A forum for owners of Yamaha TTR250 trail and enduro bikes!

Michael TTR250 · Veteran Member

Oil

petenz · Super Guru

Yamalube = Motal 5100
Motal 5100 is cheaper than Yamalube...

TT-R250M · Super Guru

Mineral oil is better to use for the break-in period IMO.

I use Castrol Activ 4T 15W/50 and am happy with the result. If the temperature there is over -5 degrees Celsius 20W/40 will be fine as well.

Jarrah

Michael TTR250 · Veteran Member

Hi Jarrah, I have heard that about mineral oil for the break in. Is the Castrol Activ 4T 15w/50 Mineral or Semi?

TT-R250M · Super Guru

Michael TTR250 wrote:
Hi Jarrah, I have heard that about mineral oil for the break in. Is the Castrol Activ 4T 15w/50 Mineral or Semi?

Castrol 4T 15W/50 is mineral oil.

The reason that mineral oil is better is that the viscosity hardly changes between hot and cold. The oil remains thick, even at high temperature's so there is less chance of small metal particles getting into the engine and more chance of it getting caught in the filter or dropping down into the sump. When you do your first oil change, you will see what I mean by metal particles getting caught in the filter. It takes awhile for the engine to wear the perfect groove into the barrel so expect this for the first 3~4 oil changes.

Jarrah

Michael TTR250 · Veteran Member

Hey Jarrah,

Did the first oil and filter change after the first ride which was 90ks, (see what you mean about metal particles in the filter). How frequently would you do the next few oil and filter changes, every 2nd ride??

Cheers, Michael

TT-R250M · Super Guru

The first 1~4 should be not far between. I like to change it every 1~2 rides depending on how far the ride is. If it is an all day offroad ride (about 60klms), I like to change it afterwards. Once you have got past the first 3~4 oil changes, you can start to extend the oil change period to twice or 3 times this.

Of course, this is going a little overboard and the period could be extended, but I like to play it safe.

Jarrah

Michael TTR250 · Veteran Member

Thanks for that, my rides tend to be a good 80-100kms so I think as you suggest perhaps after each ride for the next few.

Thanks again.

Cheers

comeragh · Senior Member

Everyone on this forum will probably tell me i am 100% wrong with my oil opinions , but i have always ran my bikes after break in on 10 40 semi synthetic oil bought in
5 litre containers for cars costing about 15 to 23 euro .
So long as it is not energy saver oil with additives.
I think bike specific oil is a con .
I only change oil about every 600 to 1000 miles .
In years of running bikes i have never had a single engine problem .
I put up 30k miles on a previous ttr with no issues .
My bikes are driven hard on and off road .
I dont think modern engine oil is like the stuff of old .
Over the years i have saved a fortune on buying bike specific oil at about 18 euro a litre .

ERBS · Veteran Member

I agree with that, Oils now have got so advanced that doing oil changes frequently is a thing of the past

The oils last so much longer now, and of a better quality, i personally only have to look at and smell of the oil to know when its past its best

I serviced my TTR and the oil had not been changed in a long time, as soon as i drained it out it smelt rotten and of petrol too, 1st oil change since i have owned it, its down to preference when oil should changed

TT-R250M · Super Guru

ERBS wrote:
its down to preference when oil should changed

Agreed!

As I said, I like to play it safe. I never let my oil go black, which will happen if left for longer than about 300klms.

I have already mentioned why mineral oil is better for the break-in period, if nobody listens, it's not my problem.

Jarrah

ERBS · Veteran Member

TT-R250M wrote:
ERBS wrote:
its down to preference when oil should changed

Agreed!
As I said, I like to play it safe. I never let my oil go black, which will happen if left for longer than about 300klms.
I have already mentioned why mineral oil is better for the break-in period, if nobody listens, it's not my problem.
Jarrah

Hi Jarrah, No one one will hold you to account as far as oils go, i think its down to how you use your TTR or any bike for that matter, its all relative at the end of the day

TT-R250M · Super Guru

ERBS wrote:

Hi Jarrah, No one one will hold you to account as far as oils go, i think its down to how you use your TTR or any bike for that matter, its all relative at the end of the day

Yeah I agree, it also depends on riding conditions (it is VERY dusty in Australia compared to most countries). Other factors would be what brand you choose and whether you use a synthetic blend or mineral, synthetic being better AFTER the break-in period as it extends the oil change period.

I am just meticulous about changing oil as I ride offroad in dusty conditions and don't mind to use the throttle a bit more than is needed. wink

Of course, it is up to personal preference in the end.

Jarrah

Michael TTR250 · Veteran Member

Thanks to all for their opinions, as a novice I find it helpful to get varied points of view and then make an informed decision.

As Jarrah mentioned the dust here is a killer as all of my riding is off-road I find my air filter needs cleaning after each ride (80-100ks). I also noted heaps of metal particles in the oil filter after the first two changes (as Jarrah suggested I would after a re-bore) so applying the same logic as the air filter, I can't see the point of leaving that crap (the metal particles) in there if it can be removed as easily as an oil and filter change.

Cheers,

TT-R250M · Super Guru

Michael TTR250 wrote:

As Jarrah mentioned the dust here is a killer as all of my riding is off-road I find my air filter needs cleaning after each ride (80-100ks). I also noted heaps of metal particles in the oil filter after the first two changes (as Jarrah suggested I would after a re-bore) so applying the same logic as the air filter, I can't see the point of leaving that crap (the metal particles) in there if it can be removed as easily as an oil and filter change.

Cheers,

Glad you see it the same way I do

The way I look at it, if you need to clean the air filter, the oil should be changed as well.

Happy to be of assistance!

Jarrah

TT-R250M · Super Guru

While we are on the subject, let's look at the Thumpertalk FAQ- http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm

As you can see, it is important to change the oil regularly and car engine oil is NO GOOD!

Jarrah