Optional Fork Oils - (Re-hash of an old posting)

[Scooterbob]

Is this a viable option??? http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=664.0   

It seems too good to be true, compared to the expensive "fork oils".  Sorry if I'm beating the dead horse. 

[Travis398]

Is this a viable option??? http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=664.0   

It seems too good to be true, compared to the expensive "fork oils".  Sorry if I'm beating the dead horse. 

i know my owners manual says SAE 10W30 type SE motor oil is the recommended oil (after yamaha fork oil)

so i would guess ATF would be okay, but is that really much cheaper than fork oil?

[Scooterbob]

Quart of Castrol ATF is about $4.00. Quart of Yamaha Fork Oil is $13.38. So at at 1/3 the price it's an option I'm considering. 

[Arnie]

Be aware that there are 3 different viscosities of ATF.
Choose the one you want. 


Chrysler ATF+3 = 10W

Dextron 3/Mercon = 15W

Type F = 20W

Cheers,
Arnie

[Scooterbob]

Any significant downside to using one of these instead?

[turbocamino]

Any significant downside to using one of these instead?

I just installed the chrysler ATF (10wt) along with my new springs....all seems well...ride quality is  normal....I like the fact that ATF has very good cleaning quality's and should keep whatever valves are in the forks clean and working smoothly...i did,at first,notice just a hint of a red haze on my tubes,just above the seals though....seems to have stopped after a few dozen miles. I would recommend it as an acceptable alternative.

[oldktmdude]

 My 1981 Honda Cb900f workshop manual lists ATF as an alternate oil to the recommended fork oil. If my memory serves me correctly, I used to run ATF in my 1980 Kawasaki Z1r as well. A couple years ago I rebuilt a set of forks for a mates Yamaha DT200 and the manual also listed ATF as an alternative. When you think about it, an auto transmission and power steering system has a lot of heat to deal with, so it should work well in a set of forks. Like Arnie said, be sure to pick the correct type of ATF the suit your needs.  Regards, Peter.

[Scooterbob]

Looks to be like I'm going to go with an ATF-15W, since I'm a rather "large" guy.  Thanks for all the feedback.