Engine oil for the cbr 125

[TheBear]

10W30 must be fork oil.

Where ever you ask for it, the answer is always; "Sorry sir, we have fokoil"

 

Some years ago, a buddy (1980 Yamaha FJ1200) and I (DL1000) were at Kagga Kamma while on a bike tour.  The Yamie's fork seal collapsed and by then the forks were empty, so no suspension at all.  This was no good for those roads so I went to Opdieberg.  The only oil they had was some sort of farm use 30SAE.  I reasoned, any oil is better than no oil, so I grabbed some.  We had no idea how much to use, etc.  So, we cleverly filled the forks to the brim.  Closed them up and then sat next to the bike, each with a screwdriver.  He would count 1, 2, 3 OPEN!  Upon which we would both open the drain plugs.  Then he'd count, 1, 2, 3 CLOSE!  We closed up.  He then hopped on the bike and bounced it a bit.  We did this till we could declare he had a working suspension.  We completed our trip, about another 3000km like that.  What was nice, was that the SAE30 didn't really leak as badly as the normal fork oil. 

[blitzer]

Ok thanks i did get 10W 30 just now from Honda.

The sales guy at honda said they have and the guy over the fone said they did not so a bit of a funny but sorted.

So since the manual says 10W 30, and they had it, i bought it. Will it be ok for summer here ?

[RobC]

Ok thanks i did get 10W 30 just now from Honda.

The sales guy at honda said they have and the guy over the fone said they did not so a bit of a funny but sorted.

So since the manual says 10W 30, and they had it, i bought it. Will it be ok for summer here ?

Single cylinder bikes are not that particular on the exact grade, the yellow shell helix HX5 15w 50 would be fine as well as our winters are nat artic level cold, the 50 rating is better for our hotter summer as well.

[Roadhawg]

Ok thanks i did get 10W 30 just now from Honda.

The sales guy at honda said they have and the guy over the fone said they did not so a bit of a funny but sorted.

So since the manual says 10W 30, and they had it, i bought it. Will it be ok for summer here ?

I think you're overthinking this a bit man. 

It's a multigrade oil. It'll be fine in pretty much any climate South Africa can through at you.

[TheBear]

Ok thanks i did get 10W 30 just now from Honda.

The sales guy at honda said they have and the guy over the fone said they did not so a bit of a funny but sorted.

So since the manual says 10W 30, and they had it, i bought it. Will it be ok for summer here ?

Your bike will be fine.

[Jacobsroodt]

10W30 is specified for my Honda CRF250L. When I asked for it at Trac Mac they recommended 10W40. Good for our hot summers, they said.
My sister's son with a BMW F800ST upped the oil from SAE 15W-40 to SAE 15W-50 to cure the typical F800 startup noise at idle. Now I see the SAE 15W-50 is specified as standard from 2013 and up.

[JIMMI]

Before all the questions, post n picture of your bike   let's see!!!

Ja nee we're being had here I'm sure.

No bike pics, no advice 

Probably a little bit of mischief me thinks...

[BuRP]

have said those Shell products are clutch friendly, there is nothing in the Data Sheets that prove  that

Interesting..... what would you like to see displayed on oiltins so as to convince you it is oilbath-clutch friendly?
Wet clutches work with 'oil', so....

The opposite though IS mentioned on oiltins, like 'fuel saving' or 'friction modifiers added' or...
Yeah, some oils spec a JASO rating which is a motoerbike-only rating, and bikes often have wet clutches so you'd assume that all is then honky dory eh?
Then look at the price, R135/L form Honda, no doubt JASO'd also - bit dear innit?
But go for it!

Not buying Helix Ultra because it is a "car"-oil is silly I think, perhaps look up what its classification really means 

[BuRP]

the 50 rating is better for our hotter summer as well.

Really?
Honda made it, and they says 30!
Yeah, I agree, 50 likely won't break it, but 'better' ?
Ek glo ma ek glo swaar swaer.... 

Besides, also be careful with 'singles are not particular about oil'.... because they are, especially the modern big ones!

[2StrokeDan]

have said those Shell products are clutch friendly, there is nothing in the Data Sheets that prove  that

Interesting..... what would you like to see displayed on oiltins so as to convince you it is oilbath-clutch friendly?
Wet clutches work with 'oil', so....

The opposite though IS mentioned on oiltins, like 'fuel saving' or 'friction modifiers added' or...
Yeah, some oils spec a JASO rating which is a motoerbike-only rating, and bikes often have wet clutches so you'd assume that all is then honky dory eh?
Then look at the price, R135/L form Honda, no doubt JASO'd also - bit dear innit?
But go for it!

Not buying Helix Ultra because it is a "car"-oil is silly I think, perhaps look up what its classification really means 

100%.

20W50 has been my main staple oil for bikes as long as I can remember, and they all do high mileage, without ever having a clutch problem.

Then again, all my bikes had cable clutches, and most "clutch" problems are hydraulics related anyway.

[Roadhawg]

have said those Shell products are clutch friendly, there is nothing in the Data Sheets that prove  that

Interesting..... what would you like to see displayed on oiltins so as to convince you it is oilbath-clutch friendly?
Wet clutches work with 'oil', so....

The opposite though IS mentioned on oiltins, like 'fuel saving' or 'friction modifiers added' or...
Yeah, some oils spec a JASO rating which is a motoerbike-only rating, and bikes often have wet clutches so you'd assume that all is then honky dory eh?
Then look at the price, R135/L form Honda, no doubt JASO'd also - bit dear innit?
But go for it!

