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What Oil Grade ?
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Hi Guys

A new MT01 owner from the Isle Of Wight here.

I recently took ownership of an 05 plate MT that had not been ridden for 4-5 years and for the last 9 years must have covered no more than 1000 miles.
Obviously oil change is the order of the day, together with new battery, tyres, fork seals and some other bits and bobs.
My local dealer however has never serviced one of these, and the guys in the garage were happy to pour 10w40 oil in, while the manual clearly says 20w40.
Now with 20w40 being not very popular and not so readily available, I'm puzzled.
What's the forum's combined wisdom? 20w40 -manufacturer's recommendation, but hard to find and only mineral  or 10w40 - not compliant with the manual, but plenty of choice (semi/full synth...) ? As a matter of fact I can't find 20w40 in Yamalube's range at all.

Any input will be highly appreciated!

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Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #1 on: »
Hi Backo, welcome and congratulations.
yamalube do a 15-50 which is perfect. Any good brand of that range just so long as it is for motorcycle.
cheers Graeme

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #2 on: »
Not like the old days is it?
Would,ve been up to 10 pages by now ::)

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #3 on: »
A bit OT, perhaps:
I installed an oil temperature meter instead of the dipstick. After riding a while it is always 90 deg C. Slow riding, fast riding, always 90.
I believe the idle air valve is completely closed at 80, and you can feel a slight smoothing of the engine when it happens.

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #4 on: »
as a rule of thumb the hotter the climate the bigger the numbers ,cold climate the smaller the numbers and mineral oil is fine in these low revving engines I live in western Australia and use 20w/50 mineral and ive also been told you can use car oil as long as it does not have friction modifier's in it hopes this helps cheers 

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #5 on: »
Be careful if swapping. A lot of people have got clutch slip after changing from the standard grades or to semi/synthetic.

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #6 on: »
Hey, hey, that is some response!

I went for 10w40, as advised by two other Yamaha dealers - one in London, another one in Southampton. Yamalube, semi, as I won't be doing big miles.
Since the engine had not been run for a few years, I warmed it up via electric heater, drained the old oil, poured in some Halfords' 10w40 just to run in and then flush.

New battery, prod the button and there she goes... How exiting!

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #7 on: »
I will not advise you, but I can tell you what oil I'm using: Motul 7100 20W50, it'a fully synthetic oil made for big twins and such.
Seems to run fine on it. Only a summer rider, no winter stuff.

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #8 on: »
I will not advise you, but I can tell you what oil I'm using: Motul 7100 20W50, it'a fully synthetic oil made for big twins and such.
Seems to run fine on it. Only a summer rider, no winter stuff.

I,m running same. Engine mods deserve a better oil, really like it.
My label says "3100" ?

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #9 on: »
Penrite HPR30 ... 20W60. Makes the engine nice and quiet.

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #10 on: »
Penrite HPR30 ... 20W60. Makes the engine nice and quiet.

Just managed to source some of this oil in the UK
I will be interested to see (feel) the difference, if any.

I dont know if this is of any interest to you lot but on the previous bike forum I was a member of the following oil came highly recommended.
Yes I tried it and Yes it was much better in my Suzuki GSX1400 than the Motul equivalent ..
To be honest I am NOT a fan of Motul oil..
Neither my GSX1400 or my Yamaha FJR1300 ran smoothly on it !

https://www.smithandallan.com/products/transport-motorcycle/1868-smith-and-allan-limitless-super-4t-10w-40-semi-synthetic/

I had never heard of it either...
But the attractive price made me try it....
Look at the spec !!
Power is how hard you hit the wall..
Torque is how far you take the wall with you

Re: What Oil Grade ?
« Reply #11 on: »
Speedy1959, what is wrong with Motul? I have been running my Suzuki B-King on Motul fully synthetic since I bought the bike new in February 2012. It always runs perfectly. And I have been running my MT-01 on Motul 15W50 semi synthetic since buying the bike secondhand in 2016. Again, it runs perfectly.