Amsoil OCI

[matthewd]

Hey, guys. I hope that some of you Amsoil dealers can give me some advise. I'm thinking of switching to Amsoil 10W-40 in my Honda CB750. I've used Amsoil in my pickup and I believe in their products. But I have some trouble with Amsoil's new recommended OCI for motorcycles.

They used to recommend MC oil changes at three times the manufacturer recommendation, or one year whichever comes first, with filter changes at 6 months (basically the same as for cars and light trucks).

Now Amsoil says change MC oil two times the MR, or six months whichever comes first.

Honda recommends 4,000 miles changes with a filter change every other oil change on this model. I go 5,000 to 6,000 miles per year. If I go with Amsoil's OCI, that means a full oil and filter change every six months with only 2,500 to 3,000 miles. That costs a little more that I'd like to spend.

I'm thinking of using Amsoil 10W-40 (or possibly 15w40) but using Honda's 4,000 mile interval, with the filter changed each time. In an average year, that would mean a full oil change every 9 months. Other than possibly losing Amsoil's warranty, does anyone see any problems with this?

 

[Pablo]

It is interesting that Amsoil's OCI is shorter than Honda's. I would do the Honda thing, because I know the oil will easily last 6 months-1 year.

The only thing I argue with no matter what (car or mc) is that I always change the oil filter when I change the oil (regardless of filter brand)...it's just too easy, and I know people can very easily and logically argue with me, but it doesn't make sense to leave a "dirty" filter for your nice clean, new oil.

 

[mountravlr]

The oil will easily hold up with Honda's recommended OCI. Do yourself a favor and get a UOA after that to know for sure about TBN, wear metals, silicon, etc.

 

[Mike_dup1]

fwiw

I have a 2001 Honda Rancher 4x4 (ATV) and only change oil once per year, miles run 500-1000 annually. I do it every fall but forgot about it last fall and just did it this April. The oil that came out looked just like the new oil that went in. While I don't abuse the Rancher, it gets a HD workout most of the time. Lots of slow trudging thru rough terrain searching out survey marks etc. Never been driven over 40 mph, 4x4 makes it hard to steer. Need power steering. LOL

The day they dropped it off at my door, I drove it around for about 1 hr and changed to oil to Amsoil M/C 10W-40 and used that till this year when I went with the 20w-50 because I rarely use it when the temp is below 32°F. Other years I used the Honda oil filters (got a few thrown in with the new purchase deal) but this time the Amsoil SDF

[ May 18, 2004, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Mike ]

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by matthewd:

Honda recommends 4,000 miles changes with a filter change every other oil change on this model. I go 5,000 to 6,000 miles per year. If I go with Amsoil's OCI, that means a full oil and filter change every six months with only 2,500 to 3,000 miles. That costs a little more that I'd like to spend.

I'm thinking of using Amsoil 10W-40 (or possibly 15w40) but using Honda's 4,000 mile interval, with the filter changed each time. In an average year, that would mean a full oil change every 9 months. Other than possibly losing Amsoil's warranty, does anyone see any problems with this?

---

Change it once in the spring before you start riding. Change the filter and top off in the fall when you don't ride as much.

Hope this helps

 

[matthewd]

Thanks for the comments.

FYI, here is what the Amsoil technical department told me when I asked about OCI (this is from an email about a year ago):

"If your manual says to change oil at 4000 miles, you may use AMSOIL oil and filter up to 8000 miles, not to exceed 6 months. If 6 months comes before 8000 miles, change the oil and filter. We changed the AMSOIL service schedule on motorcycle use to a more conservative stance about a year ago. The reason was that many cycle engines are extremely tough on motor oil. It's hard to make separate service schedules for different makes and models as you can imagine. The end result is that, after studying the situation, we reset the service schedule more in line with what the majority of the owners were doing and felt comfortable with anyway."

The engine on my CB750 is not a new design, and has a reputation for being bullet-proof. I don't see why keeping the oil in for more than 6 months would hurt anything.

 

[satterfi]

quote:

---

Originally posted by matthewd:

I'm thinking of using Amsoil 10W-40 (or possibly 15w40) but using Honda's 4,000 mile interval, with the filter changed each time. In an average year, that would mean a full oil change every 9 months. Other than possibly losing Amsoil's warranty, does anyone see any problems with this?

---

That's a good plan. You'll be using one of the best oils when Honda's recommendation is geared for mediocre oils.

Stay with Honda filters. You can't beat them.

 

[Motorbike]

quote:

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Originally posted by matthewd:

The engine on my CB750 is not a new design, and has a reputation for being bullet-proof. I don't see why keeping the oil in for more than 6 months would hurt anything.

---

You know what killed more of these engines than anything back in it's day ? The oil filter coming apart and stopping up the supply line to the top end and sticking the cam to the head . It's not a spin on canister .

It's a dry sump motor thats brutal on engine oil and is difficult to get 100% of the oil drained . It also uses the old silicon type seals so watch for leaks .

I purchased a new F model in 1978 and with around 2k miles on the clock my soon to be wife and I took a 3700 mile trip on it . When we got home I drained what looked to be gear oil out of it and had to add a quart in Wyoming , 1200 miles from home. From then on out I drained the DA Speed Sport oil every 1500 miles ...filter at 3k .
The Amsoil should be good to 4k w/o pouring new oil into a bunch of dead residual .

 

[TooSlick]

If the Honda recommendation is longer than the Amsoil one, I'd stick with the OEM recommendation....

The Amsoil 10w-40 is certainly a significantly more robust formulation that the OEM Honda, motorcycle oils ....I would recommend the 10w-40 instead of the 15w40, since it's more suited for gas engines. I have local customers running 5000-7500 mile drain intervals in Ducatis with the Amsoil 10w-40/20w-50, MC oils, so 4000 miles should be pretty easy service.

Tooslick
www.lubedealer.com/Dixie_Synthetics