Hi all, first post here. Far from an oil expert, and hoping to expand my knowledge a bit.
I ride a late model Kawasaki Z1000 with about 40k on the clock. I've recently moved, and average temps are significantly hotter here. I've exclusively run the bike on Mobil 1 Racing 4t 10W-40 so far, but according to the official owner's manual, it is recommended to use either a 10W-50 or 20W-50 when the atmospheric temp exceeds 104° F (pretty common here).
I've always been the kind of person to simply follow manufacturer recommendations on oil weights, but I've also believed (just a gut feeling, not educated) that I should just find a solid oil and stick with it for as long as I own the vehicle. This is the first time I've had those habits be in conflict with one another.
Does it make sense to switch oils to match the recommendation, or is keeping the same oil a good idea on a middle-aged motor? Additionally, If switching is in fact the best option, would there be any appreciable difference between the 10W or 20W in such a climate? The chart in the manual shows the lowest recommended operating temp of 10W at 14° F, and 20W at 32° F. I don't foresee myself doing any riding below freezing, but would 10W be better for 'cold' starts?
I ride a late model Kawasaki Z1000 with about 40k on the clock. I've recently moved, and average temps are significantly hotter here. I've exclusively run the bike on Mobil 1 Racing 4t 10W-40 so far, but according to the official owner's manual, it is recommended to use either a 10W-50 or 20W-50 when the atmospheric temp exceeds 104° F (pretty common here).
I've always been the kind of person to simply follow manufacturer recommendations on oil weights, but I've also believed (just a gut feeling, not educated) that I should just find a solid oil and stick with it for as long as I own the vehicle. This is the first time I've had those habits be in conflict with one another.
Does it make sense to switch oils to match the recommendation, or is keeping the same oil a good idea on a middle-aged motor? Additionally, If switching is in fact the best option, would there be any appreciable difference between the 10W or 20W in such a climate? The chart in the manual shows the lowest recommended operating temp of 10W at 14° F, and 20W at 32° F. I don't foresee myself doing any riding below freezing, but would 10W be better for 'cold' starts?