Snowbike Oil Debate

Scrubs · Oct 22, 2017

OK guys, been searching the forum for what guys are running, but a lot of the posts are a few years old.
Is there any updates on how bikes have been holding up running 0w40 synthetic?
Bike is a 15 KTM 450 SXF
I know lots of guys running Rotella but I have an unlimited supply of Mobil 0w40 synthetic from work. Is this a viable option?

portgrinder · Oct 22, 2017

Yes. Steal your oil from work. It will work fine.

Norma Stitz · Oct 22, 2017

That’s what I’ve been using for a while. Lot cheaper than mx oil and I figure more frequent, lesser oil changes are better than extended fancy oils.

Drewd · Oct 22, 2017

0w-40 is a better oil then Rotella particularly in cooler weather.

Sheetmetalfab · Oct 23, 2017

Scrubs said:
OK guys, been searching the forum for what guys are running, but a lot of the posts are a few years old.
Is there any updates on how bikes have been holding up running 0w40 synthetic?
Bike is a 15 KTM 450 SXF
I know lots of guys running Rotella but I have an unlimited supply of Mobil 0w40 synthetic from work. Is this a viable option?

Hopefully your boss doesn’t read this.......
Might be wondering where all the profits went.......

dooman92 · Oct 23, 2017

Oil

No question good oil and, probably work good. But, might be a little slippery for your wet clutch. When I looked at Mobil few years ago that was not jaso ma rated. I'm assuming the ktm specs a jaso ma rated oil?

skidooboy · Oct 23, 2017

rotella t6, is compatible with wet clutches. whatever oil you choose, make sure it is wet clutch compatible or motorcycle specific, or you may have clutch issues. mobile 1 makes a 10-40 cycle specific, amsoil makes a 0-40 cycle specific. Ski

AZ800 · Oct 23, 2017

Only 0w40 Mobil oil I know of is car oil not motorcycle oil.

Scrubs · Oct 23, 2017

Thx for the input guys. Spoke with a mechanic and he said the reason for the 10w50 in the KTM is because the timing chain tensioner is hydraulically driven. The lower vis oil doesnt maintain as consistant of pressure and can lead to loss of tension to the chain, possible valve damage resulting.

wwillf01 · Oct 23, 2017

Scrubs said:
OK guys, been searching the forum for what guys are running, but a lot of the posts are a few years old.
Is there any updates on how bikes have been holding up running 0w40 synthetic?
Bike is a 15 KTM 450 SXF
I know lots of guys running Rotella but I have an unlimited supply of Mobil 0w40 synthetic from work. Is this a viable option?

So hears my story.. I run a turbo on a 14 450sxf... Blown crank seal... ran horrible for 20 hours before the head mushroomed...ran arcticat 0 40 syn.... I think personally it is a testament that the bike ran for that long before mushrooming ... The whole rental fleet my friend runs on yz450fs it was what held up the best by far...... I have an issue starting in real cold weather if the bikes out with out zero weight ..

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

idahoskiguy · Oct 23, 2017

The JASO spec for oil should be baseline for whatever oil you choose to run, JASO has the proper additive package to keep the clutch from slipping. Standard automotive oils do not have this additive package.

Just my $.02

summitboy · Oct 23, 2017

Drewd said:
0w-40 is a better oil then Rotella particularly in cooler weather.

Thats actually not true. T6 5-40 or 0-40 more or less the same thing. Most of the synths have super low pour points. Unless your snowmaking at -30-40C then you won't see much difference. Amsoil pour points are like -43C for 0 and 5 weights. JFYI

s.back · Oct 23, 2017

What's a good weight and brand to run?

L.Hughes · Oct 23, 2017

I ran Rotella T6 5w-40 in a yz450 and ktm 350 last winter. Seemed to work fine, but kind of a small time frame for a good sample. Didn't have any clutch slipping tho! And as much as I hate walmart- it's readily available and cheap.

heliwrench · Oct 23, 2017

Scrubs said:
Thx for the input guys. Spoke with a mechanic and he said the reason for the 10w50 in the KTM is because the timing chain tensioner is hydraulically driven. The lower vis oil doesnt maintain as consistant of pressure and can lead to loss of tension to the chain, possible valve damage resulting.

Some KTM's run hydraulic cam chain tensioners, I know 350's do. I'm pretty sure yours is just a spring and ratchet type if its a single cam 450. Oil type shouldn't be an issue for that.

BendBrapp · Oct 24, 2017

I ran Rotella 5w40 t6 most of last season. Changed oil after almost every ride (4hrs run time average) I started the season on Motorex and Maxima. The Rotella performed equally and was less than 1/3 the price.

More than 5 hours of hard running was shearing all oils. 5+ hours of run time also felt like my arms were shearing off!

Edit: this was on my 17’ 450sxf

WaterKid · Oct 25, 2017

Synthetic Diesel Oil

I've been using Full Synthetic oil for Diesel engines and have had no issues at all and readily available.

Valvoline Premium Blue Extreme - Motor Oil 5-40

POLZIN · Oct 25, 2017

Has anyone tried the timbersled oil? Seems expensive but saving a couple bucks on oil in a 14k machine seems kind of silly if there is even the possibility of an issue.

needpowder · Oct 26, 2017

Mototrax oil

I’m gonna try the Mototrax oil with all the updates. Do you guys think I’ll have any issues?

MFJ · Oct 26, 2017

needpowder said:
I’m gonna try the Mototrax oil with all the updates. Do you guys think I’ll have any issues?

+1. No way you'll have issues, knowing all of the hours they put into testing their original oil out on the snow, you won't even need to change your oil anymore now that it has the updates. I heard they have never had an engine failure with their oil and it makes your kit feel more like a bike.

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