There is a Tech Thread called RECOMMENDED OILS AND BOOSTERS




Just ask your questions and make your suggestions here in this thread.  To make it easier on you, here is a copy of the text of the locked Tech Thread.




This thread will be edited as new information becomes available.

Our Savage motorcycle uses an antique flat tappet split rocker system to actuate the valves.  Modern oils, motorcycle and car oils, are now formulated for catalytic converter equipped, fuel injected systems --
oil in general no longer has the levels of ZDDP necessary to support your 1987 designed Suzuki Savage.

There is still debate as to the true minimum needed ZDDP level for getting the best life out of the antique Savage cam and split fork rocker tappet system.  The current debated number is somewhere between 1,200 and 1,850 ppm of ZDDP with only the lesser number being available locally in a oil product without requiring the use of a mail order ZDDP booster (or a mail order oil).   Most of us boost the Rotella products as that is the least cost way to get up to the higher ZDDP levels.

The key thing here is for you to use the recommended high ZDDP oils (and ZDDP booster if you think you need it) as all of the currently bottled locally available "motorcycle oils" have abandoned the old Savage engine and are now formulated to meet the needs of catalytic converter equipped fuel injected motorcycles.  

Not following these recommendations may shorten the service life of your valve train and your valve guides.


RECOMMENDATION FOR LOCAL PURCHASE:

1)   JASO MA rated  (we ignore JASO MA2 and JASO MB as they don't really apply to the Savage motorcycle)
2)   Locally available at Advance Auto Parts, Autozone, O'Reilly, or Walmart.
3)   Contain a minimum of 1,200 ppm of ZDDP (or have more)
4)   Contains no moly or other energy star compounds to make your clutch slip
5)   Reasonable cost, less than $8.00 a quart for the dino products and less than $12 a quart for the synthetic products.
6)  A history of successful list use in the Savage motorcycle.

So far the Recommended list for local purchase stands at:

                     (pricing comes from Walmart)


Dino        -- Rotella T Triple Protection 15W40             $12.99 a gallon  
                                                                            ($3.25 a quart)

Synthetic -- Rotella T-6 5W40                                     $21.99 a gallon
                                                                            ($5.50 a quart)


We will add more oils as they become available and prove out by VOA and list testing.



ZDDP Boosters

Since there are so very few suitable oils any more we will also list the Recommended ZDDP boosters that the mgf. recommends for use in wet clutch motorcycle engines.   Most of these wet clutch friendly ZDDP boosters will require you to internet order them as they are not stocked locally.  

Please note:  Lucas ZDDP booster which is stocked locally is not recommended by Lucas for use in wet clutch motorcycle engines.  Ditto for Rislone ZDDP booster, Rislone won't recommend it for use in wet clutch motorcycle engines.


       
Redline Break In ZDDP Booster    $14.95 for 16 ounces   Specs are at http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=121&pcid=1  Free Amazon Prime shipping is at   http://www.amazon.com/Redline-81403-Engine-Break-In-Additive/dp/B00881GELC/re...




Eastwood ZDDP booster (and also their other brand name ZDDPlus).  These appear to be the same product by the same manufacturer, but generally the Eastwood brand name sells a few dollars cheaper and sometimes you can get free shipping on it from Eastwood.  




Check both brand names for the best pricing.

order here       http://www.eastwood.com/ew-zddp-oil-additive-4-oz.html
or here            http://www.amazon.com/ZDDP-Engine-Additive-Zinc-Phosphorus/dp/B003FWUWBM/ref=...
or ZDDPlus      http://www.amazon.com/ZDDPPlus-ZDDP-Engine-Additive-Phosphorus/dp/B002RNBO3U/...



NEW LISTING:   AMAZON.COM PRIME (FREE SHIPPING) OILS)

We realize folks are going to have to get on line to source Savage compatible oils and boosters.  AMAZON.COM has the best prices seen so far,  so we list the appropriate Amazon oils here along with a notation if they are able to be shipped for free under Prime.   We also know this Prime free shipping comes and goes according to whether there is stock on hand at your nearest Amazon owned warehouse, so PLEASE watch your shipping charges as you check out for any unplanned surprises.


IF YOU WANT A REAL "overkill" SUPER-OIL (way way beyond reasonable needs) Redline 10W40 Motorcycle Oil  is $11 a quart here (bought by the case).   This  motorcycle oil whups everybody on ZDDP by like twice over, so don't be looking for a measly mere JASO rating on it.   Bill looks at this red stuff and is filled with angst and longing as it is within our $12 a quart budget and his Klotz is only half the oil this is and it costs even more (and then you have to pay for shipping on top of that).   Specs are here http://www.redlineoil.com/product.aspx?pid=109&pcid=21   Free Amazon Prime shipping is at   http://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-42424-10W40-Motorcycle/dp/B0084DZ08W/ref=sr_1_...




To save yourself hassles, please carry all questions to the following Rubber Side Down thread called "RECOMMENDED OILS AND BOOSTERS".  
This tread remains locked until edited by a moderator.

(link follows)    http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1344471408/0

We also must remember that true "racing oil" usually has little in the way of additives, because racing engines are torn down and rebuilt between races. The oil only has to last for one race, not for months of street use. In short, "racing oil" isn't really suitable for street use.

Wouldn't hurt to add to table of contents with links!

Our independent "research" is clear: use Rotella or your engine is doomed. [sarcasm]

Thanks for making it easy to choose.

Time to buy stock in Shell [more sarcasm]


(politics deleted by OF)

How about Mobil 1 V-twin synthetic from Auto Zone: http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Mobil-1-qt-SAE-20W-50-V-Twin-ful...

I've been using 20w-50 in my '06 since it was new.  The web site says it's $10.99 per quart but I'm pretty sure I got it for about $9 last time since it was on sale.

OF ,does Rotella T-6 have enough zddp in it ,or do we have to add some?

Pine wrote on 08/09/12 at 09:50:53:


If Redline is available locally at your local O'Reilly, it is worth checking out.  Redline uses big ZDDP numbers in each of their products, with the downside being that the majority of their products are RACING car products so please be careful which one you pick.   They do make motorcycle oil, but the likelyhood of that being at your local O'Reilly is pretty slim unless you make a deal with your local manager to stock it.

Like many of the specialty oils, you can order it from Amazon by the case.   It is pricey, but good -- similar to Royal Purple or Amisol in price at retail (a lot less in Amazon's reality though) but it is very pure in intention similar to Klotz (same color as a matter of fact).   I would not be surprised if similar base oils are used by the two companies.  

(and yes Bill, I just maybe mighta said something nice about Klotz in a sideways manner, but Redline publishes their contents, additives and ZDDP levels openly and Klotz doesn't)

http://www.amazon.com/Red-Line-42424-10W40-Motorcycle/dp/B0084DZ08W/ref=sr_1_...

I just bought some redline to add to my Rot T-6. It can't do any harm to add 1 oz to the oil ,can it?