Not buying Helix Ultra because it is a "car"-oil is silly I think, perhaps look up what its classification really means 

I have no doubt you're right, but I just think without a JASO rating that manufacturer is under no obligation to NOT put friction modifiers in the product if they wanted to.  JASO MA rating is specifically for wet clutch operation.

If Shell suddenly changed their formulation and it did have friction modifiers and wasn't good for a wet clutch, then it would still match the current TDS sheet and we'd be none the wiser, untill everybody's clutches started slipping 

[RobC]

the 50 rating is better for our hotter summer as well.

Really?
Honda made it, and they says 30!
Yeah, I agree, 50 likely won't break it, but 'better' ?
Ek glo ma ek glo swaar swaer.... 

Besides, also be careful with 'singles are not particular about oil'.... because they are, especially the modern big ones!

exactly, this is an ancient Honda design.

The 30/40/50 rating is viscosity rating, higher is better in warm sunny countries...

Here is the dope...
http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

[Roadhawg]

the 50 rating is better for our hotter summer as well.

Really?
Honda made it, and they says 30!
Yeah, I agree, 50 likely won't break it, but 'better' ?
Ek glo ma ek glo swaar swaer.... 

Besides, also be careful with 'singles are not particular about oil'.... because they are, especially the modern big ones!

exactly, this is an ancient Honda design.

The 30/40/50 rating is viscosity rating, higher is better in warm sunny countries...

Here is the dope...
http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

I've never really gotten this, and I am in the industry.

Surely ambient temps have little to do with operating temp, assuming the vehicle has a competent cooling system?   I mean a motor will operate at say 100-120deg and the coolant and thermostat will keep it roughly in that range no matter the comparatively small variances in outside temps. 

So I don't really buy the "Just run thicker oil" thing.    Thicker oil can lead to even higher temps because it has its own internal friction and heat build up....nobody ever thinks about that.

[BuRP]

The 30/40/50 rating is viscosity rating, higher is better in warm sunny countries...

Here is the dope...
http://www.upmpg.com/tech_articles/motoroil_viscosity/

You may believe who you like, no problem - but the below I copied from that link...
"Obviously a 10W-10 motor oil won't have the film strength to prevent engine wear at full operating temperature like a 5W-20, 10W-30 or 5W-30 motor oil for example."
... surely you know this is baseless nonsense?

[BuRP]

Thicker oil can lead to even higher temps because it has its own internal friction and heat build up....nobody ever thinks about that.

Very correct indeed, the prescribed oil viscosity depends on the design of the engine (and this is why the manufacturer knows best when he prescribes the correct oil), modern engines being a helluvalot tighter than decades ago..... hence we use thinner oils today!
20W50 used to be the standard, these days this is probably 10W40.

[Roadhawg]

Thicker oil can lead to even higher temps because it has its own internal friction and heat build up....nobody ever thinks about that.

Very correct indeed, the prescribed oil viscosity depends on the design of the engine (and this is why the manufacturer knows best when he prescribes the correct oil), modern engines being a helluvalot tighter than decades ago..... hence we use thinner oils today!
20W50 used to be the standard, these days this is probably 10W40.

Yeah, seeing these new 0w20 oils!!!  Like water

[BuRP]

If Shell suddenly changed their formulation and it did have friction modifiers and wasn't good for a wet clutch, then it would still match the current TDS sheet and we'd be none the wiser, untill everybody's clutches started slipping

I'm sure you're trying to pull my or others leg surely, a worldbrand like Shell changing the formula of the contents of oil they sell without changing the name/nomer/specs/details/tin-itself...
NEVER!
Look, even you know Esso, not sold in southern Africa - but you know the name!
Oilcompanies are fuel companies, fuel is what they sell - period, and they make a shitload of monies with that!
But, to cater for some convenience for their clients they also sell some oils which they design by a village of scientists they employ anyway.
If they would screw up once with an oil, like you suggest, then their name would be affected hence they would loose staggering amounts of money, you realize that?
Not on your life they ever will do this!
Their oils perform as per their tins, anyone's tot on a block for this, and a new formula/oil definitely will have a new tin/correct specs/etc on it!

[TheBear]

I've never really gotten this, and I am in the industry.

Surely ambient temps have little to do with operating temp, assuming the vehicle has a competent cooling system?   I mean a motor will operate at say 100-120deg and the coolant and thermostat will keep it roughly in that range no matter the comparatively small variances in outside temps. 

I have to agree.  I can see that the first number, say 10W can be related to ambient temperature as the engine, its internals, oil and cooling liquid will be at ambient temperature or close to it just before, during and for a small period of time after starting.  I can also understand that for this part, the viscosity is pretty important.

[TheBear]

Look, even you know Esso, not sold in southern Africa - but you know the name!

If he is my age or older, he would remember Esso very well due to their service stations all over SA.  After all, who didn't want a tiger in their tank? 

[RobC]

I've never really gotten this, and I am in the industry.

Surely ambient temps have little to do with operating temp, assuming the vehicle has a competent cooling system?   I mean a motor will operate at say 100-120deg and the coolant and thermostat will keep it roughly in that range no matter the comparatively small variances in outside temps. 

I have to agree.  I can see that the first number, say 10W can be related to ambient temperature as the engine, its internals, oil and cooling liquid will be at ambient temperature or close to it just before, during and for a small period of time after starting.  I can also understand that for this part, the viscosity is pretty important.

An engine runs hotter on a hot day than on a cold day... fit an oil temp gauge and see for yourself...