Oil question... am I crazy?

[primal]

When I first got my GZ250 I promptly changed the oil to Mobil 1 MC synthetic. A week and a half ago I decided to change the oil again (early to get some winter weight oil in) and went with Shell Rotella-T synthetic. Now, after switching, I could swear my bike has more power. Part of me says its because of the oil, but the other part says that it must be the placebo effect. I mean, I was going down the road at 55 MPH in 4th gear and didn't even know it until I came to a stop light (*click click click* Did it just take 3 downshifts to get into 1st?)!

So... yea, I already know what you're gonna say, but I just had to put this out there.

[alanmcorcoran]

I think it may be more than psychological. When my oil was just a little low it had a huge impact on performance.

I've also noticed a big difference in power after the bike is running for about ten minutes. My bike sucks for about the first five minutes or so. Very sluggish in the high revs. I don't know squat about the MC internals, but my guess is, the oil gets more "slippery" when it's hot and the transmission exerts less drag on the engine. I'm sure that the other experts on here will set me straight.

[music man]

I also switched to Shell Rotella-T Synthetic, and I didnt really notice any "power" difference, but
it definetly helped my shifting, and it just seems to run smoother all around, it also seems to hold up better to the rigors of the GZ engine.

[primal]

Maybe my perception of "power" is more a perception of "smoothness" then?

[Easy Rider]

Maybe my perception of "power" is more a perception of "smoothness" then?

Maybe it's not all perception; might be just a coincidence.
Carbuarated engines tend to run better when the air is cool and damp.
I'm guessing that you have had a shift toward that, like we have had recently.

[Water Warrior 2]

Maybe my perception of "power" is more a perception of "smoothness" then?
Fresh oil will do that for you. The tranny will definitely feel smoother and the engine will thank you. Shell Rotella is used by many riders in a variety of bikes with great results. It meets or exceeds the requirements for M/C oils but Shell has just never bothered to get it certified for bikes.

[jonathan180iq]

You're crazy.

[GZ250]

havent used any synthetic oil so i cant tell about the power coming from oil but i do use the supreme 93 gas sometime and this time i used the Shell V-power (prices are reasonable again). i felt the same. more power. actually its more smoothness and soundness of engine so fell like more power. will try the Shell Rotella-T synthetic this time.

[Moedad]

You're crazy. Yes. No point blaming the oil either.

[Water Warrior 2]

I'm just waiting for Alan to say he changed oil and it shifts better. :poked:

[alanmcorcoran]

Got my filters. Have a drain/jug. Have O rings. Don't have oil yet. I have a 150 mile ride planned for tomorrow and a party and some other stuff, but I hope to get to it before the weekend is over.

[Water Warrior 2]

ATTABOY !! :2tup:

[music man]

But you notice he said he has a 150 mile ride planned to do FIRST, then he will change his oil :tdown: .

[Easy Rider]

.....and some other stuff, but I hope to get to it before the weekend is over.

I suppose you think taking care of your wife has a higher priority than taking care of the bike ??? :roll:
We need to have a little talk............ :biggrin:

[alanmcorcoran]

Ummm.... taking care of my wife? Didn't see that anywhere in my post.

I will admit to a bias in favor of riding the bike as opposed to maintaining it. I can always buy another bike, but when I'm dead, I don't think I will regret having not changed my oil more frequently.

[Easy Rider]

but when I'm dead, I don't think I will regret having not changed my oil more frequently.

Ah, the pure simplicity of it all. :tup:

Let's see, what great philosopher could we attirbute that to.............maybe Alfred E. Newman ?? :bow:

[music man]

Actually Alan I properly MAINTAIN my bike so I CAN spend more time riding it than working on it, or having it worked on. :poked:

[Easy Rider]

Actually Alan I properly MAINTAIN my bike so I CAN spend more time riding it than working on it, or having it worked on. :poked:

Yea but Alan is getting dangerously close to saying: "When it's time for an oil change, I'll just trade it in on a new one." A modern twist on the old "full ashtray" philosophy. :roll: :crackup

[patrick_777]

If you listen to some people, GZs are disposable bikes as it is. I'm with music man here...I prefer a fully-maintained bike to something I have to worry about.

[primal]

For one thing, the tranny will give you less problems (read: smoother shifts) if you keep up on the oil changes. That alone should be a good enough reason to stay on the ball with the oil changes.

[alanmcorcoran]

Different strokes, guys. I understand the importance and value of maintenance. Just don't find it as entertaining as riding the thing. Maybe it'll grow on me.

My wife always has the 4 wheeled vehicles service at all the regular intervals. But she can't take the bike in, so I'm on my own.

