or Chevron state that on the label.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: stevewfl on August 10, 2013, 10:27:48 AM
all,

I'm sure this is totally redundant, but I'd be interested in what mileage folks have on their Connies, and what oil they've been running.

I know - another oil thread.....
 :P

>79,000 on my 3 year old C14.  Rotella T6 "full synth" at $20 a gallon.  At 200K miles i plan to part this bike out on ebay.  Thanks Rotella!

(I change it at around 5K miles)
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Cholla on August 12, 2013, 01:52:01 PM
Furbo-dump the Pennzoil. Ever seen the inside of an engine that's had nothing but Pennzoil in it?

My son used to work at Jiffy Lube which uses nothing but Pennzoil. He could tell which cars were regular customers by looking at the inside of the oil cap. Many times customers wanted new valve cover gaskets, so off came the valve covers. The insides were clogged with gunkso bad he had to clean them out with a putty knife. The sludge had filled the area around the rocker arms. I bought. A truck from my employer. Always took it to JL. When I got it I immediately put some Seafoam in the engine.drained the oil and it was nasty. Did it 3 more times and it started looking normal.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Summit670 on August 12, 2013, 07:33:07 PM
Funny you mention that about Pennzoil.  That is what a mechanic told me 40 years ago about Pennzoil.  I figured they'd have made corrections years ago with proper detergents or whatever it would take.

Here is what my new Jeep requires for oil (I believe Mobil 1 hasn't been approved as meeting this standard, but I think it is just a political thing)...

We recommend you use API Certified SAE 5W-20
Engine Oil, meeting the requirements of Chrysler Material
Standard MS-6395 such as MOPAR, Pennzoil®,
and Shell Helix®. Refer to your engine oil filler cap for

Here is what the Mobil 1 site says about my 2014 model...
We regret there's a data gap
 
The data available to us for the vehicle you selected is insufficient for us to make a product/viscosity match. For new model years, there may be a delay in receiving data for all makes/models. Please try again later.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Cholla on August 26, 2013, 02:15:01 PM
The problem with Pennzoil is it is paraffin based. As you probably know, paraffin is a wax.
Would ya put wax in yer engine?
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: MAN OF BLUES on August 26, 2013, 02:55:33 PM
The problem with Pennzoil is it is paraffin based. As you probably know, paraffin is a wax.
Would ya put wax in yer engine?



IF YOU READ IT ON THE INTERNET, IT JUST HAS TO BE TRUE..... ::) ::) ::)

http://www.lube1.com/factsmyth.htm (http://www.lube1.com/factsmyth.htm)


http://www.le-international.com/uploads/documents/Paraffinic%20Flyer.pdf (http://www.le-international.com/uploads/documents/Paraffinic%20Flyer.pdf)
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Gitbox on August 27, 2013, 03:08:47 PM
FWIW, I have 120K+ miles on my C10 and use Mobil 1 5w-40 Synthetic Turbo Truck Diesel.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: Alphonzo on September 06, 2013, 07:37:10 PM
I'll cast my vote for rotella-t dino oil.  I'm getting 50 mpg (straight highway interstate) and about 46 mixed driving.  I seldom drive it fast.

I use shell v-power gas, as well.  The owner's manual says it needs 91 octane.  I wish I lived somewhere that alcohol free gas was easy to get.
Title: Re: mileage and oil...
Post by: T Cro ® on September 06, 2013, 07:53:51 PM
.... I use shell v-power gas, as well.  The owner's manual says it needs 91 octane.  I wish I lived somewhere that alcohol free gas was easy to get.

Your reading the Owner's Manual wrong the Concours was built for and will just fine on 87 octane; there are two methods for obtaining octane readings... RON and ____ (I'm drawing a blank here) ....

Min 91 Research/87 Avg. Oct. Unleaded OK

Unless your live in another country the latter method is utilized for at the pump published octane reaings....


BTW I deal with the corn squeeze in the gas by adding Stabil, Marvel Mystery Oil, Startron etc to the fuel on a regular basis.