Newbie has an oil question

[brush]

Newbie here. I know oil discussions can become religious in nature and I apologize if this has been discussed to death, but I'm looking too see if there are any special precautions I should start taking with respect to oil choice. I've always used what was handy at the time, but recently it occurred to me that my trusty 1986  FJ is 27 years old and all the API ratings in effect when it was new are now obsolete, and current oils may no longer have the formulations that the Yamaha engineers took for granted back in 1986.  Feel free to send me to existing threads  if there are already  long ones. I did use the search but the results I found did not delve into this question. Thanks.

[keand3]

As you pointed out, oil threads could become religious and there is almost as many preference as it is oil brands.
I too have 86 FJ1200 and I tend to stick with a premium brand and high quality synthetic oil. Not loyal to any particular brand just the quality, that's what i find works best for my bike... 

Ken

[rktmanfj]

Of course it has, it's a motorcycle site...    

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4010.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=9202.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=6989.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=8417.0

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=7822.0

Etcetera, etc, etc.

Welcome!

[roverfj1200]

I feel that the FJ being a old bike will enjoy oil that mimics the vintage.

Cheers

[andyb]

Any oil marked with the words "Energy Conserving" should be avoided.  Past that, almost all oils have been used with reasonable results by someone or another.  The engine doesn't care all that much, but the clutch can get fussy in a hurry.  No oil will do much good no matter how expensive or specially designed for the purpose if the level is low of the condition is excessively poor.  I use cheap 10w40, change it frequently, and check it religiously.  Upon a teardown after 15,000mi of this (and another ~10k or so of lord knows what from the prior owner), the motor was in quite good shape as far as the bearings and cylinder walls, despite heavy dragstrip use.

[ribbert]

......I'm looking too see if there are any special precautions I should start taking with respect to oil choice.

It doesn't really matter.

As a mechanic I get to see inside engines and transmissions after many miles.
Wear is more associated with the type of use than the choice of oil.

Avoid short trips, don't leave it idling to warm up, don't start it with a big rev, change oil regularly (with filter), treat it respectfully until up to temp and don't let the level drop below the bottom line.
All of the above will have a greater influence of engine longevity than oil choice.

My own view is I'm not too fussed about synthetic in an engine but don't like it in the gearbox and it has a tendency to make the clutch slip. At twice the price I can't see any justification for it, nor have long term observations made any case for it's use.

Many people here will swear they can "feel" all manner of improvements with synth. That in itself makes it a good choice for them, and it can't hurt.

Noel

[chiz]

An article in Motorcycle Mechanics that caused me to buy this 84 stated that the FJ don't like no fancy oils a good 10/50 mineral oil is the trick and recommended Morris oil designed for older bikes which was similar in many respects to good diesel oil. I use diesel engine lubricant in all of my bikes.
Lez

[movenon]

An article in Motorcycle Mechanics that caused me to buy this 84 stated that the FJ don't like no fancy oils a good 10/50 mineral oil is the trick and recommended Morris oil designed for older bikes which was similar in many respects to good diesel oil. I use diesel engine lubricant in all of my bikes.
Lez

+1 for the diesel oil. I change oil way to much anyhow... +1 for the spin on oil filter http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=spinonfilteradapter&cat=39.. Makes the job, fast, easy, cleaner and filters available almost everywhere. "gateway drug to mod's" fjmonkey.....
George

[ribbert]

An article in Motorcycle Mechanics that caused me to buy this 84 stated that the FJ don't like no fancy oils a good 10/50 mineral oil is the trick and recommended Morris oil designed for older bikes which was similar in many respects to good diesel oil. I use diesel engine lubricant in all of my bikes.
Lez

Well if it can stop a Rocket 3 flying apart you've won me.

Noel

[chiz]

Oh come on now ..not nice.
Chiz

[brush]

Thanks for all the links. I'll read through them. I've always been a proponent of the change-it-often school. What got me concerned was reading a few articles circulating around the hot-rodding community about how reductions in  zinc (ZDDP) and other antiwear additives for EPA reasons were causing early destruction of cams and cam followers in older flat tappet engines. It seems like each successive evolution of the API classification has less and less zinc. I think because it "poisons"  catalytic converters. Lately I've been using diesel oils in my FJ (mostly Rotella), but I thought I'd check in with the community here to see if there was some consensus on whether the new crop of oils poses any problems.

[ribbert]

Oh come on now ..not nice.
Chiz

A bit of fun. I've had 5 of them (BSA's, not Rocket 3's), all of them much older though. The newest one was a 1956 Golden Flash.

Noel

[chiz]

Sure I get  it, they do tend to fly apart though if revs are exceeded getting some stronger rods for insurance.
Chiz

[FJ Flyer]

Might also depend on when and where you ride.  I ride all year, and the temp can be in the teens in the garage when I leave for work during the winter months.  I go with the synthetic as they tend to flow better in the cold.

Not sure about the additives the hot rodders are worried about, as they might not be good for the clutch, anyway.  

As others have said, keep it topped off, change it and the oil filter regularly.

[Picopower]

I belong to the NGW club forum, cause I also ride a gl1000, and there seems
To be a big following of shell rotatella 15/40 diesel oil for their bikes.
It's inexpensive, under $13 a gallon on sale at oreillys once in a while.
So I use it in the FJ. I was surprised about how many use it. So far so good.