Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Mister Tee on June 21, 2011, 08:14:25 AM
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Okay, yes, I know it's an oil thread, but I didn't really intend to get in to the whole mineral vs. synthetic debate since the topic has been discussed millions of times. But in fairness it hasn't had a chance to be fully beaten to death on the new board.
... aaaaaand my mileage did increase, noticeably, without a change in riding habits or fuel source. It will take some time to quantify how much. Both the average MPG on the display increased and the calculated mileage increased on the last tank. And for you haters out there, the bright green color of the Motul 300V just looks SO COOL in the site window!
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Okay, yes, I know it's an oil thread, but I didn't really intend to get in to the whole mineral vs. synthetic debate since the topic has been discussed millions of times. But in fairness it hasn't had a chance to be fully beaten to death on the new board.
... aaaaaand my mileage did increase, noticeably, without a change in riding habits or fuel source. It will take some time to quantify how much. Both the average MPG on the display increased and the calculated mileage increased on the last tank. And for you haters out there, the bright green color of the Motul 300V just looks SO COOL in the site window!
Increased by how much?
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Again, I think it's too soon to quantify but I've been consistently running 44.7 on the average MPG and between 40 and 42 measured the last couple weeks. I'm now at 45.0 mpg and my last tank was 44 measured. I'll have to go through a few tanks to verify an increased mileage trend, and by how much.
In other vehicles I've owned, a switch to synthetic has yielded an increase of between zero and 5% better mileage. Big truck engines don't seem to benefit. Motorcycle and small car engines do.
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... aaaaaand my mileage did increase, noticeably
and so did the cost of oil changes
Bill
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that is something that you will not be able to notice. you would have to run it in a control atmosphere, control throttle, to measure any diff. so just think of synthetic oil as being a little bit tougher, you will never have to explain any further.
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oil thread... :popcorn:
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I started using Mobil 1 full synthetic from day 1. Cost me $40 bucks to get 4 quarts ! Ouch! Plus cost of filter (NAPA PS1358).
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and so did the cost of oil changes
Bill
No doubt - I won't break even sticking with 5,000 mile intervals I've been doing but it would be close. If I doubled that, or even went with the factory recommended 7,500 miles, I'd be ahead.
But that's not why I run it, I just want tougher oil so the argument is moot.
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Two words....Golden Spectro synth blend. love that sh&^!
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I started using Mobil 1 full synthetic from day 1. Cost me $40 bucks to get 4 quarts ! Ouch! Plus cost of filter (NAPA PS1358).
But Connie takes 4.7 quarts. :P
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But the engine is so much quieter with synthetic.
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But Connie takes 4.7 quarts. :P
hmmmm...... 4 quarts shows oil level at the upper bar of the oil window. Ran the bike for a few and same deal. I will check again.
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I started using Mobil 1 full synthetic from day 1. Cost me $40 bucks to get 4 quarts ! Ouch! Plus cost of filter (NAPA PS1358).
So you've posted before about finding the cheapest decent helmet, emphasis on the price, but then you drop $40 on oil? Nothing wrong with the synthetics, but their overall value is hard to pinpoint especially on a vehicle where oil changes are relatively frequent.
I'd spend less on boutique oil and spend more on helmets.
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oil thread... :popcorn:
Yup.....
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Motul 300V --- Double Diester oil. Nothing but the best -- did it smell like bananas?
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and so did the cost of oil changes
Technically no, since synthetic oil has a far longer life than dino oil. You pay much more for the oil, but can cut your oil changes in half (and I have verified that as normal practice by several mechanics, two of each are shop head-technicians).
I use Mobil 1 in all my vehicles after breakin. Have done so for as long as Mobil 1 has been available on the consumer market. I think it is really good stuff.
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Motul 300V --- Double Diester oil. Nothing but the best -- did it smell like bananas?
Mmmmm tastes like it too!
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I put MOTUL V300 DOUBLE ESTER 10/40 to my connie and i own a 1999 Nissan Patfinder with 150.000 Miles and changed oil only 15 times with synthetic oil , it don't burns any oil and there are no sings of sludge, I'm too lazy to change oil's every 3000 miles
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It now runs smoother, faster, the women love you and it lowered your monthly payment.
You just can't beat synthetics ;D
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But what about your oil filter? You run your oil twice as long but is your filter going to do it's job all that time. Oil, if kept changed on a regular time frame will do it's job, I had over 108,000 miles on my 92 GoldWing with Castrol 20/50 automotive oil and never had a problem. The cost of synthetic is 2 to 3 times higher than regular oil. And II see no advantage in it. I did run it in my 2002 Gold Wing and never noticed a difference except that it cost more. In my 08 Wing I ran Honda oil and the mileage and sound was the same as my 02.
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I don't know if a Gold Wing is a real good example. Large, water cooled engine with a relatively low specific power. On track bikes it makes a huge difference - the difference between seasonal rebuilds or not.
Back when I worked in engine R&D for a brief period of time, we would do destruct tests on engines (100% power, wide open throttle on a bench dyno, with stepped increases in CHT and oil temperatures until something breaks or seizes up.) Those engines running synthetic oil would by far outlast the same engines running mineral oil.
