'00 zx9r synthetic or conventional oil : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

migjet · 04-23-2008, 04:58 AM

I have used conventional oil since '00 and I was thinking of going blend or full synthetic oil. I have about 40k miles on my baby and I ride moderate to hard. I go fast a lot. Any suggestions since my bike is eight years old? Gator in Texas

macdaddy3 · 04-23-2008, 05:25 AM

If your clutches are thinking about slipping, put synthetic or even semi-synthetic in and they will surely slip. I would just stick to a very good conventional motorcycle oil.

dbleon · 04-23-2008, 10:33 AM

^^^^^ quit poisoning this forum with false information. That is a bad common misconception. As long as the oil does NOT have friction modifiers, the clutch will not be affected. This basically means that you cannot use any automobile oils as they contain friction modifiers. Any good motorcycle oil will work.... synthetic, (depending on the brand), may last a bit longer and provide a little better protection. It will not affect the clutch though.

On a side note, its nice to see a 9r with more miles than mine... I have 39,XXX on mine. Crossing my fingers though, i hope to get ~65,XXX out of it.

macdaddy3 · 04-24-2008, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbleon

^^^^^ quit poisoning this forum with false information. That is a bad common misconception. As long as the oil does NOT have friction modifiers, the clutch will not be affected. This basically means that you cannot use any automobile oils as they contain friction modifiers. Any good motorcycle oil will work.... synthetic, (depending on the brand), may last a bit longer and provide a little better protection. It will not affect the clutch though.

On a side note, its nice to see a 9r with more miles than mine... I have 39,XXX on mine. Crossing my fingers though, i hope to get ~65,XXX out of it.

I just gave my opinion and that should be all it is taken as. Don't let the fact that I have been a licensed technician for over 15 years sway you. Does ASE mean anything to you?

dbleon · 04-24-2008, 10:55 AM

EXACTLY MY POINT!!!!!! I NEVER trust ANY "technician" with my bike, because they dont know dick!!! If you think syn. oil will cause clutches to slip you are plain fucking retarded.

Omahastylin16 · 05-06-2008, 10:43 AM

[quote=dbleon;65271] As long as the oil does NOT have friction modifiers, the clutch will not be affected. This basically means that you cannot use any automobile oils as they contain friction modifiers. Any good motorcycle oil will work
QUOTE]

this is true, if you go synthetic be sure to get bike specific oil

jerzee_tek · 06-13-2008, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macdaddy3

I just gave my opinion and that should be all it is taken as. Don't let the fact that I have been a licensed technician for over 15 years sway you. Does ASE mean anything to you?

ASE means nothing... all it means is you took the time and money to be "certified" and there's still joe schmoe mechanics that are way better then any certificate can prove!

godfather · 07-02-2008, 02:59 AM

Or did you say ASS certified. Been running Mobil full Synthetic oil in my ZRX1200, and ZX7r for years, and guess what Mr. ASE NO clutch slipping

migjet · 07-13-2008, 08:28 PM

Thanx for the input guys. Y'all should play nice. Although opinions are good when it comes to giving technical advice, us not so knowledgeable look to these forums for solid advice and sound technical advice. I must say I decided to stick to a quality conventional oil since I have not had any issues thus far. I was just looking for a small edge. Gator/Cyclone Riders MC

Airvent · 07-13-2008, 09:12 PM

Whoa guys, be nice, he has his opinion and expressed it. Were all Kawasaki family here =)

Ive used full synthetic oil in my bike its entire life. 37,000mi without a hitch !

Ive also used synthetic car oil a few times.. didn't notice any difference

Ian_zx9r · 07-15-2008, 10:50 AM

this is one of those legendary questions that alotta people dont agree on. I had a friend who weighs 210 lbs. he bought a bike from a guy weighing 160 lbs. the guy who he bought it from said he always runs synthetic and it never slipped. well my friend got out there and hammered the throttle and *CLUTCH SLIP* so I would recomend conventional

dirty13south · 07-15-2008, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian_zx9r

this is one of those legendary questions that alotta people dont agree on. I had a friend who weighs 210 lbs. he bought a bike from a guy weighing 160 lbs. the guy who he bought it from said he always runs synthetic and it never slipped. well my friend got out there and hammered the throttle and *CLUTCH SLIP* so I would recomend conventional

I'm not trying to talk shit about your freind but it was problably his weight and not the oil. I weight 180 and I've allways ran Full synthetic without any problems.

Ian_zx9r · 07-17-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirty13south

I'm not trying to talk shit about your freind but it was problably his weight and not the oil. I weight 180 and I've allways ran Full synthetic without any problems.

lol very possible. he got the plates replaced and runs conventional and doesnt have the same problems anymore. though that could also mean the plates were just bad, not the oil. But hey If your bike is running at a cool enough temperature and performs well use whatever golden liquid you like :)

laptopleon · 07-20-2008, 07:20 AM

It's simple: Check the label of the oil before you use it. Use oil for motorcycles, else it will slip sooner or later. It might not, but it's a chance you don't want to take.

BTW It has nothing to do with the weight of the rider.

GreaseMonk3y · 07-22-2008, 12:10 AM

I've been running synthetic for a little over a year now and I noticed a huge difference in my clutch, compared to my other conventional oil. I use 10W-40 in mine year round and it runs beautiful!

ExxonValdeez · 09-01-2008, 05:34 PM

Wow, this is a tough crowd.

Ummmm, any oil WILL work.

Unless a bike has an existing clutch problem, you will not have slippage issues.

No proof as be offered to verify the notion that Automotive oils cause slippage. Although it would be "better" (but not "required") to stay away from oils with more friction modifiers. Motorcycle oil simply is a way to charge a higher price for a lesser product.

Do yourselves a favor and use a good quality Diesel Synthetic Oil.

But hey, this is just another opinion from some idiot. ;-P

Nal · 09-05-2008, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExxonValdeez

Wow, this is a tough crowd.

Ummmm, any oil WILL work.

Unless a bike has an existing clutch problem, you will not have slippage issues.

No proof as be offered to verify the notion that Automotive oils cause slippage. Although it would be "better" (but not "required") to stay away from oils with more friction modifiers. Motorcycle oil simply is a way to charge a higher price for a lesser product.

Do yourselves a favor and use a good quality Diesel Synthetic Oil.

But hey, this is just another opinion from some idiot. ;-P

I have a friend that used diesel oil on his bike, can't remember what but there was something wrong with it

, after he switched to diesel type the problem went away, I'm gonna have to ask him

ExxonValdeez · 09-05-2008, 07:26 PM

Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40 would be a good oil or Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 heavy-duty motor oil. These oils have a higher detergent but lower amount of friction modifiers, as compared to conventional motor oils. In short, you get a "cleaner", "better" oil than using motorcycle specific oil, but you dont get the potentially slip causing friction modifiers.
Also, if an oil "causes problems" with your engine there is something else wrong. (with the exception of maybe using a 0w20 in the Arizona heat, lol)
I am always open to new information.

soniccj7 · 09-13-2008, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbleon

On a side note, its nice to see a 9r with more miles than mine... I have 39,XXX on mine. Crossing my fingers though, i hope to get ~65,XXX out of it.

My 1996 Zx-9R will have over 43,000 next time I take it for a ride

As for the oil, I have had no problems with conventional motorcycle oil.

ED