Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

Hey guys, just currious what everyone else is using for engine oil, My preference is Rotella 15w40, use it in all my bikes, have for years, I do use the Suzuki oil filter, have cut them open and they are built really good inside,, my bike just went over 2000 miles, so time to change oil and filter since last one was at the dealer at 600 miles, so from now on it gets oil and filter at 2000 miles, Later gang, DaveG

I use the Rotella full synthetic--5W40, I think? Thanks for reminding me that I have to go pick up one of Suzuki's filters. I'm going to miss the cheap Walmart SuperTech filters that fit every other make of bike.

IMO you have 3 options all depending on how much miles/km you ride.

1: You ride alot of miles all year long -> replace oil/filter every 6k miles/10k km
2: You ride alot of miles but keep the bike stored in winter -> replace oil/filter every 6k miles/10k km or every year
3: You dont ride alot (fun/summer rider) and keep it stored in winter -> replace oil/filter every year

The only reason you should replace the oil sooner then 3750miles/6000km is when you keep the bike stored for a periode of time. 'Used' oil with carbon conteminates can suck op moister from the air and do some damage on the insides of the engine. Thats why its always advised to replace the oil at the end of your riding season so new clean engine oil sits in the engine which does not attract moister from the air.

I use Castrol RS Power 10W40 Semi Synth and I replace it every year with the filter. I ride about 8k km a year.

You go 3750 miles between oil changes? I may be old school, but I have never went more than 2000 miles on any motorcycle between oil and filter changes, my cars I do between 3 & 4000 miles max, maybe I'm wasting a lot of oil but so be it, I run my stuff hard, but do try to keep clean oil in it as much as possible, here in Florida it's in the 90's 8 months out of the year, so every little bit I can do to make 'em last longer I try to do, thanks for the replies guys always interested in what other are doing, Later DaveG

I have fitted an Oil Cooler from the Bandit 1250 to warm up the engine oil faster from a cold start and keep it cooler when running in summer. My engine oil (have a digital temp gauge) never exceeds 95 Degrees C (205 F) with temps off maximum 30 degrees C (86F) outside. If you use Full Synth you dont even have to worry about engine oil degrading even if the oil gets up the 120 C (250F) Thats what I'm using for my car (Toyota 2.0 Turbo) where the oil can exceed 130+C (265F) on a track.

Why dont you use a thicker weight oil like a 10W50 or 20W50. Thats more suited to your location. Also says so in the Owners Manual. IMHO its an utter waste of Oil to replace it so soon, but its your bike so do with it as you like But modern bikes dont need a change of oil as often. And believe me, I ride the shit out of my 650F as long as the oil is above 80C (175F).

BTW I dont go between 3750miles for a service, thats the normal service interval. I ride 8000km/5000miles a year and then replace the oil (I replace it before I stall it for the winter). It still looks red -isch to brown (Castrol Oil is Red) when I replace it.

Belray full synthetic, been around for a hundred years, i still keep the same service intervals, its not the oil that degrades, just the crap that gets in it.

I use Pro Honda HP4S fully synthetic oil. It only comes in 10W30. Several Suzuki dealers in my area are recommending it. It gets good reviews and Honda is now recommending it for all of their bikes. I noticed that my shifts are smooth and quiet. I was a bit reluctant to use 10W30 as the owner's manual specifies 10W40, but it doesn't come in a 10W40. The dealer assures me that it is okay for year round use.

Just to be clear, oil is oil, and I can use the same oil I put in my car, so long as the viscosity is in accordance with what is prescribed? I was considering using 10w40 Mobil 1 fully synthetic. I'm in New Orleans, LA.

wrxdonkey, put car oil in your ride and get used to riding without a clutch, car oils are NOT suitable for bikes with a 'wet' clutch, ie the GSX650F

Use Mobil 1 for motorcycles, they don't add the same friction modifiers as they use in the car oils. It's good stuff too, expensive, but good. I use Mobil 1 or AMSOIL when I can get it.

You are correct sir.
An oil discussion will bring out the BS quicker than most anything. I use Rotella 15w40 and change oil and filter at 3K miles. There are many other good oils on the market, just use the proper weight per your owners manual.

/head explode.

See, this is something I've never gotten a confirmation on, lol. But it stands to reason that car oil is no different. What on Earth did motorcycles with wet clutches do before there was oil with special friction modifiers for motorcycles?

And if friction modifiers are so important for wet clutches, why doesn't my car's transmission fluid contain special friction modifiers for my high car's performance clutch which I race frequently and dog the hell out of, but is still silky smooth at 50k miles? My car's transmission fluid is just incredibly viscous oil.

You've got it backwards. Friction Modifiers are new, they invented them recently to make cars get better gas mileage. The problem with friction modifiers is that they make your wet clutch slip too much, it works too good and your clutch won't "grab" while coated in the stuff. So bikes with dry clutches would be just fine with car oils, but bikes with wet clutches, like the gsx650f, will work better without friction modifiers in it's oil. So it does not stand to reason, you've gotten it entirely backwards. Old oils didn't have the stuff.

From what I've read/been told, any oil with the JASO MA spec printed on the bottle has no inhibitors and is fine for motorcycles with wet clutches. This includes M1 Synthetics and Shell Rotella T6 (synthetic) -- I use synthetics.

Any disputing that?

And thanks for the response(s)!

That is correct. JASO (Japan Automotive Standards Organization, like the SAE of the USA) has different standards for different types, like MA and FC. MA is the one you want, it's the Motorcycle four stroke wet clutch version and FC is for two stroke bikes and I believe there is a MB version for a dry clutch standards like Ducatis, Moto Guzzis, BMWs, and older Harleys and newer suped up Harleys with dry clutch plates for more torque. So anything that says JASO-MA is good for your bike (the GSX650F).