::..Full Synth - when..? Dry Sump - does underfill or overfill matter..?..::

[AL-58]

Regarding overfilling, on one of the TDM850s (also Dry sump but with an external tank) it was poossible to split the tank due to pressurization if it was overfilled. The Super Tenere has its storage inside the engine cases (thats what I understand anyway), so no idea what effect it might have.

Re oil use I had an '84 XJ900 Yam, it burned oil when ridden hard but never used much when used for commuting, a '91 TDM850 (iron sleeves) burned some oil it's whole life, '02 TDM900 (coated bores) - never used a drop; I expect the 1200 will be much the same. I'm old school with the synth changeover, would rather get some miles on the motor before considering it. My R1100 used to just ooze oil out of the motor when running synthetic so she went back to mineral oil and never leaked again.

Al

 

[Rasher]

I tend to follow the theory of breaking in on mineral and not riding too slowly during the break in period, a local tuner (decent guy who had worked on IOM bikes/ GP Bikes / Rally Cars etc) told me many years ago to "load the motor up", this is not thrashing or labouring but just using the engine properly, he reckoned rolling on and off in top is a good way as opposed to keeping a steady pace, about twenty years later I came across this:

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

It makes sense to me, and may be why Yamaha recommend early miles on mineral oil.

 

[terryth]

My take on this discrepancy between the EU and US intervals is that in Europe motorcycles are much more of a transportation device where as in the US motorcycles are more of a hobby device and generally get used for less mileage more intermittently hence the shorter interval.

and then there's the age old debate of oil change interval. The book calls for every 4000 miles on oil and, heaven forbid, every 8000 miles for the filter. EEK!!!!!!


Now this is interesting - the Euro service manual calls for oil change every 6000 miles, filter every 12000. But the US owners manual specifies the intervals above. Interesting right? So I guess the moral of the story is to refer to your owners manual for the basics (even if you have the Euro service manual), and get the US service manual when it becomes available...

 

[stevepsd]

Now this is interesting - the Euro service manual calls for oil change every 6000 miles, filter every 12000. But the US owners manual specifies the intervals above. Interesting right? So I guess the moral of the story is to refer to your owners manual for the basics (even if you have the Euro service manual), and get the US service manual when it becomes available...

To bring up a old thread....the 6000 miles in the Euro service manual is NOT miles, but KILOMETERS! Guess what, 6000Km is just under 4000 miles! So it's the same!

Lets not get confused about the whole Imperial/Metric measurement systems or it will be the Mars Climate Orbiter crash all over again! http://articles.cnn.com/1999-09-30/tech/9909_30_mars.metric.02_1_climate-orbiter-spacecraft-team-metric-system?_s=PM:TECH

 

[stevepsd]

Oh yeah, I run fully synthetic 15W-50 Mobil One.

 

[tc9988]

To bring up a old thread....the 6000 miles in the Euro service manual is NOT miles, but KILOMETERS! Guess what, 6000Km is just under 4000 miles! So it's the same!

Lets not get confused about the whole Imperial/Metric measurement systems or it will be the Mars Climate Orbiter crash all over again! http://articles.cnn.com/1999-09-30/tech/9909_30_mars.metric.02_1_climate-orbiter-spacecraft-team-metric-system?_s=PM:TECH

Euro Service manual oil change is 10000KM (6000miles)

 

[stevepsd]

Euro Service manual oil change is 10000KM (6000miles)

Right you are!

Guess I should have checked....but since 6000KM is just about 4000miles....I thought thats where the discrepancy was...

but the NASA Mars probe story is still true!

 

[Yamaguy55]

I'm going to stick with the JASO MA oils. The MA spec came out specifically due to the differences in oil requirements for motorcycles that lube the clutch, and also the transmission, with the engine oil. The info, and disinformation, concerning oil for bikes could fill a very large building. But too thin oil, and oil not designed for the "chopping" effect of gearboxes, and the lube requirements of clutches are not lightweight items to be ignored. The reverse is also true: using too thick of a grade can cause everything from oil starvation to power robbing fluid friction.

Another thing: beware on using too thin oil: synthetic or not, the 0W oils aren't for transmission gears. 5W is pushing it unless it is spec'd by the manufacturer. The engine bearings and pistons are fine, it is what gears do to oil that makes them less than ideal.

This is of course less of an issue to those living in a more temperate year round climate, one without large temperature swings and extremes. I would have little to no use for 20W50 here, but I can certainly see 10W30.

Generally I use the Mobil 1 10W40 Racing 4T (formerly MX4T), and have never had any problems with it. And it is JASO MA. It really slicks up the gearbox, although on the Tenere, that really isn't much of an issue; other bikes have less cooperative transmissions, and it does make a difference. There are other equally good, and perhaps some better oils, but it is readily available here and works like a charm for me. And it absolutely meets factory spec, so it will never be a warranty issue for the nit pickers of this world..

 

[fender5803]

Is there reason to worry much about overfilling with oil. Not much but maybe half a quart or a little less-?
Thanks,
dt

Boy o boy did I not mean half a quart overfilled. I meant half a pint at the most. I tried to measure when I changed the oil but gave up trying as I didnt have a measuring cup really .... It was over filled by a bit and now I have figured out the dry sump system, I think. Did a oil change with filter and added the Yamaha spec amount (3.66 quarts) and it was perfect. I did add another couple ounces the next day. The sight glass seems to read a little bit high one day and a little bit low the next day but I know the correct amount is in the system.

 

[Tremor38]

I'm going to stick with the JASO MA oils.

Definitely. We may have a dry sump system but the clutch is still wet. I have a friend who runs car synth in his Beemer, but that clutch is dry.

 

[hANNAbONE]

FYI : I didn't measure precisely on an oil fill at 1000 miles.

I had probably filled it with closer to 4 quarts nothing more.

I had an oil blowby - some "leakage" from somewhere around the top of the motor.

Perhaps, the air cleaner, perhaps someplace else. Definitely not a seal or anything like that.

I drew some out of the system, and got it to the prescribed amount.

Did a +1000 mile weekend recently and no problems. No burning of oil, no leakage, no use of oil at all.

So - FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - do not overfill the oil. Put in the prescribed amount only.

YMMV

Let's MOTO.!!

 

[~TABASCO~]

I run the ROTELLA 5-40 Blue jug SYN... works great !! The oil fill up is a little tricky though.... ::025::

 

[eemsreno]

Generally I use the Mobil 1 10W40 Racing 4T (formerly MX4T), and have never had any problems with it. And it is JASO MA. It really slicks up the gearbox, although on the Tenere, that really isn't much of an issue; other bikes have less cooperative transmissions, and it does make a difference. There are other equally good, and perhaps some better oils, but it is readily available here and works like a charm for me. And it absolutely meets factory spec, so it will never be a warranty issue for the nit pickers of this world..

These are my very thoughts,

 

[newventurer]

"Generally I use the Mobil 1 10W40 Racing 4T (formerly MX4T), and have never had any problems with it. And it is JASO MA. It really slicks up the gearbox, although on the Tenere, that really isn't much of an issue; other bikes have less cooperative transmissions, and it does make a difference. There are other equally good, and perhaps some better oils, but it is readily available here and works like a charm for me. And it absolutely meets factory spec, so it will never be a warranty issue for the nit pickers of this world.."

YamaGuy55 - How many miles do you get between changes (filter)?