I'm not so wealthy that I would consider a GZ disposable (especially if you recall what I paid for mine) but I have been known to spend a significant sum purely for convenience.

[music man]

I don't know if I can speak for everyone but I personally don't find maintenance on my bike as fun as riding it either, but it is a necessary evil if you want to be able to ride fairly worry free, not only that I have spent a good portion of the last 5 years changing oil and filters and other maintenance stuff, so I get My fill of the entertainment of "maintenance".


On top of that, it gives me an insight into what happens to an engine if you don't keep it "maintained", by seeing them all the time. I also (unlike alan) plan on keeping the GZ till it falls apart, thats the only reason I don't have a bigger bike right now, is that I am too poor to get another bike without selling/trading in the GZ, and I don't want to get rid of it, so until I figure out how to afford both, I am stuck with just the little ole' GZ.

[alanmcorcoran]

Don't believe I ever said I would get rid of my GZ. For one thing, I usually don't sell stuff privately. I don't like having strangers come to my house, looking at my stuff, and bothering me. Plus, I like the GZ. If I get something bigger, it'll be in addition to, not instead of.

I also think there is some confusion between being aware of the importance of maintenance and the value of doing it oneself. I also understand that money does not grow on trees and, when you don't have an excessive amount of it coming in, it makes a lot of sense to reduce the flow of it going out, by working for yourself.

In addition to entertaining myself with the motorcycle, I play the guitar and the piano. You (music man) are probably well aware of this, but EVERY time you pick up the guitar, you have to tune it. That, of course, I do myself. You also have to replace the strings regularly. Many times I do NOT do that myself. Do I know how? Yes. I worked in a guitar store for three years and have probably restrung a guitar at least 200 times. Do I like doing it? Nope. If someone else will do it for ten bucks, works for me.

The piano needs to be tuned at least twice a year, too. Do I do that myself? No. I kind of know how, but I'm not good at it and it would take me a month to do a bad job. Might even break something. And I don't have the best tools.

Anyway, the DIY and the ATTGATT debate will probably rage on forever. I don't begrudge anyone their right and privilege to change their own oil, nor do I think they are necessarily stupid, poor or misguided. Just don't like to do it myself. Only reason I have looked into doing it myself is I think dealing with the dealer, in this case, would annoy me even more.

[primal]

You know, I'm suddenly reminded of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. :)

[music man]

I was just basing my comment about you wanting to get rid of the GZ on what Easy had said :oops: , And I Don't PLAY Music, I just have ALOT OF IT, so I don't really know much about guitars, I used to have one and have restrung and tuned one, so i guess I do know a little about it.

And I also thought we were talking about your lack of doing Maintenance on your bike at all, not you doing it yourself, so there again :oops:. And certain types of people just don't like doing Maintenance type stuff themselves no matter how much or little money they have. Me, I would probably change My own oil on my motorcycle if I was a billionare (of course if I were a billionare I probably would be riding a lot nicer motorcycle) but thats just me, But I also change the oil in my cars too, To each his own and all that jazz.

[alanmcorcoran]

Well, I AM a billionaire, and the GZ suits me fine.

(Not really. The billionaire part, anyway.)

[Easy Rider]

You know, I'm suddenly reminded of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. :)

Ah, yes, things are coming into focus better now......... :rawk:

[primal]

Ah, yes, things are coming into focus better now......... :rawk:

Is it bad that I never finished the book? It was nice when he was actually talking about the trip, but when he started getting heavy into philosophy (as they were climbing up the mountain) it became too much of a chore to read. ;)

[alanmcorcoran]

I was assigned that book in high school. Not sure if I remember it precisely, but if I recall correctly, it didn't have much to do with either Zen or motorcycles and more to do with the author's self enamoration. (Not that I would know anything about that.) :jo:

Don't think I ever finished it either. I'm pretty sure my teacher didn't read it either. It was one of those books that everybody fell all over themselves as "amazing", when, in fact, few had actually read it.

Having completed a number of modest personal "quests" myself, I've found that it's rare anyone else is as interested in one's exploits or related "deep thoughts" as the adventurer himself.

[primal]

Yea, it's really not an amazing book. But the first half or so makes for pretty entertaining toilet reading. :)

[5th_bike]

Is it bad that I never finished the book?
I heard the first part two years ago, from the book-on-tape. At a certain point I just had enough of it. Something with tents and hillslopes. In the beginning it's nice when he describes nitwits ruining his bike, and how he is so much better, you yearn to identify with the writer, but then, from there it's downhill (figuratively).