RM-Z450 2008 oil questions

[Summerville]

The manual calls for AE 10W-40, API SF/SG or SH/SJ with JASO MA but I was wondering if anyone recommends a different oil or weight for winter.

Also, when I was changing the oil it smelled like fuel. I have a dobeck afr+ so I could mess with settings to make it more lean and I also added some rad shrouds to hopefully help the engine run hotter. Should I look into a thermo-bob and engine cover? Any thoughts on keeping the oil from smelling like gas and running rough mid throttle?

 

[powdermuncher]

Thermobob snow deflector to keep the engine from being a ball of ice and keep the Intake clean. A lot of the running rich conditions are from partially clogged intakes. I can watch my buddies Yz exhaust go form clean to almost 2 stroke slobber as his Intake starts closing up. Also watch Breather tube if it is in a ball of ice nothing good comes from that either. There is not much to do once you cover the basics , most guys way overdue it.

 

[teal_210]

Add a thermostat and engine cover and you'll be good to go. A lighter weight oil will help that bike start a lot easier on cold mornings. Rmzs will push that 10 weight oil out the breather hose when cold.

 

[Summerville]

I have the breather hose routed to a better spot now (just inside shifter above the chain), and that seems to be staying ice free now. I don't have an engine cover though and I was hoping to stay away from a thermo-bob but I might as well put one on if I'm adding a thermometer.

 

[Summerville]

5w?

For snowbike use, would a 5w be a better idea. In other words, depending on temperature should I be concerned about the first number and try to match with conditions, or just run one weight oil at all times, summer and winter.

Also, I have a Rekluse clutch on it too and they recommend anything JASO MA, but that still doesn't answer my question on selecting the right weight oil for winter and snowbike demands. For example, I was looking at Rotella T4 Oil that is JASO MA approved and highly recommended by others for 4 stroke, but it is in 15w-40 weight.

 

[wwillf01]

If it is really cold 0 to 20ish I use a 0-40 (amsoil, arctic cat) if it is 20 and above I use a 10-50.... Really it becomes a starting issue in cold weather..... other than that the second number is for running...


15w rotella will be an issue I would use a 5w semi syn if thats the brand your using.. The blue bottle....

For snowbike use, would a 5w be a better idea. In other words, depending on temperature should I be concerned about the first number and try to match with conditions, or just run one weight oil at all times, summer and winter.

Also, I have a Rekluse clutch on it too and they recommend anything JASO MA, but that still doesn't answer my question on selecting the right weight oil for winter and snowbike demands. For example, I was looking at Rotella T4 Oil that is JASO MA approved and highly recommended by others for 4 stroke, but it is in 15w-40 weight.

 

[coryf89]

for a snowbike: get a 20L pail of rotella t6 5w-40 and done deal. life will be easy, your bike will be happy. change it every single ride/3 engine hours.

the W means WINTER. its the winter weight... the lower the better. 0-5w if you can. it wont hurt anything, will only benefit you.

rekluse recommends rotella.

under $10 per oil change. cheap insurance.

I got 380 engine hours from my crf450 crank running rotella T changed every 3-5 hours.


the snowbike is my baby, so I run the fancy synthetic t6. BUT, in my 2 stroke KTM, and my 4 stroke crf, I ran the plain ol, diesel rotella 15w40 oil for 8 years, zero problems. would probably work on our bikes just fine too, but the 15w is a tad thick for the cold morning starts.

with oil that thick, it can cake up to 3 seconds of idiling before oil reaches the top end in the winter.

a thermobob with a trailtech TTO temp gauge with the appropriate fitting to tie into the thermobob is a nice set up