Te 250 2011 oil choice

[Tinken]

When you look at oil discussion forums, everyone seems to be overly concerned with shear strengths when flow should be your concern. Shear strength doesn't separate the bearings, flow does. I posted this really nice article in a past thread.

 

[venturini]

What's the shop's name?

Just got off the phone with my local shop. He confirmed that it was 15w-50. The shop that originally recommended it was Hall's. They had found that in the 310, it offered a little better scuff protection. He also stated that most of the bearings in that motor/transmission are open caged (a few around the valves and cam lobe are not open caged).

 

[Tinken]

I guess it's a difference in opinion, the higher scuff protection from a higher viscosity doesn't make any sense to me since it's flow that separates your surfaces, not viscosity. When we raced these engines, we actually had to drill out the galleries to get enough flow through the main bearing so that we didn't burn them out. Don't take this the wrong way, you're not going to blow up your engine with 50w oil, it will work just fine. But you may experience a little smoother shifting/clutch work with the slightly thinner viscosity.

 

[Mike-AK]

I'm going to try Rotella T6 5W40 and a stainless mesh filter. Hopefully the increased flow of the slightly thinner oil along with the smaller pressure drop across the filter will be a winning combination, and as cheap as I can get it at Walmart I can change it after every couple rides.

 

[farmer_luke]

Just got off the phone with my local shop. He confirmed that it was 15w-50. The shop that originally recommended it was Hall's. They had found that in the 310, it offered a little better scuff protection. He also stated that most of the bearings in that motor/transmission are open caged (a few around the valves and cam lobe are not open caged).

I bought my 2012 TE250 from Halls and they did recommend Spectro 15W-50.

Spectro Platinum SX4 15W-50
at 100 C = 17.2 cSt.
at 40 C = 138 cSt.
$12/qt

Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-50
at 100 C = 17.
at 40 C = 110.
$8/qt

Mobil 1 5W-50
at 100 C = 17.5 cSt.
at 40 C = 108 cSt.
$9/qt

Mobil 1 15W-50
at 100 C = 18 cSt.
at 40 C = 125 cSt.
$8/qt

Shell Rotella T6 5W-40
at 100 C = 14.2 cSt.
at 40 C = 87 cst.
$6/qt

I didn't research prices too much. Basically the first one I saw I went with. The only one my local Wal-Mart carries is the Rotella T6, but the 14.2 cSt at 100 C scares me so I think I'll probably go with Mobil 1 5W-50.

Can someone tell me what the different abbreviations mean and which ones are important for a Husky TE250? I see that Mobil 1 is API SN, SM, SL, SJ and ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 and has a quality level of API CF, but I have no idea what all that means.

*edit to add Castrol

 

[venturini]

The only oil from Wal-Mart that I'll touch in Rotella T Triple porctection 15w-40---if they have it, that is---it's Wal-Mart so usually I have to go elsewhere. I use that in my KTM per the recommendation from Rekluse when I bought an auto-clutch. IIRC, what you are looking for is JASO MA rating. The rest of the additives (friction modifiers) could cause issues with a motorcycle's clutch.

I just picked up some Silkolene Pro4 SX 15w-50 from the local shop----$16 versus $13 for the Castrol Husky recommends. Still a bit spendy but I'm not racing the 310 anymore so oil changes a much farther apart.

 

[Tinken]

I didn't research prices too much. Basically the first one I saw I went with. The only one my local Wal-Mart carries is the Rotella T6, but the 14.2 cSt at 100 C scares me

Why does that scare you?

 

[Mike-AK]

I bought my 2012 TE250 from Halls and they did recommend Spectro 15W-50.

Spectro Platinum SX4 15W-50
at 100 C = 17.2 cSt.
at 40 C = 138 cSt.
$12/qt

Castrol Power 1 Racing 4T 10W-50
at 100 C = 17.
at 40 C = 110.
$8/qt

Mobil 1 5W-50
at 100 C = 17.5 cSt.
at 40 C = 108 cSt.
$9/qt

Mobil 1 15W-50
at 100 C = 18 cSt.
at 40 C = 125 cSt.
$8/qt

Shell Rotella T6 5W-40
at 100 C = 14.2 cSt.
at 40 C = 87 cst.
$6/qt

I didn't research prices too much. Basically the first one I saw I went with. The only one my local Wal-Mart carries is the Rotella T6, but the 14.2 cSt at 100 C scares me so I think I'll probably go with Mobil 1 5W-50.

Can someone tell me what the different abbreviations mean and which ones are important for a Husky TE250? I see that Mobil 1 is API SN, SM, SL, SJ and ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4 and has a quality level of API CF, but I have no idea what all that means.

Where did you find the Mobil 1 5W50? My local distributor says they can't get it.

*edit to add Castrol

 

[farmer_luke]

Why does that scare you?

17 down to 14 seems significant. I think I saw earlier where you said 1 cSt isn't a big deal but 7 definitely is, and 4 is more than 1 and getting close to 7 . If 17 cSt is producing good pressure maybe 14 wouldn't be? The unknown is scary.

Mike-AK

Where did you find the Mobil 1 5W50? My local distributor says they can't get it.

I buy a lot of stuff from amazon.com . With a Prime membership you get "free" 2-day shipping. Just sit on your butt and buy stuff and it shows up at your door in a couple days.

 

[Tinken]

17 down to 14 seems significant. I think I saw earlier where you said 1 cSt isn't a big deal but 7 definitely is, and 4 is more than 1 and getting close to 7 . If 17 cSt is producing good pressure maybe 14 wouldn't be? The unknown is scary

Forgive me, sometimes I find it challenging to explain something complex and confusing like this on a forum board.

When your oil reaches 150°C, your viscosity is 3.5-4.5cst and you still have enough pressure, and your flow has increased considerably. An oil product at 13cst@100°C may drop well below 3.5cst @ 150 and that would make me uncomfortable. Anything higher than 4.5 is unnecessary and limits flow.

@150°C
M1 0w40 is 3.8cst $6.47/qt.
M1 5w50 is 4.3cst $11.98/qt.
M1 15w50 4.5cst $25/5qts, which is around $5/qt.
Shell Rotella T6 5w40 4.2 $21.36/gallon, which is around $5.34/qt.
Motul 300V 5w40 4.51
Red Line 5w30 3.8
Red Line 0w40 4.0
Red Line 20w60 7.0
Castrol Syntec 5w50 4.3
M1 5w40 Turbo Diesel Truck 3.8
Amsoil 10w40 4.52
Torco 10w40 4.8 $21.36/qt.

Any of these products will work perfectly in your engine, the difference between them is their viscosity at start up.

 

[Tinken]

The only thing we have to fear, is running out of beer.

 

[JRE]

None of the auto parts places around me carry 10w50, only 20w50 and the bike shops want an arm and a leg for it. I ordered 5 quarts which should last me awhile...I only have time to ride once every few weeks.

 

[Tinken]

Do you have any Walmarts out there in Cincinnati?

 

[JRE]

Yes sir

 

[Tinken]

Walmart should have a wide selection for you to choose from, Mobil, Shell, sometimes even Redline, etc. I see T6 on sale there from time to time as well.