Engine oil

[PaulG]

Here is the ultimate oil thread by a lubricant engineer. Viewed over 54,000 times. I learned a few things.  http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=1912.0

  I tried to read through this thread but had to stop after 5 min.  Insightful, yes.  But if the manual says 10W40 or whatever, then.... put in 10W40 mineral or synthetic and enough with the navel gazing.  No offence to any members here who may own a Ducati (I wish I had an old 900SS   ), but it sounds like a philosophical forum on the tengentinal effects of reciprocating mass and it's effects on the Id of the Desmodici Italia Publica.   

I mean, there are people who get paid big bucks to design these things to run at incomprehensible tolerances who tell us with confidence through proven R&D that we should use this-or-that.  Why second guess it?  They were even nice enough to emboss it on the oil cap or engine casing as a reminder...   

I'll stop as I feel a ramble coming on - I just got over a 72 hr food poisoning episode and now insomnia so I've had about 12 hrs sleep in the last 5 days and if you've noticed I've been replying to a lot of posts lately 'cuz I feel like I'm hyped up on goofballs and this is a run-on sentance so I will sign off for a couple of days before my head explodes.... 

[ribbert]

+1
I've been using engine oil for the last 90,000kms in the FJ and have been very happy with the results.
It copes well in all conditions, doesn't adversely affect the clutch and the engine loves it.

I highly recommend it.

Noel

[Bearly Flying]

I would be very careful of using current "Engine Oil", most of the new spec "engine oils" have friction modifiers additive, and reduced Zinc levels to meet EPA requirements. The Friction modifiers are not going to do your clutch any favors, and the reduced Zinc levels are not good for your cam, especially if you are running a high lift profile.

When the FJ was designed, it called for an Oil meeting the SE designation, just because there are newer Oil's on the market it doesn't mean it will meet Your bikes requirements.

Zinc is one of the components that protects wear surfaces, such as cam lobes. But zinc is bad for the modern day catalytic converters, so the EPA has mandated reductions in the level of zinc in motor oils. When the FJ was designed zinc levels were normally around 1200 ppm, now most modern oils are around 600 ppm.

Good old Shell Rotella T 15W 40 Diesel Engine Oil will be as good as any Snake Oil that you can get, easy to come by and cheap.