energy saving oil

Is all oil that has an energy-saving emblem on the back bad for my 85 xj700? I have been using pennzoil 10w-30 and must have missed the insignia. (it's not hard to miss). Clutch seems fine allbeit a little clunky which I have been told is normal.

Thanks

 

I use 4 stroke oil by valvoline get it at autozone. not going to mess around with anything other than motorcycle 4 stroke oil .

 

what does the energy-saving oil do detrimentally?

 

Energy saving oils contain friction modifiers. They are great in car engines and in bikes without a wet clutch or starter clutch, but they are not to be used in bike engines that have wet clutches. What happens is the friction modifiers work to reduce friction in the engine...and well a clutch relies entirely on friction. It will make your clutch slip and any amount of slippage will glaze the discs and can ruin a good clutch in a very short period of time. Several others on the forum have had problems where their starter clutches fail to engage also. Long story short...use motorcycle oil that is compatible with wet clutches or Shell Rotella/Mobil Delvac diesel oil. If you do not you WILL be sorry.

 

I found out after I put in Quaker State 10w-40 from wal-mart, rode it for
about 15 miles, dumped the oil out and put in Valvoline motorcycle oil.
Wheter or not it did any damage, don't know.
Stick with motorcyle formulated oil only.

 

I'm glad I asked. I just hope I haven't done any damage.

Thanks guys

 

Many of us have never put a "motorcycle oil" in our bikes.

Energy conserving oils are alleged to have caused some clutch problems.

There are a lot of bikes on the road that have been quite happy for an awful lot of miles using Castrol GTX 20w50, Shell Rotella T 15w40 or Rotella T Synthetic 5w40.

10w30 is a bit light unless you are running in very low temperatures.

 

+1 for what MiCarl said but watch even those oils. It has been reported the Castrol 20W50 has been seen with the additives although I still find it without here. I would check anytime you purchase oil just to be safe.

I had a lot of starter clutch problems with synthetic but none since switching back to Castol

 

At my local AutoZone, "car" Castrol 20W50 now has a little logo, "now with sludge-fighting additives" or somesuch. They have also begun carrying Castrol "4T" 20W50 motorcycle oil (which comes in liters.) I used to always run the "car" oil but it never used to have any goofy additives in it, either (at least none that they were trumpeting about.) So now I'm using their motorcycle oil instead.

 

Fitz the Castrol I have been using says that too but no issues so far. Does not have the friction modifiers though.

 

If your Clutch is "Clunking" when you put it in gear; take an hour and go-over all the Cable Adjusting Points and get it so you don't have any excessive slack in the Cable.

You can Fine-Tune your Clutch Adjustment.
If you have Clunking into Gear. Red Light Creeping. Neutral Fight and skip ...
Fine-tuning the Clutch Cable to be at the edge of "Slack Free" and letting you have the FULL (Maximum amount) of Throw-Out will do the trick.

The Whole Setup depends on the Thumb Wheel and Knurl Cable Adjustment on the Perch being Adjusted right to let you Tweak the Cable Slack.

 

So "energy saving" is the giveaway on the friction modifier crap? That's good to know, but since AZ and others in the area started carrying the "4T" I figured I'd stick with that.

 

I'm going by the energy saver label they stick on the back. The Castrol I get does not have it..

 

Hello. I ran across this thread while searching for oil topics and this looks like a good place to ask my question instead of starting a new thread. I bought some oil but am now concerned about it. I bought Valvoline 10W40 Motorcycle 4 stroke oil. It does not mention energy saving or friction modifiers and I don't see the emblem mentioned above. It does say "Superior wet clutch protection for maximum power transfer and smooth shifting" When I was in the store (Autozone) this statement made me all warm and fuzzy inside, but after reading some oil threads, I am not sure. Is this good oil for my Xj650?

 

"

This says it all.
You are fine.
It's just a matter of preference at that point.

 

Hound is right, that's good stuff. However I'd go to a 20W40 or 20W50 if you're in a warm climate, or once the weather warms up if you're not.

 

Rule of thumb.


When riding in temps above 40°f use 20w40 yamalube or oil manufactured for motorcycles / TYPE SE OIL

use 10w30 in temps below 60°f / TYPE SE- again oil used in motorcycles.