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Posted by 49Reo
- September 10, 2015, 13:49:40 PMI bought a car once that had been using Amsoil for about 40,000 miles; car had around 55,000 or so (can't remember exactly, it was about 1980 something) had to replace the lifters; the thing sounded like a diesel engine. Went to Quaker State 10-30 and that care ran beautifully after that. I do like their gear lubes though.
As to my Drifter, Kawasaki synthetic is it; I was using Kaw dino oil the first 2 years I had it, and it always had a light knock/rattle in the top end on start up if it had been sitting for a long time, lke over the winter. After switching to Kaw synthetic, no more top end noise until this spring, which was my fault....never changed the oil before parking it for the winter. Which is something I always do as preventative maintenance, it just slipped my mind....
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 10, 2015, 13:31:43 PMWow that's rather disconcerting about Amsoil. A lot of my fellow Valkyrie drivers use it, and swear by it, but I've been using Valvoline too and have had no issues whatever with it. One reason I like it is I can buy it at Wally world 
.
Posted by Troll
- September 10, 2015, 12:02:25 PMI played around with a couple of different oils when I first got the Drifter. I quit messing around at about the 65,000 mile mark, and went back to my old standby, Valvoline. I use it in EVERYTHING I own and have been happy with the results for many years. The big difference between the oils I use in the Drifter and what I used in all my H-Ds is that I'm using motorcycle specific multigrade instead of straight grade racing oil. 10-40 Spring and Fall, and 20-50 in the hot weather. Let's just put my Amzoil complaint in a little perspective. Valve guides on 2 vehicles in less than 10,000 miles, on vehicles that don't EVER wear out valve guides, Blocker rings and a final drive pinion on a Peugeot, again something that doesn't wear out on these cars...that was enough for me...
Posted by Pilgrim
- September 10, 2015, 09:47:25 AMDang Troll..your making me paranoid. What oil do you use?
Posted by Troll
- September 10, 2015, 08:18:27 AMI'm not going into a long story about why I wouldn't use amzoil in anything, but after having to repair vehicles run on it, I know I wouldn't even use it to lube hinges on a garden gate.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 10, 2015, 07:27:29 AMI am using the Kawasaki 100% Synthetic S4 10W40 oil. When I did use the Amsoil everything just sounded louder and more clunky, and it was also 10W40. But I think area, and use has a lot to do with it. I am happy with the S4 and so will stick to it.
Posted by kw-retrorider
- September 10, 2015, 04:01:30 AMUse Amsoil in everything for the last 20 years.
Ratman: Believe I am using their 10W40. Have not had the issues you describe with my 800.....what viscosity is the Kawi synthetic you are using with good results?.. perhaps a heavier or straight weight oil?
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 09, 2015, 18:25:02 PMYeah, I thought when I ordered the filter it looked like the very same one that I've been putting on my Valkyrie (naked Goldwing). That is kind of funny.
Posted by chief
- September 09, 2015, 15:14:14 PMI have been using Amsoil in both the GW and Drifter for the past 10 years. I like it. I also use K&N filters on both... same filter for the Drifter and the GW... go figure.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 09, 2015, 14:21:45 PMOK, thanks for all the replies. Pretty much what I expected to hear (same thing most Goldwing riders say), but I just thought there might be some little "Kawasaki thing" I didn't know about why not to go with synthetic.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- September 09, 2015, 13:08:35 PMNot sure what the PO had in the bike when I bought it but it had been sitting for a bit, so first thing was an oil change. I did it with Kawasaki oil regular stuff, and ran it with that over the winter I was seduced by the Amsoil info. So switched over to that and man was the engine loud the shifting loud and rough, so after only 3 months (nearly the whole summer here) I switched over to Kaw synthetic oil, and have been using it ever since.
Posted by DC
- September 09, 2015, 13:01:59 PMI switched from dino to synth, when I first got my bike. The engine instantly ran much quieter.
Posted by chief
- September 09, 2015, 10:41:06 AMI switched to synthetic decades ago. All my vehicles use synthetic from the first oil change (nowadays many come with synthetic). I have never had an oil related failure. Synthetic handles moisture (and weather) and heat better, so it is great for bikes. I think the bike runs and shifts better with synthetic, but have no proof of that. AND, it lasts longer. I honestly have found no reason not to use synthetic. It is more expensive but not by enough for me to notice or give up the benefit.
Do a search here for "oil" and you will come up with a lot of info.Posted by pcarrell
- September 09, 2015, 09:18:51 AMI think it's a matter of taste really. I run synthetic, because I like the longer life of it and I think it keeps the engine a bit quieter. I know lots here who swear by dino oil. To each his or her own.
Posted by Tfrank59
- September 09, 2015, 08:04:33 AMAnother new guy question. So while I'm waiting for my baffles to come – bike's too loud to even run it the way it is – I might as well do all the regular maintenance on it. I ordered a filter and I went ahead and bought the same oil that I run in my Valkyrie – full synthetic four stroke motor oil, which is OK for a wet clutch (has no friction modifiers, moly or anything). And then I got to thinking, maybe I should ask the guys on the forum what they're running for oil. So I'm all ears, well cyber ears