important engine oil question

Ordinarily, I reserve brand loyalties to something that performs way above any reasonable expectation. This doesn't apply to oil, or filters, for that matter, being "consumables". IMHO, the act of changing your oil is more important than what oil you're changing it with. In the case of our beloved Xs, I would lean towards brands whose performance are known commodities. :twocents:
 
Yes. As I stated earlier, I run with anything. The Walmart stuff is my first time for car oil. I have used the diesel stuff. I quit the Mobil 1 and Amsoil because I paid so much for it, I was extending the drain interval. Synthetic oil gets dirty, too!

OK, I’m going to shut up and go to the garage.
 
Yes. As I stated earlier, I run with anything. The Walmart stuff is my first time for car oil. I have used the diesel stuff. I quit the Mobil 1 and Amsoil because I paid so much for it, I was extending the drain interval. Synthetic oil gets dirty, too!
That sounds familiar.
That 2000 mile interval I mentioned was only exceeded once, when I splashed out on some Mobil 1 a few years ago. As the 2k interval came up I was keeping an eye on it and gauging the gearchange feel. Iirc, I got about 2500 miles out of that oil. The gearbox kills any oil that goes in there, even the best. I was tempted to keep it in for longer, simply because it wasn't cheap. The few hundred extra miles per change didn't justify the extra price.
However, I would have no hesitation on re-using the drained oil in an old snotter car, it's still got plenty of lubricity left in it, and the additive package is likely nowhere near used up.
Mineral oils start off as the 'w' rating as the base oil and the polymers are added to extend its viscosity range - synthetics are the other way around. Synthetics generally are the higher viscosity as the base oil, but are inherently multigraded and capable of flowing easily at low temperatures.
Either way, the gearbox chews them up and spits them out.

Just recalled, the shortest oil change interval I had was about 1700 miles from a 5w40 synthetic. It wasn't a name-brand, but got from Lidl as a car oil. I wasn't expecting miracles from it, but from 1500 miles onwards it didn't feel right, so it got dumped out.
 
This isn't really on the topic of any xs650 or motorcycle for that matter but I find it interesting how specific manufacturers have become with what oil you run as of recently. Like Subaru for example really wants you to use a very specific oil made by a specific brand(its really because they're known to have head gaskets blow). using lighter oil for increased milage and stuff
 
And for extended oil change intervals as well. My previous car, a BMW E46 3 series from 2003 had 25 000 km as oil and filter change interval. This was an NA gasoline engine (type N42) Quite advanced tech, but no turbo etc.
My current VW van, a 2017 with a 2.0 L 150 hp TURBODIESEL has 30 000 km intervals. That is going too far IMHO, so I plan on changing every 15 000 km.
As for the XS, with semi synt 10-40 motorcycle oil and the Heiden/ Honda filter setup, I think I'll change oil and filter at 3000 km/ 2000 miles, maybe even a bit longer. But then I live and ride in a cold climate, and low speed limits. I hardly ever cruise above 4000 rpm on the XS.
 
In the UK another brand seems to have a good review amongst motorcycle forums, EXOL:
s-l225.webp

The cost is £57.50 delivered for 20 Liters. EXOL is the largests independent oil producer in the UK:
https://www.exol-lubricants.com/about/

EXOL has a very big blending operation at Rotherham:
EXOL.jpg

Even supplies oil in tankers carrying the EXOL brand.
 
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Yeah, you're probably right. The question I posted probably could have been answered with just a bit more research. I'm just trying to do things the right way ya know. I sorta thought that there might have been some secret that only yall knew but I guess it didn't have to be that complicated. I forgot about JASO so ill be sure to look for that when getting oil.
I am in the UK, i have always used a Putoline oil in my bikes, they do a specific V-Twin oil which i would reasonably assume is just as effective in a parallel twin, on another note Putoline only manufacture motorcycle oils
 
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