does it matter??

[MichiganRedneck]

does it matter if i run regular motor oil in my trike? i have a YTM 200. i thought i had to run wet clutch safe oil in it. will regular motor oil damage any clutch components? thanks for any help

[Unclediezel]

The argument there is whether or not the anti friction additives in automotive engine oil will cause damage to clutch discs--
In theory---yes , they can be damaged, But in the real world, Plenty of riders have used it for plenty of years without a problem, and the ones who had a problem, probably used the motor oil theory as something to blame. I would just pick a quality brand of oil , In either 10w30 or 10w40- and enjoy the ride

[LonesomeTriZ]

I have ran straight 30 in my machines for years and have yet to have an oil related problem.

[trikesown]

it wont matter just watch for engine oil problems im pretty sure it wont matter if you run regular oil in it id run straigh 30 in my opinion well i still dont think it will matter you could either put striaght 30 or regular thats your choice d run with the straight 30 take my advice thanks for readin bye

[250Rfanatic85]

I think it depends on how you riding style is. I ride balls out almost nonstop.When my Dad first got his 350X,it was fine. He change the oil a couple of days later,and he put castrol GTX in it, and the clutches started to slip,and just kept gettin worse. So he got brand new clutches, plates, basket.(Everything) We fired it up and 1st run they were still slippin,not as bad but bad. So we buy brand new everything again and run honda oil this time,never had any problems yet,that was 2 years ago. I stick with oil made for wet clutches.

[holmstrom]

it wont matter just watch for engine oil problems im pretty sure it wont matter if you run regular oil in it id run straigh 30 in my opinion well i still dont think it will matter you could either put striaght 30 or regular thats your choice d run with the straight 30 take my advice thanks for readin bye

Is that gibberish you speak?

[Banage]

Is that gibberish you speak?

Haha that was my thought too

[Howdy]

I have ran straight 30 in my machines for years and have yet to have an oil related problem.

We have a 350x that has been run on Castrol 10-40 for over 15 years and it hasn't let us down yet. I know one member that uses dollar store oil and he hasn't had a problem either ( to my knowledge ). And he races his machine, right Tim.
Howdy

[TimSr]

I know one member that uses dollar store oil and he hasn't had a problem either ( to my knowledge ). And he races his machine, right Tim.
Howdy

Thats just my 2 strokes where the oil only lubes the clutch and bearings. Dont matter much in there as there is no chemical breakdown to occur. In my 4 strokes I run full synthetic, but yes, automotive oils.

Your YTM200 manual will recommend 10w30 or 10w40, and I would agree with Yamaha on that. I do not recommend straight 30wt, not because it will give you any major problems, but your clutch wont work nearly as well when its cold, especially in areas that have real winters. Your clutch will want to pull forward, even when disengaged. Mobile One now makes a 0w40 that I really like. Works as well ice cold as it does hot.

[LonesomeTriZ]

[QUOTE=TimSr]especially in areas that have real winters. QUOTE]


Yeah, we do not have that problem down here. We run cheap 30HD in everything. Except my Powerstroke. That gets Shell Rotella 15w40

[Glenn J]

The problem is with the "Energy Conserving Oil". When you run a thinner oil, the friction modifiers become more of an issue with the clutch. I run Mobil 10W-40 in my trike and have no problems whatsoever.

Here's a blurb on energy conserving oils:

Energy-Conserving Oils

Some are concerned that the new "energy-conserving" motor oils may have "friction modifiers" which will cause clutch slippage. Since that is a legitimate concern it is best to use only oils which are NOT "energy-conserving for motorcycles with wet clutches." Read the back of the container. It clearly identifies this. In general, only the very lighter oils, like 10w30, 10w20, 5w20, are energy-conserving. All 5w40, 5w50, 10w40, 15w40, 15w50, and 20w50 oils which I have found are not energy-conserving and can be recommended for general motorcycle use.

It is commonly mis-stated that "SJ and SL oils have friction modifiers which will cause wet clutch slippage." In reality, all oils have friction modifiers, that's how they work. ZDDP itself is a friction modifier. The real issue is to avoid getting the friction so low, with very thin oils containing extra amounts of friction modifiers, that clutches will slip under normal use. Stay away from energy conserving oils and you should be fine, if your clutch is in good working order.

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm

[blue27]

I always run a good oil like Castrol 20-50. When I raced XC on my 250x I ran straight 40W as per Mickey Dunlap, He said straight oil had a less chance of breakdown over hard race use. Never had a problem with the clutch or engine wear. Broke parts, but they never had any wear due to oil, as they went into the scrap pile. LOL