[engine oil] - ATV Riders Forums - Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Polaris, CanAm, Arctic Cat, Kymco ATVs

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engine oil
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Posted by: Happy Dad

I have a new trx 400 ex. Do I have to use a JASO oil? I'm trying to be frugal.
Can I use something for a car engine?

Thanks,
Happy Dad.

Posted by: Johnny B

you can use car engine oil but they reccomend that you do not use energy saving oil. you will see if it says it on the back of the bottle. i used napa 10w30 car oil in my 300ex for ever and never had a problem.

Posted by: kevmo

My .02

You can probably run car oil all day long w/o issues but you have a new (assuming) $5000.00 quad....is a few bucks for a good Honda or specialty oil really going to kill you?

Posted by: 400exx

if you have an new quad use synthetic oil...run it as thin as possible...stay away from lucas oil for now until it is at least 2-3 years old

Posted by: Happy Dad

kevmo;
You're right about the money issue. I'm just wondering if something less expensive is just as good?

Posted by: Glamis400ex

Run Rotella T 15w40. It's diesel oil but works well in a wet clutch set up. A gallon is like $7 at Wally World.

Posted by: Happy Dad

I just googled Rotella and found out it really exists. I'll assume Wallly world is wal mart.

I'll look into this.

Happy Frugal Dad

Posted by: Glamis400ex

Um, yah, it really exists. Been around for a long time. Any diesel rated oil like Delo400, Rotella T, Delvac1300 or the like works well in a 15w40 weight.

Yes, Wally World is Wal-Mart.

Posted by: Happy Dad

Thanks Glamis

Posted by: Happy Dad

Glamis:
Would you use andy of those oils in your quad?

Posted by: kevmo

quote:
Originally posted by Happy Dad
kevmo;
You're right about the money issue. I'm just wondering if something less expensive is just as good?

Happy Dad,

I hope I didnt come off pissy in that...I just re read and saw that it could have been taken the wrong way.

By nature, I am a little freaky about maintaining my machines and will by either Honda or a Amsoil fro them however I know guys that go to Wal Mart all day long and have never had a problem.

Posted by: Glamis400ex

I actually have not up to this point in time. I have used Mobile1 synthetic religously but it is not available anymore. I am currently re-building my motor and WILL be using the above mentioned oil from now on...even when I break it in.

I have been doing alot of reading and have recently become aware that the diesel rated oils work very well in wet-clutch, motorcycle application. Lots of fellas running it in ATV's and street bikes with ZERO problems. Something about the formulation makes it very compatible with motorcycles wet-clutch unlike conventional car oil that do funny things to the clutch.

http://www.rotella.com/success_stories/kerry.html
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Consumables.html
http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb...ic;f=9;t=000659

Glamis

Posted by: Sjorge300EX

I use regular Havoline 10w-40 in my 300ex. I wouldnt think about changing to synthetic, only because I change oil every three races.

Posted by: Happy Dad

I greatly apprediate this forum and the responses to my thread.
I think I'm going to try the Rotella T.

Thanks,
Happy Dad

Posted by: ryanh250ex

i've personally run a little bit of everything in my bikes, i ran Honda GL4 dino 10w40 oil (cheap but you get what you pay for...turns jet black after 3 hours of hard riding), Amsoil 10w40 synthetic (fantastic but at 10$ a qt at my local dealer it's a bit much), i am currently running and going to continue using ELF Moto 4X AT synthetic 10w50 oil. thus far i have noticed no difference between this oil and AMSOIL 10w40. it's also only 7.50 a qt.....not exactly cheap by any means but thats 25% cheaper than AMSOIL.

for those of you that have never heard of ELF, it is a european oil company that is very popular over there. go on bobistheoilguy.com and you'll find that people over there rave about it.

i wouldnt use anything BUT synthetic oil these days, i run Mobil 1 extended performance 5w30 in my jeep, makes more difference than you would think. however if i was to use dino oil ever again i would use shell rotella.