Tranny Motor Oil

RMCoastie

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Oct 25, 2005
115
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I got me a new 05 RM250 and don't wanna go to the Bel-Ray or any expensive 80w oil just yet. Im wondering what would be the best 10w-40 motor oil for now? synthetic, half synthetic, plain old cheap? Any Brands recommended? Thanks.
 

jackdrinker

Member
Apr 11, 2003
431
0
regular straight weight motor oil... non-low E... it will say right on the back, look fo rthe SAE circle, if it says energy conserving, it's low e..

use a straight 30,40 or 50W
 

a454elk

Mexicutioner
LIFETIME SPONSOR
Jun 5, 2001
7,529
18
Ditto, try what Jack said and go from there. It'll probably shift nice with a 40 weight oil inside.
 

u8dirt

~SPONSOR~
May 4, 2002
21
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I been using atf for the last two years now. Just recently did a gear swap in my tranny and everything looked great. :aj:
 

john3_16

Member
May 17, 2004
808
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ATF works really good with a wet clutch...You'll get very good feel at the lever with it and your bike will feel like it revs quicker due to the reduced drag from the thin oil...However, you need to change at least every other ride...ATF is designed to lubricate the transmission while allowing clutch plates to grab effectively...

If you don't feel comfortable with ATF, just go with a regular petroleum oil that is missing the words "energy conserving" in the circular api label....10W30 weight and lower are usually the ones that are in the energy concerving category..10W40 and above are usually fine but make sure to always look at the label....Straight 30W is probably the best choice of regular petroleum oils.
 

rob129

Member
Jun 27, 2004
81
0
ATF is great for the clutch but motor oil is better for the tranny. I would rather replace a clutch than a tranny. I currently use Mobil 1 15-50, the red capped bottle. My bike shifts like butter...real nice! I previously used Honda tranny fluid, the stuff in the red bullet shaped bottle. Worked fine but I like the Mobil 1 better. ;)
 

2-Strokes 4-ever

~SPONSOR~
Feb 9, 2005
1,842
4
Missouri
I've never been real satistied with the friction material Suzy uses for their plates...will glaze over when they've gotten hot, and when using 10w40 I have to take them out and de-glaze every other ride (drags and causes stalls in tight woods) ATF type F works real well to avoid this, but yes... it's not so great for the tranny gears. I've had good luck mixing 400cc of ATF and 300cc of straight 30 or 40w (depending on summer/winter.) Change every-other ride. For my 03, I've heard KX250 plates bolt right in.
 

Vic

***** freak.
LIFETIME SPONSOR
May 5, 2000
4,008
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The 15w40 diesel oils work well.
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
1,409
0
rob129 said:
ATF is great for the clutch but motor oil is better for the tranny.

Last I checked, there were a lot more gears inside a car transmission than a car engine, i.e. Type F ATF is just fine for a dirt bike transmission.
 

bleeds

Member
Oct 17, 2005
172
0
New to 2 strokes. BY tranny oil, do you mean that plastic screw type oil plug on the side of my 82 CR250R is NOT to lube the bottom end of my motor? Like it doesnt use a OIL pump to pump oil to my crank, and rod bearings? Sorry if I seem like an idiot, as I am just learning things that are 2 stroke. I learn fast and I dont forget. I also dont give advice uneducated either, so if I dont know.. well I wont claim to. I have been using Castrol GTX motor oil on mine. Clutch seemed ok. If 10 w 30 isnt what I should be using.. what should I buy?
Bleeds
 

ComradeMikhail

Mi. Trail Riders
Member
May 2, 2005
244
0
That plastic screw type oil plug you're talking about is where you put in transmission oils. It will lube your transmission and clutch.
 

bclapham

LIFETIME SPONSOR
Nov 5, 2001
4,340
0
05 RM250, and ive run valvoline 10/40 for a whole year of racing or practising nearly every weekend with no probs, the clutch is still well within spec. I ride a lot of sand and i really abuse the clutch.

