CB550 K3 engine oil - what to use.

[Ashdowner]

Just read an article on research done by a US Research lab part sponsored by MCN which came to the conclusion that the claims made by the oil companies for using motorcycle-specific 10-40 engine oil are simply to strike fear into bikers to make them use the greatly overpriced product when in fact they offer no benefit over modern "ordinary" (and much cheaper) automotive engine oils. They make the point that modern 10-40 automotive oils are designed to meet the needs of modern high-revving cars anyhow. A mate of mine who has been a helicopter engineer all his life and is a fund of common sense says the same and uses ordinary 10-40 in his CB400F. As I'm coming up to an oil change the question is what does everyone else use?

 

[Ashdowner]

This is the link by the way.

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/oil.html

[tom400f]

http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,7886.0.html
 

[Johnwebley]

winter offers on oil,

 I use it ,and the motor and clutch are smooth as silk !!

  the 10-40 grade,  a bogof !!

www.eurocarparts.com

[fryerk]

I agree with John. Their semi synthetic 10w40 is cheap as chips and I use it in all my bikes.

[deltarider]

If you don't start and ride at temperatures below zero, 15W-40 is an even better oil. Plenty of choice. I myself use Castrol GTX High Mileage 15W-40 as it helps to keep the rubbers supple. Leaking O-rings are often a problem in old engines like ours. I always park my bike on the main stand and hope it will keep as much oil as possible at the cam.

[corromant]

I had a 550 K3 new in 1977 & at that time there was no such thing as motorcycle specific oil, you went to the local motor shop & bought whatever was available in the grade you wanted. So if it was good enough in the early days of the bike don’t see any problem doing the same now, just avoid the fully synthetic oils.