Synthetic oil in 02 cr250

TOTALL · May 14, 2003

I have been running regular oil in my 02 cr250.I've heard that if I put synthetic in my transmisson the bike will shift better but, will this make my clutch slip?? :think: Anybody tried this?? Thanks TOTALL

chainsaw · May 15, 2003

I've never tried synthetic in any of my transmitions but I have heard that synthetic oil could cause slippage, so I myself try to avoid putting synthetic in my tranny and stick to the standard oils.

2002 YZ125

www.scramberlsmx.org

ps2112 · May 15, 2003

I run redline lightweight shockproof synthetic in my kx250 and it is worlds better than the Maxima I've tried. I have no wear or slippage in my clutch components and the shifting is buttery smooth. The big drawback to is price. This stuff is 12 bucks a quart and I change it every 5 races

Faded · May 15, 2003

You can run the Mobil 1 red cap 15w-50 without problems. If the search function was working you'd have loads of info. Try the archive forum....I know there is one really good thread there. ATF is another alternative.

bedell99 · May 15, 2003

The redline stuff worked good, but at $10/quart it was way too expensive. I have used everything from synthetic, to motor oil to special gear oil. (I'm going to get flamed for that statement).I believe withing certain limit they are all "almost" the same and notice hardly any difference to justify cost. I currently use the honda 80/85 gear lube.

Erik

TOTALL · May 15, 2003

Thanks guys

CRfury · May 15, 2003

I use the honda brand synthetic I think its called HP Trans. It says right on the bottle for CR model bikes only. It really makes the bike shift nice. It is fairly cheap to about 7$ canadian a quart.

MOLE111 · May 16, 2003

i've used mobil 1 red cap and immediately noticed a difference in shifting and i have had absolutely no clutch slipping problems . the red cap does not have the friction modifiers of mobil's other viscosity oils so i consider it safe to use .

john stu · May 16, 2003

ever think of using honda hp trans oil with says "specially formulated racing transmission oil for all honda cr models" i don't you can go wrong with that stuff i have been using it seince 1992 and works great so far, and best of all its not too expensive ether.if you read the back of the bottle it seems like the best choice for cr's.

Faded · May 16, 2003

I have only one complaint about the Honda gear oil and that is it can't take the heat. I'm referring to deep soft sand riding on a hot day where the bike is really working. Other than that it works wonders and I do use it unless I go to the dunes in the middle of summer.

john stu · May 16, 2003

what do you mean it can't take the heat?its 80/85w gear oil and i ride at southwick moto338 a national track that is all sand and i don't think you are riding a a harder sand track than southwick and my oil (honda hp trans) works great there all the time and i practice in the sand for hours at a time for southwick and i love that oil it holds up great.what problums are you having?

Faded · May 16, 2003

Originally posted by john stu
i don't think you are riding a a harder sand track than southwick

I'm sorry, I didn't explain myself enough. The sand riding I have here is not a track, it's the St. Anthony sand dunes. At 41,000 acres I think it might be a little larger than your track. In the summer the sand is dry, soft and deep and will put quite a load on a bike. There are a lot of elevation changes, things to climb, etc., and you're always changing gear. I'm not trying to argue, but I've found that out here in the summer (not in the spring or fall-lower temps then) the honda stuff seems to break down because of the heat/load. Problems include nochy shifts, burnt smelling and discolored oil. I've never run old stuff out there, it gets changed before I go and when I get back, and if it's really hot (+100f) It gets changed in the middle of the day (about 2-3 hrs on the oil). This is my experience with three different bike I've owned, and what I've witnessed on another three bikes that ride with me. The Mobil 1 red cap seems to work better out there. As I stated above, the Honda oil works great and the only time I don't use it is when I go to St. A's in the middle of the summer.

Here is a pic of Choke Cherry from the top, it's the 2nd largest hill to climp out there.

Faded · May 16, 2003

Here is another pic of Choke Cherry that kinda shows how steep it is.

bedell99 · May 16, 2003

I would personally say that is lot different than southwick. Anyway. Andrew when you where running the honda did you notice serious clutch fade due to the type of oil and did the mobil work better reducing the clutch fade.

I'm with John, I have never had a problem with the honda stuff, but if there is a better alternative I'm always willing to try it. What is your opinion, also how much is the mobil stuff.

Erik

marcusgunby · May 16, 2003

Now that uphill will test a oils heat properties.

Faded · May 16, 2003

Originally posted by bedell99
...when you where running the honda did you notice serious clutch fade...

...if there is a better alternative I'm always willing to try it...
Erik

With the Honda oil it never was/is a problem untill the stuff gets hot, then it's over. You can really feel the difference after you cook the oil and then fade becomes very apparent. Like I've said, the only place I've had this happen is the dunes in the summer. I'm not talking high heat, I'm talking about extreme heat. I tried ATF and had the same results. After I ran the Mobil 1 I didn't have any more problems. It seems to be more heat resistant. It's $3.58/qt at Walmart over here.

There is a reason I run the Honda oil when I'm not at the dunes though. The Mobil 1 works great in the sand, but for regular trails/tracks/whatever it makes shifts a bit nochy and seems to drag a little. These are just MHOs.

TOTALL · May 16, 2003

Guy's I bought the honda 80/85 gear oil.Put it in tonight and will try it this weekend.I will let you know.

john stu · May 22, 2003

faded you might have a point about that mobil oil not that i think of it maybe it is better in heat because its synthetic?hummmmm.... i have never noticed ANY problems with the honda but then again i run mobil 1 in all my cars and trucks and have never had any problems ether ,you think being 80/85 it would hold up up the heat whell but then again i don't think viscosty has anything to do with holding up to heat or does it?

Faded · May 23, 2003

John,

I agree with your line of thinking. You would think that the viscosity of the Mobil would dictate that it would be more resilient to the heat and that it's (synthetic) make-up might aid in raising the temperature at which the oil would break down. Why else would they recommend heavier weight oils for vehicles that reside in hotter climates and/or turn higher RPMs?

Unfortunately I don’t have any hard data to prove anything; I am basing this solely on my experience and the experience of others I ride with. I do know that it works for me in my bike under my (sand riding) conditions. As I’ve said before though the only time I choose to run the Mobil is in the sand in the summer. I’ve tried it for track/trail/playing and it seems a little notchy, and that is why I run the Honda stuff under these conditions (which accounts for 80-85% of my riding) where I have had zero issues. To me the St. Anthony sand dunes put more stress on a bike than any other terrain I have ever seen. If there is a weak link then the brutality of the dunes will expose it. When I choose to go I try and doing everything I can to prepare my bike for it and the only problems I’ve ever had were trying to find a clutch fluid to stand up to the heat. I consider myself lucky because there are a few of those ‘jet and forget’ guys and people that abandon required maintenance that I see pushing their bikes back.

If the Honda works for you then by all means run it. I do 80-85% of the time and I love it.

Synthetic oil in 02 cr250

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