I hate to ask, but... Oil?

Okay, I may only have been riding for a year, but I've been around bike forums long enough to dread oil threads & I apologize in advance for starting one.

That being said, my Haynes manual is clear as mud about what kind of oil I should be putting into the Trident. I'll be using full synthetic, so perhaps we can skip that part of the discussion. The manual suggests 5w40 synthetic oil, but notes that Triumph's recommendation is for 15w50 Mobil 1 race oil. The manual for my old KZ specified different weights of oil for different temperature ranges, as did the manual for the Virago I had for a week. The manual for the Trident specifies 2 different weights for no apparent reason, so I'm really wondering what weight I should go with.

Can anyone shed some light on this for me?

Thanks,
-Kit

[GeoffE]

Hi,
The recommended oil for your Trident is Semi-Synthetic 10w/40 meeting specification API/SG ('98 Triumph Service Manual).

Fully Synthetic 5w/40 is recommended for the high compression/high lift cam engines (e.g. Daytona Super-3 and Daytona 1200). The Owners Manual (and later 91-99 Haynes [but not the 91-95 Haynes]) says "Semi or fully synthetic motorcycle engine oil which meets or exceeds API SG specification". So it is as clear as mud, as you say.

My experience is that my local UK Triumph dealer fills with Castrol GPS (Semi), unless you have a high compression engine (Fully - Castrol R4), and this is the rule I have followed for my bikes.

Geoff
:wink:

[ezride]

I'm going to start a sh!tstorm here, but...

Shell Rotella T Synthetic. 5w40 rating, and specs that are top notch. I started using it after years with the Mobil MX4T. It's available at WalMart in gallon containers for about $13-$14, significantly less than the other syn's you would likely consider.

There are lots of other good synthetics out there, but most cost a fair bit more.

For a long-winded but informative discussion of oils, check out All About Oil

[pendraig]

My two cents: I'm not sure of the specs of the Rotella-T, but I remember a similar discussion about the price of Mobil fully synthetic race oil at bike shops versus such places as Advance Auto Parts and Pep Boys.
What I gathered was that automotive oils, while being of the highest quality, providing more than adequate viscosity and lubricity, often contain additives that have a negative effect on wet clutches.
I personally have done no research on this matter.
When I bought my Sprint, the local dealership was using Golden Spectro semi-synthetic 10W40 for all service oil changes, and I was assured by the dealer (and G-S's literature) that this oil met with all Triumph's requirements under the bike's original 5 yr unlimited mileage warranty.
The bike is 9 yrs old now, with 66,000 mi. on the clock and still doesn't take a drop in the 3,000 miles between changes.

[j98sprint]

Kit,

I've been using Mobil 1 15w-50 (auto) from the auto-parts store for the past 6 1/2 years, 78,000+ miles. Doesn't leak oil, doesn't burn oil, the clutch has NEVER slipped, good MPG (39 city, 45 hwy), starts every time and runs great.

Expensive motorcycle specific oil from the bike shop is great stuff but you will not hurt your engine if you use any quality synthetic oil of the right weight.

j98sprint

[bajajoaquin]

I, too, use Mobil 1 15-50 in my bike. That's what my shop uses, too. I buy it in the 5-quart jugs from Wal-mart for $22. Saves a few bucks over buying it in quarts from Pep Boys.

[seumas]

Hi Kit, like Geoffe said your owner's manual calls for semi-synth 10-40 meeting API/SG specs. I've been using Mobil 1 MX4T 10-40 synthetic. It's available at the local AutoZone for $7.99 a quart. Not a quite as cheap as buying the standard Mobil 1 at Wally World but a lot less than the $13 a quart my dealer wants for the Triumph-labeled Mobil 1.

[pendraig]

If you guys are using that stuff, I'm going to use it at my next oil change (this weekend) and save some $$$$.

[triple900]

Kit, factory oil factory filter.... oil is about 50 bucks a jug and the filter 12.00, at 6000 miles its worth it, The reason i say factory filter is because not all micron ratings are the same between manufacturers.
Rick