I only have 30 hours on mine so far. I changed the oil at 10 hours, and put in SAE 10W30 as indicated in the manual (the manual also recommends Yamalube). Now I am hearing problems about regular motor oil (is the SAE "regular?") about clutch slippage, etc. and want to be sure I put the right kind in from here on out. I can't believe they would recommend an oil that could be harmful, is that what they are doing with the SAE 10W30 recommendation?

Anyway, if you could give me specific recommendations, I would appreciate it! I did a search and someone specified using Mobile 1 MX4T 10W40. Is this a good one to use? Where I ride, it is between 10 and 90 degrees 99% of the time, as indicated in the 10W30 chart.

By the way, I have a Honda dealer real close to my house, but the Yamaha dealer is a half hour away, so a Honda equivalent that is just as good would be preferable to me since I can pick it up much easier whenever I need it. I also have an Advance Auto real closeby.

Thanks!

 

Not sure but I would recommend at least a motorcycle specific oil above the regular car stuff...advance auto carries it in valvoline and mobile...

 

You cant go wrong with Mobile 1 MX4T. I've been using it in my kodiak for the last 1500 miles. I use it all my ATV's. Check out there web site. You dont want an oil that has friction modifiers. You can use the honda oil or the yamaha too. They dont make there on oil, just put there name on it. Do a search on oil and listen to the man who knows oil more than most "Reconranger". Read some of his post about oil and you"ll be up on this oil thing.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

OK, I will pick up that and go with it.

Can it really be that the oil Yamaha SPECIFIES, SAE10W30, can be harmful? I am not using it any longer for sure, but I already have used it and wonder if it caused any harm.

Also, how many hours is a good rule of thumb between oil and filter changings? 10 hours seems awfully quick.

 

No the yamaha oil has not hurt a thing. It does not have friction modifiers. If you want to be up on the oil thing do like I said and read some of Reconrangers post about oil.Go by what your manual says about oil changeing. The 10 hour rule applys to race quads like the YFZ or 450R

 

The easy way to tell if the oil is good for the machine is on the label. Its got to say SG rating, and it must not have the star burst energy conserveing label. The star burst symbol means moly has been added.

 

CamoKodiak,

The manual said SAE 10W30, so I got AUTOMOTIVE SAE 10W30 like you would get for your car. I was wondering if that is harmful.

Thanks for all the advice, fellas!

 

Don't worry about using it once....


Your kodiak will be running long after most quads puke [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

I hope so! I love that damn thing more than I love my wife! Uh oh, here she comes...

 

I agree you'll be fine, but I wouldn't run the auto oil on a regular basis. I'd either run honda's 10w40 or the mobil 1 mx 10w40, which ever is cheaper/ easier to get.

I noticed walmart sells the oil filter for my kodiak the other day. That will save me a few miles/bucks.