Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Engine Oil

I don't have and owners manual for my '04 Speedy. What kind of oil do I purchase for it and how many quarts?

" Search " oil and you will be blown away by the different opinions .

Takes about 3.75 or so quarts . Make sure it's fully synthetic .

Amsoil 20/50 Motorcycle oil all the way. Best oil in friction tests and doesn't shear down. Just under 4 qts if I remember right off the top of my head.

Shop manual says 3.8 liter for oil and filter change and that converts to just over 4 qts. (4.015415 qts. to be precise)

Been real happy with Shell RotellaT synthetic 5W40. Change every 3k miles. Also use it in my diesel car.
SteveB

Here's a link to the owner's manual.

owner's manual

It's a .pdf file so it takes awhile to load. You can save it for future reference.

Stick to a full synthetic. You should use a 10W-40 or a 15W-50. I use Amsoil 20W50 or Mobil 1 20W-50. Both are expensive but I don't believe in compromising quality for price when it comes to oil.

Make sure the oil is JASO certified which means it won't mess up your clutch. The motorcycle versions of Amsoil and Mobil are certified.

You've got most of the info you need in this thread already. I'll just add two things. First, the filter can't be ignored if you're trying to make maximum use of the oil. I know you didn't ask about this, but I use Purolator PureOne filters (PL14612). If you research M/C filters online, you'll come up with some helpful info on this subject. Also, don't worry too much about the exact oil level showing in the sight glass when you do the change. My dealer told me that the difference between the top and the bottom of the glass is only a couple ounces. When I change oil and filter, I buy four quarts, and that's exactly what I put in. If that amount doesn't push the level over the top of your Speedy's sight glass, you can do the same.

Jack

Good advice here.
Takes just under four quarts on an oil and filter change. If you overfill, you may get oil out the breather (messy). Use the sight glass with the bike upright and level. Have someone sit on it and balance if you don't have a jack.

I use 10W40 Mobil-1 4T. tried 20W50 and my gas mileage dropped, so back to 10W40.

Be sure and fill the filter up before you put it on the bike. It may seem fill and 30 seconds later air bubbles come up and it needs more oil.

Thank you all!!!

Not my intention to highjack thread but thought this might be of interest.
My dealer did the first 500 mile service and said my next one wasn't due until 6000 miles (also mentioned in owners manual). I asked when I could switch to synthetic oil and he said (and I've heard from others)it is too early as the motor needs break in and the valves won't seat. I am at 3000 miles now and wondering if I should bother with a 3K change at all and wait for 6K to switch to synthetic.

I don't know about others here, but my dealer switched to synthetic at the 500 mile oil change. I thought that was standard procedure. The synthetic will allow you to go 6000 miles or one year as recommended in the owner's manual.

Last Spring I had to get my engine casing completely replaced and had to do the break-in oil (500 miles) again, but now back on a 1 year/6K schedule. I usually put about 4500 miles a year, so I get mine done the same month every year.

Changed to full syn at 500 (first) mile change. It's broken in by then.

Yep, full syn. at the 500 mile change, if things aren't broken in by then they never will be. I would look for advice elsewhere if they want you to run dino oil for 6,000 miles. Full syn. you can run that long between changes or once a year what ever comes first.

Thanks, I was going to change oil this weekend anyway as I was extremely hesitant to run 6k on conventional oil but now I'll switch over to synthetic at 3k.
That's what I like about synthetic, lazy man's oil change.

And yes, I am switching from the Eugene, OR. shop and checking out the Beaverton, OR. shop tomorrow. Maybe I'll buy an oil filter and oil while I'm there.

speeking of oil my 02 BA has a oil leak down around the filter but it is not my filter does anybody know if there is a problem with that

It has been posted that the neutral safety switch near the filter leaks eventually. Not sure if that's always or just one some but it's a good place to check.

I went through my receipts and found my 500 mile service invoice from Cycle Parts in Eugene, OR.

"My trusted dealer" used 4 quarts of Torco 10/40 conventional motor oil ($5.50/qt is not synthetic), a K&N-191 oil filter and told me my next oil change would be at 6000 miles. It is even written on the invoice "Reg oil". I will not be back to that dealer.

Don't fret using regular oil. The synthetic is better, but you could probably put vegetable oil in it and have it run ok.
Ok, probably not really Crisco, but you get the idea.
I know guys that is all they use, the cheap stuff, bikes run just fine.
I use the shell rotella T diesel oil. I guess it is a semi-synthetic, but have had no problems in many miles in all extremes of temp, even with the big bore.