Castrol Syntec Oil

[SlowOldGuy]

Chill Dan, that was directed at Randy's comments.  

I was trying to work in a reference to DOT 5 brake fluid, but it wasn't working.  :-)

And I'll admit that I screwed up and used the regular diesel oil, not the synthetic.  I noticed the synthetic diesel oil is just as expensive as Mobil 1 at WallyWorld.

Maybe I should start using the quote function more often , but I'm really tired of seeing a three page quote for a one line comment. (That's not directed at you either).

DavidR.

[carsick]

I'll admit that I screwed up and used the regular diesel oil, not the synthetic. 
DavidR.

Eh, how so? Bad experience with the 15w-40 Rotella?

[rktmanfj]

I was trying to work in a reference to DOT 5 brake fluid, but it wasn't working.  :-)
DavidR.

Keep workin' on that...     

And I'll admit that I screwed up and used the regular diesel oil, not the synthetic.  I noticed the synthetic diesel oil is just as expensive as Mobil 1 at WallyWorld.

DavidR.

I accidentally bought the silver jug (dino/synth blend?) Rotella at WM recently, but caught it before it made it into the FJ.  I noticed the price change, too, and have gone back to Mobil1 in about everything.

Maybe I should start using the quote function more often , but I'm really tired of seeing a three page quote for a one line comment. (That's not directed at you either).

DavidR.

The long quotes don't really bug me unless someone keeps posting their replies into the quote box (not mentioning any names (but dammit, there's a fcuking preview button, why not use it), or there's several replies that each include an OP's 42 pics (no matter how kewl they are).

You guys are lucky you've been running that Castrol crap in those 1st gen prototype FJs...   

[Dan Filetti]

Chill Dan...

Your post timing, right after mine, had me reacting.  My bad.  

Consider me chilled.

I'm really tired of seeing a three page quote for a one line comment.

Don'tcha miss the old yahoo '<snip>' action every once in a while?

Dan

[1tinindian]

I know these oil topic can really get the blood pumping, but I have .2 cents I like to add.

I work at a GM dealership that is also the local VW dealer, and the VWs are required by manufacture, to use Castrol products including Syntec.

The dedicated VW mechanics have very little regard for the quality of Castrol products after woking on VWs for several years, with one of the comments comparing it with the sludge problems seen with Pennzoil.

I'm not expecting my post to carry any weight on the subject, as it's just an observation from mechanics that have seen the effects of its use over several years.

For me, personally, I'm totally happy using Yamalube in the FJ, and Mobil and Mobil 1 in my cars and trucks.

[Harvy]

Wow, Lee C is going to be very disappointed.

DavidR.

Lee is not the only one David. I've never used anything else, and never had a problem - and it don't burn oil or have to top it off between changes either.

Harvy

[billwest]

I'm going with Shell Rimula 3X over here.  It is similar to the Rotella, and a 15W40.  It does not have the JASO-MA spec.  However I have sofar used it in my ZZR1200 and ZRX1200, and have no clutch slippage at all.  What I do have is smoother gear shifts, a quiet engine, and the stuff contains more of what motocycles like.  It is dinosaur oil, and cheaper.
It will go in to the FJ when it is due for an oil change.

Bill.

[RichBaker]

I've been using Castrol Syntec for 8 or so years, had the valve cover off a month ago, no signs of sludge...... everything looked clean and fresh in there. I change oil and filter ~5k mile intervals. She needed the gasket & grommets changed, badly. I spent a couple hours cleaning the old oily dust crud off everything before I pulled the cover...... pretty ugly.  haven't used any oil since then.... 

[FJTillDeath]

My notice on using whatever oils is currently in the machine: the shifting if done incorrectly is horrible and when downshifting past neutral into first it sort of whirrs. whatever it is it is not smooth and the gears sometimes sound like they are grating(much like u would find in a car) it very well may be castrol currently in the machine. as to how old it is I wouldnt know. but this weekend i will definiotely clean up and put the new oil in and maybe a filter if i get time to.

I am sort of concerned by the sound the shifting sometimes makes as sometimes the bike runs very smoothly but at times not so smoothly. Mind you I may need to clean the carbs and jet them properly still.

Other great news, the bike starts up easy every day now in freezing cold and very wet conditions so im tempted to set the idler down a smidgen again. Other than that I will relube the chain now that its stopped pissing with rain. AND when december comes with the 13th cheque I will give the fJ some much loved upgrades and a real good service

I can see that these debaits do spark quite some interest though. The castrol was to my impression very good and reliable (not the gtx and their lower range stuff) and its also the easiest to find..


I will investigate the clutch this weekend and see if Arnie's suspicions are correct.

[turbocamino]

my 2 cents....like most here,i have had several bikes (actually,to many to count) and like most here we all have our good experiences and bad.   After alot of reading tests about the sheer rates of oil (caused by the trans constantly chewing up the oil) and consequent breakdown of viscosity it appears that synthetics win every test....Rotella synthetic came out with high marks (in bikes)on a variety of these tests, as i recall,and in my bike it has made a marked improvement in shifting smoothness...better than any dino oil i have ever used without question. One last point of interest....in my Z1-kaw. turbo dragbike.....we where killing turbo bearings almost every race..maybe 4-6 passes tops,  primarily because the Z1's have such low oil pressure... we did try most all conventional oils you can name...didnt matter.... Syntec had  just came out so we tried that and it was a god send as we then made the complete season ! on one bearing !  no lie.   

[srutherford]

my honest opinion i worry about using non motorcycle specific oil. i run valvoline 10/40 moto oil cheap and to the point plus my old bike smokes like a train when started and a slit dribble on the pavement every once and a while. scarred the hell out of me at first i even think i lost sleep hahaha but she seems like the same old rocket to me. just one hell of a bike i tell ya that

[rktmanfj]

<<smokes like a train when started and a slit dribble>>

Something about that just doesn't sound right.     

[srutherford]

Valve stem seals I belive only when its cold .and clutch pushrod seal

[1tinindian]

Valve stem seals I belive only when its cold .and clutch pushrod seal

ahh....NO.
What I think Randy was referring to was your "slit" dribble.!

[srutherford]

Slit dribble hahaha.  Slight dribble of oil srry my phone will make up words