SuzukiSavage.com - Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?

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Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
08/04/09 at 04:00:38

Hi all,

I've had the nagging problem of the oil leak hear and there, I read some of the posts about the plug, but I have a question of another sort.
A friend of mine, who's a mechanic, told me it might be a good idea to switch from 10w40 to 15w50 to decrease the leaks. At my last oil change, I also put in a can of Wynn's Supercharge.
I must say it helped for about a tank or two, then, the problems were back. Since it's fairly hot out here for the moment and i drive the bike around town mostly, would it be a very bad idea to change the 10w40 with a thicker 15w50. Will it cure some of the leaking?
I usually start the bike and let it warm up for a minute or 2 every morning before I start riding, so the engine has a little time to warm up and I don't rev it madly when it's cold.
What's your opinion?
Pierre
Brussels
1990 4-speed

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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #1 - 08/04/09 at 05:26:09 I run 20w50 in mine.Seems ok.I lived in Dallas,20w50 looked like water after a ride.Even in Ohio it's what I run.
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PTRider

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #2 - 08/04/09 at 07:33:28

No problem with the 15W-50. That's what I use all the time.

The only way to fix an oil leak is to FIX it--find the problem and repair it. You didn't put the whole can of Wynn's Super "Charge" in the bike engine, did you? That stuff only thickens oil, it doesn't lubricate as well as oil lubricates. I wouldn't use any, and I certainly wouldn't use more than the amount recommended per liter of oil.

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BrusselsSavage

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #3 - 08/04/09 at 08:03:43

Hi PTRider,
Thanks for your input.
I do appreciate that I should fix the leak, but this is my daily workhorse, bought for a song and probably on its last leg. I don't have the means or even the tools to do a whole rebuild, so I'm patching things up as I go. I have a big cruiser for longer rides with the missus.
From what I was told, I should replace the piston rings, which let the oil back up, but the mechanic friend I know didn't know anything about the plug cap. I'm trying to find out more about that. This guy says I would need to basically strip the engine and while it's open, I should take advantage of that to do this this and that. That would cost me twice what the bike cost me, so I'm a bit reluctant.
However, if the plug cap replacement is as straightforward as I hear it is, then I would gladly do that. In the meantime, I'm trying to keep the leaking to a minimum, so I'll start by switching to 15W50 this weekend.
Any thoughts?

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dasch

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #4 - 08/04/09 at 08:35:18

I ran Mobile1 15W50 in a GS Suzuki years ago for few years. That's what I have in Savage now, I believe. Car oil, needless to say. Can't see any problems. It will not fix the leak.
On the other hand, knowing your situation, I had an old diesel VW I drove for 4 years with adding a liter of cheap oil every 1000Km or so. A cheap workhorse, it's what it was. Unless you are a dedicated environmentalist, go for it. Or sell the savage and buy a better workhorse.

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #5 - 08/04/09 at 08:42:22 Why not go to 20/50 I use that ,I live in wisconsin,If 15/50 helps 20/50 will help it more.
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BrusselsSavage

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #6 - 08/07/09 at 04:02:32

If I put 20w50, do I need to worry about putting an additive for the clutch, as it doesn't say that this oil is for motorbikes. I'm told car oil does not have the additive that is present in motorbike oil. Is that a load of BS or should I worry about that? If I do need to put in an additive, what would you folks recommend?
Cheers
Pierre

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serenity3743 Serious Thumper Offline Striving to better, oft we mar what's well Posts: 778 Black Mountain, NC Gender:	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #7 - 08/07/09 at 05:15:27 Yes, you should worry about that. Car oil is not for motorcycles which have a a wet clutch like the Savage does. But motorcycle shops should have 20W-50 oil. All the ones I shop do.
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BrusselsSavage YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 15	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #8 - 08/07/09 at 05:45:19 Is there an additive I can... well, add to the oil? The price for 20w50 bike oil in a nearby motorshop is 4 times more expensive than the "car" oil. Any thoughts?
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dasch

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #9 - 08/07/09 at 06:11:20

I tried long time ago, and it worked. Car oil, I mean. Mobil1 20W50 full synth, NASCAR rated... I am still on it. I also used 10W40 Castrol GTX (white bottle, cheap) - and it worked! I heard from a friend that Castrol Magnatec caused his CBR's clutch to slip. His CBR has around 120HP Rear wheel.
Man, give it a try. If nothing - at least you know. If we continue we will open the bottle. There's a war between "car" and "bike" oil users online.

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BrusselsSavage

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #10 - 08/07/09 at 06:27:09

Actually, I checked in my garage and what I've been using for the past year or so, is 10w40 car oil (there's no fancy drawing of a bike on it at least) but now that I hear a mention of clutch slippage, I've noticed in the past month or so, that there's slippage when I take off from the lights (in a hurry most of the time). Could it be that the car oil with no clutch additive is already making my clutch slip? I have nowhere near 120 bhp at the rear wheel, as you know, but the slippage can indeed be felt.
Also, is it a good idea to go with full synthetic oil in my semi-worn and already leaking Savage engine? Undecided

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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #11 - 08/07/09 at 06:50:13 It could be the oil, yes. It could also be that your clutch plates burned No, full synth would probably not be a good idea in yours, price wise. It works like a charm in mine.
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BrusselsSavage

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Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40?
Reply #12 - 08/07/09 at 07:01:50

Actually, I changed the clutch plate last year, and before I changed it, I had ridden the bike for about 6-7.000 km without noticing anything. And now, 2-3000 km later, I can feel some slippage. So either the bike is REALLY on its last leg overall, or the car oil REALLY was bad for this clutch plate (I bought basic (read cheapish but not the cheapest) 10w40 in 5 liter cans). but since there is a fairly important oil seepage, I keep topping up, a little bit every weekend.
I've got synthetic oil in a more recent big twin and that works like a charm, no leak, nothing but I'm a but apprehensive to put synthetic oil albeit 20w50 in this ol' thumper.

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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #13 - 08/07/09 at 08:11:22 ...well, than it's the oil causin' it. Or clutch springs gave in. Can't see what else, if you feel it slip. Drain that oil, try a different cheap brand, or feed it with that 20W50, you live only once, for heaven's sake
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dasch Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1137	Re: Oil. 15w50 instead of 10w40? Reply #14 - 08/07/09 at 08:15:06 But, but... wait a moment - you never said you top off based on the oil level in the window. Does the level actually drop in one week, or you add oil because you think it lost certain quantity???
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