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Couldn't you just replace the oil filter and top off the oil?
But what about your oil filter? You run your oil twice as long but is your filter going to do it's job all that time. Oil, if kept changed on a regular time frame will do it's job, I had over 108,000 miles on my 92 GoldWing with Castrol 20/50 automotive oil and never had a problem. The cost of synthetic is 2 to 3 times higher than regular oil. And II see no advantage in it. I did run it in my 2002 Gold Wing and never noticed a difference except that it cost more. In my 08 Wing I ran Honda oil and the mileage and sound was the same as my 02.
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But what about your oil filter? You run your oil twice as long but is your filter going to do it's job all that time. Oil, if kept changed on a regular time frame will do it's job, I had over 108,000 miles on my 92 GoldWing with Castrol 20/50 automotive oil and never had a problem. The cost of synthetic is 2 to 3 times higher than regular oil. And II see no advantage in it. I did run it in my 2002 Gold Wing and never noticed a difference except that it cost more. In my 08 Wing I ran Honda oil and the mileage and sound was the same as my 02.
The OEM says to change filter "every other oil change"......so there is your answer. ;) And aren't you the fella that changes his oil at less than 3k habitually?
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So how long are you going to go between oil changes? I usually go 5,000 miles on regular dino oil anyway. Would I go 10,000 miles on synthetic? No I wouldn't. There really is no reason to change oil every 3,000 miles on a modern engine with modern oils, synthetic or dino. I have had many vehicles go well over 100,000 miles with no issues on dino oil with changes at 5,000 miles. My last Jetta went 189,000 miles before I sold it. Oil changes were done at 5,000 miles and it had good compression and burned no oil when I got rid of it.
There is nothing wrong with synthetic oil, it is quite good actually, it just isn't a cure all and the "downsides" of dino oil are highly exaggerated. I have used synthetic motorcycle oil on my RC51 in the past, just not always. I said motorcycle synthetic because I still don't trust oil not made for motorcycles on my bike. With motorcycle specific oil available I see no reason not to run it.
Oh my, I've responded to an oil thread. :banghead:
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So you've posted before about finding the cheapest decent helmet, emphasis on the price, but then you drop $40 on oil? Nothing wrong with the synthetics, but their overall value is hard to pinpoint especially on a vehicle where oil changes are relatively frequent.
I'd spend less on boutique oil and spend more on helmets.
Not sure why you attacking me bro. I wanted to use synthetic and that is all I could find locally.
As for helmet, if I were to get the cheapest helmet, I would not have even posted here in this forum. I doubt a Gmax GM54s is a cheap helmet (as in worthless) - I think it can hold its own. Beside, this is not going to be my only helmet either as I am pretty sure this going to be journey to find the right one. Ah what the heck ! why even am I explaining all this. I guess you are entitled to your opinion.
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This may be a mute point since I don't ride my Connie in the winter but since I live in a cold climate I notice a big difference between dino & synthetic in cold weather starts. I have also heard that even in warm weather a good portion of wear happens on cold engine start up and syn works better there. In some cars I get less upper end engine noise with syn.
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This may be a mute point since I don't ride my Connie in the winter but since I live in a cold climate I notice a big difference between dino & synthetic in cold weather starts. I have also heard that even in warm weather a good portion of wear happens on cold engine start up and syn works better there. In some cars I get less upper end engine noise with syn.
I rode mine all Winter here in Pittsburgh and had no issues with dino oil. There is nothing wrong with synthetic, but there is nothing wrong with dino oil either, especially dino oil formulated specifically for use in motorcycles. There is nothing magical about synthetic oils. Synthetic oil won't magically increase your fuel mileage by an amount significant enough to be measured.
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I ride year 'round here in St. Louis, MO and I hear a difference between Dino and Syn on startup in the cold months. But, either way you run what you like. I was in a hurry, and picked up 5 quarts of Kawi syn oil and two filters at the dealer. That set me back 87 bucks! Two fram filters and 5 quarts of Valvoline full syn cost me 65 bucks.
Just to stir the pot a little, I have been reading about recycled oil. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/16/valvoline-nextgen-recycled-motor-oil/ (http://green.autoblog.com/2011/03/16/valvoline-nextgen-recycled-motor-oil/) When I get back from Alaska, I'm thinking I'd run it for 5000 and see how it handled. Just seems to make sense. I WILL NOT be using recycled oil filters though ::)
One other thought, I DO like the way my bike shifts when it has synthetic in it. It feels (to me) much smoother, no as much effort needed. Obviously YMMV.
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I used to run Golden Spectro in some of my bikes from time to time and occasionally I would notice better shifting, although I honestly believe most of that is imaginary. It also could be the difference between old oil and fresh oil. What synthetic won't do is enable miraculous changes in MPG as many often report.
Yeah it makes no sense to change oil every 3,000 miles unless you are changing oil every 6 months or so. It is wasting oil to do that and isn't very environmentally friendly. Modern oils in modern engines simply do not break down as quickly as in the past. 5,000 is not taxing the oil or harming the engine. The '95 Jetta I had called for 7,500 mile intervals for oil changes. I never went that long but I'm sure the engineers that specified that knew something.
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:popcorn: