Suitable Engine Oils

[northern]

Do not just look is the motor oil mineral, semi synthetic or synthetic. It doesnt mean "anything".
Look allso what additives oil has and how much.
Zinc is one of oldest additives against wearing, but modern oils, ment to catalysator engines cant have it enough.
My opinion is that you should have at minimum 1000ppm zink in your oil.
Both of oils I mentioned have zink around 1300ppm, and I had no wearing in my camshafts during 200 000km.
Study allso API and JASO service grades.

Jussi, Interesting to know, you are using mineral oil on your turbo 14. I would never think so. But I see your point.
I'm using Motul 7100 (before used 5100), and I do not have any issue with it. But I have to admit, I do not have such long term test as you do.

Just today, I listen a podcast regarding engine oil testing. One of the points there was - it's impossible to give 100% accurate and objective test result's regarding how oil will behave in engine. For example - did you know what oil viscosity grade is measured at atmospheric pressure (I did not). And where is the atmospheric pressure in the running engine?
As an example in this podcast, there was a experiment, when oil samples were sent to 20 different top US and Japan laboratories, and the they get 20 different results...

My point is, there is no way we will know for sure, what oil will be best for engine and which will be slightly less good.

I search internet and find, what Motul 7100 zinc level is above 1000ppm. It's some test reports for new and used oil. But I don not know, can we trust this measurements or not
https://goo.gl/H5vnWG

P.S. during the search, I find https://bobistheoilguy.com/ , to which I plan to pay some attention later. It could be interesting.

[RickC]

I'm running Castrol RX Super in mine after reading a post on the old org, it linked to a thread on Bob the Oil Guys site where Diesel Truck oil outperformed Motol at the end of a 5000km run in the same motorcycle.

[seth]

just 1 thing to remember in other vehicles oil use
i don't think and car / van / lorry have the same oil going through the gearbox like bikes do.
the oil in those motors mainly gets dirty and lubs surfaces
bike oil gets its long chain molecules shredded by the gear box.

[KiwiCol]

The original Mini had engine & gearbox together, just like a bike. From memory, there wasn't a 'special' oil needed for them, least I never used one anyway.


Just sayin like. . .

[T 24]

This is endless discussion. Everybody is allowed to believe what they want. If super hyper quality and very expensive motorcycle & space ship lubricant feels good, it is OK to me.
Remember the viscosity and service grade (from owners manual). What additives and how much is important. And capability to tolerate impurity = keep engine clean.
And remember to change oils and filters in time. 14 will accept almost every motor oil. It is not a racing engine, it is closer to tractor.

[Sweaty]

i wouldn't use a mineral oil in a gsx1400 engine
it's designed to use semi synthetic oil

Seth
Just wanted to point out, that the manual does not state "semi synthetic"
So is actually designed for mineral use.
I use full synthetic, but just wanted to set the record straight for others (unless I am missing something)

[Tug]

https://www.ducatimeccanica.com/oil.html

interesting read

[seth]

i wouldn't use a mineral oil in a gsx1400 engine
it's designed to use semi synthetic oil

Seth
Just wanted to point out, that the manual does not state "semi synthetic"
So is actually designed for mineral use.
I use full synthetic, but just wanted to set the record straight for others (unless I am missing something)

i never checked i was told by my local suzuki deal that the engine was designed to use semi synthetic oil.
a cheap skate friend of mine used mineral oil in his kawazaki zrx1100(got the oil free from his work) and at 40000 miles the cam lobes were worn away (a weak piont on those motors) as mineral oil couldn't protect them cost him £2000 to get it all fixed.
at 50000 miles our 14's still look like new inside .

[KiwiCol]

Snap Seth, my local Suzuki shop said the same to me, "any 10w40 semi will be fine".

[Steve]

For me its not so much about will motor last till 200000k's, I expect its quite possible, I will bin it by then anyhow. Its more about how it feels and I can say things felt a hell of a lot more smoother using fully synthetic rather than semi. Im talking about the gearbox and gear changes more so than the motor. I wouldnt go back. Just my 2c

[Timothy Spencer]

I have been using Rock Oil Guardian Semi Synth 10W40 in my 14 for so long now I cannot remember how long. Just coming up to 45000 miles and never a problem. 4 litres for around £25 at the moment seems good to me too.

[grog]

synnex 3000 gulf western, works for me. ive tried lots.

[Timothy Spencer]

I believe that spending higher sums of money on parts, oils etc can have a psychosomatic effect as you know its in there. I evidence this with a mate who was convinced that his brakes were better after a service by a dealer but after closer examination they had not been touched. He assumed that they had been as they had been stripped and cleaned and had new pads the year before!
BMW have been fooling people for years with their somehow higher perceived quality of the whole bike, causing the owners to go into "Smug Mode" but, evidence does not show it to be the case.

[Hooli]

Halfords own 10-40w bike semi seems to work ok. Gives me the smoothest sounding engine of any oil I've tried & these pics are after 108k, seems pretty good to me.





I only had the cam journal off to fit a thread insert to it for the cam cover bolts. Valve clearances are identical to when I first checked them at 15k too.

[KiwiCol]

2 pics = 2000 words.