But, i replaced 3 of the springs with the stronger barnett ones.
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
1,409
0

The crank and rod of your engine are lubricated by the oil you mix in your gas. The transmission and clutch are lubed by the Castrol GTX you've been using. There is no oil pump at all.
 

bleeds

Member
Oct 17, 2005
172
0
Good then I am not crazy after all. I was looking at all that stuff when I had the side engine cover off fixing the shifting fork trying to figure out how that oil was going to get to the rod bearings. LOL. My Brother has an FL250 with NO oil pan..LOL we are both new to 2 strokes and were scratching our heads..

So is Castrol GTX ok for my bike. I dont seem to have any clutch problem...
Bleeds
 

kshackleton

Member
Oct 12, 2005
109
0

ATF is a high pressure lube that is fine in a tranny. It is what is spec'd for the transfer case in my Bronco.....pleanty of high pressure gears there when pulling in 4 low. No bike would ever develop gear pressures that come close. The gears will do fine so long as the ATF is kept clean.
 

robwbright

Member
Apr 8, 2005
2,283
0
I like the Mobil 1 15w 50 as well. I think its called Extended Performance now. Easy to find at Wal Mart or Auto Zone . . .
 

YFZRob

Member
Aug 2, 2005
38
0
I know the question is about non-2 stroke specific gear oil, but why don't any of you guys use the 2-stroke specific gear oil? Is it just a cost issue? I've always used the high buck stuff from Golden Spectro and Bel-Ray. Works great.....fluid always comes out nice and clean, and shifting is perfect.
 
Aug 5, 2005
4
0
IMO since theres no filtering it is more important to get the old oil out than to run some high tone expensive oil and hope it will hold up longer.

Theres nothing out of the ordinary going on in these gearboxes. To me it doesnt warrant using "special" oil that probably isnt that special anyhow.
 

YFZRob

Member
Aug 2, 2005
38
0
Well, I see it as a comparison more like to a manual tranny in a car. The only difference is clutch particle contamination. Neither have filters, but you go 15k+ miles on the car's tranny. Both have bearings, both have gears. A car's tranny benefits in the long run with a quality synthetic fluid, whether it's a Ford T5 running ATF or a japanese car's manual tranny running GL-4....they always shift better and have reduced friction from the use of high dollar synthetic fluids.

I guess it's really just a cost thing. I just don't want to be doing something wrong by putting high end stuff in my tranny. I know it may not do much over any regular motor oil or ATF (especially in short change intervals), I just sleep better at night with high end stuff in there......mainly because I'm as anal as it gets with my toys. :fft:
 

DLHamblin

Member
May 27, 2005
268
0

I have used the Bel-Ray 80W for..well too many years :nod:

I buy in bulk; its cheaper. I am happy with it so I continue using it. Nothing scientific but I feel my bikes have all shifted better using it vs ATF or plain engine oil in the tranny.
 

RMCoastie

~SPONSOR~
Oct 25, 2005
115
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Thanks for the help. I put Castrol GTX in it and called the dealership. They freaked out. put i only ran it for 5 minutes and only shifted up to 5th and back once. But I got it out and put in Belray 80w. I think im just panicing though but the tranny sounds louder now. I guess i never noticed it before because i was to busy in the break-in (holding on) to notice. But the 125 made the same noise and i ran the 80w in it. But I guess im just panicing because i still owe money on it.
 

jackdrinker

Member
Apr 11, 2003
431
0
I have my factory 03 RM250 manual in front of me and it says:::
SAE 10W30 for transmission fluid.....

So in goes the low E motor oil....
I would rather change my oil 8 times and spend $8 doing all that instead of once at $8.00....

80W is a hypoid type fluid and is really thick... i tried it in my 125 and hated it, shifted like poopoo.....

Go buy a case of quaker state straight 30 or 40 and be happy...Then tell the dealer to suck it...
 

mtk

Member
Jun 9, 2004
1,409
0
RMCoastie said:
Thanks for the help. I put Castrol GTX in it and called the dealership. They freaked out.

Of course they did, you didn't buy some $8/quart wonderfluid from them and they wanted that money really badly.
 

DLHamblin

Member
May 27, 2005
268
0

You used the wrong gear oil!

Don't use 80W Hypo; thats for differentials! That would make it worse! You want 80W 2-stroke Transmission oil; which by the way is about like 30W motor oil. At least on Bel Ray it will be marked as 2-stroke transmission oil. If it says the 80W Hypo gear oil; thats the wrong one!
 
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