P500 Engine Oil

[Montecresto]

Is Honda GN4 OEM oil fully synthetic, tier 3/4?????

 

[joeymt33]

I have used amsoil 0-40 4 stroke (code AFF) full synthetic in all my off road vehicles, including my pioneer 500. Started using it in my 2002 forman 450 when it was new and has been in everything i've had. Great oil, totally sold on it, reduces required maintenance time as it lasts twice as long. Gives superior protection. Cost is about double but is offset due to the fact it lasts twice as long..

It's definitely good oil, but if you pay double the price and double the interval you just break even.

I'll challenge you, does it give superior protection? An oil analysis will tell you for sure.

I drive 50-60k per year in my career. I put lots of miles on my truck as well as the other vehicles in the fleet. We are hauling equipment 100% of the time and tow trailers regularly. Point is, we aren't delivering milk in the neighborhood. We drive our trucks to 200k regularly and save a lot of money by purchasing blended oil. The occasional oil analysis tells us we are not wearing our engines.

Plus, I like to service often so I can give my vehicle more often inspections.

I'm not saying my my way is the right way, nor I'm am I saying yours is the wrong way. I just wanted to make it public knowledge that there's more to learn about oils vs what the salesman tells you.

 

[Montecresto]

I use Honda HP4S which is a tier 3 oil but still very good. It's a 10-30 wt.

I don't believe that for our application the tier 4 oils are worth the price. There are many applications where those high priced oils should be used though. I like to use tier 3 oils in my vehicles and change them often. That way I'm performing vehicle inspections more often and will catch water in oil or low fluid somewhere etc.

To the bolded, any idea where this can be found by the gallon.

 

[joeymt33]

To the bolded, any idea where this can be found by the gallon.

Are you looking for the Honda HP4s?

I was told that it's not made in gallon jugs.

 

[Montecresto]

Are you looking for the Honda HP4s?

I was told that it's not made in gallon jugs.

That's what I'm finding. I just want a good quality synthetic suited to the P-500 that's available in a gallon, if such exists.

 

[Montecresto]

The mechanic shop at my Honda Powersports dealer suggested to me Bel Ray Thumper (JASO MA compliant) 10W40. And they stock it in their inventory.

 

[Peanut]

I've gone to a Lucas 10w-40 Semi synthetic. I was sold on it because it was designed for wet clutch high rpm applications. We very rarely see temps below 0*c but our summers get pretty hot.

 

[Montecresto]

Received the $30.00 a gallon Bel Ray Thumper racing oil. Very interested to see how shifting improves when I get that installed latter this week.

 

[hambone]

I hate engine oil threads. I don't know why I replied to this one and checked the box.
Here is my issue. It seems what someone buys and uses is the best oil ever. Not always, but a lot.
Does anyone here do oil analysis to see what it is actually doing?
Use a good name brand oil, API certified, keep up your intervals and you will be fine.
I am not a fan of oil companies using 33% of income on advertising.
Just my opinion. NAPA sell a oil sample kit. Oil Analysis Kits
Do some testing if you really want to know. It will tell the truth.
Sorry for the rant.

 

[Montecresto]

NASCAR uses synthetic oil.

 

[scottn57]

I use full synthetic in my street bikes and run long oil change intervals. The stuff (AMsoil usually) works great and holds up well. For something like the P500 with dirty and muddy conditions with frequent oil changes it really isn't worth it to run synthetic, IMO.

 

[ehart814]

I have been using Amsoil for a while. I use it in my Harley, with great results (smoother shifting, practically zero consumption). Their motorcycle oil is top notch. I have personally seen a fully built (big bore, high comp, ported and polished big valve head, high lift cam, etc), air cooled Honda 400EX run for over ten years using the Amsoil 10W40 motorcycle oil. This engine is still running strong - and still even has the original clutch plates. I also use it in my quads, and my car at the moment.

Amsoil puts all the data out there for you to see. This comparison is a few years old now, but check out how it compares to other oils:

AMSOIL Performance Testing Archives

Personally, I am willing to pay a little more for the added protection. I spend a lot on my machines, and I take care of them. And if you decide to sell, I find that potential buyers like to hear that you spent a little extra on maintenance.

If you change your oil more often than needed, chances are your machine will run as long or longer than expected - no matter what oil you use. If you have any questions about Amsoil, feel free to ask me. If you spend $100 or more per year on oil, and are interested in Amsoil, sign up as a preferred customer. It costs $10 and you get wholesale pricing, so it really doesn't cost more than using synthetic oil from Walmart. I can help you get started.

Full disclosure - I am an Amsoil dealer, but I don't do it to earn money. I am a believer in their products, and I am not making any effort to sell oil to anyone on the forum. I just buy for myself and my friends that want it.

 

[Kilroy]

I was wondering about different weight oil myself. I just bought a P500 the other day. I have used Shell Rotella T6 in all my motorcycles with good results. Is 5W40 ok in the P500? I live in Missouri and ride all year long.

 

[ehart814]

Probably wouldn't hurt it. I run 10w-40 all year. The manual says 10w-40 is good down to like -20F or something like that. No matter what oil brand or weight you pick, use a grade/weight that the manual agrees with. I believe it is a bad idea to use something the manual does not recommend.

 

[Montecresto]

Been running the Bel Ray Thumper for a couple hundred miles now and that's definitely what I'm sticking with. My shifting has smoothed out nicely.

 

[ohanacreek]

I was wondering about different weight oil myself. I just bought a P500 the other day. I have used Shell Rotella T6 in all my motorcycles with good results. Is 5W40 ok in the P500? I live in Missouri and ride all year long.

I would check the owners manual, just use whatever it specs and you will be fine.

 

[MB_Rider]

So I gotta do my first oil change in the spring and I spoke to a honda service rep for some advice on oils other than what they recommend. He told me that they recommend synthetic oil should NOT be used within the first 10,000km (6,250m). Reason being that the oil is thinner (Can't quite figure that out, smaller molecules maybe?) and won't protect the engine that has not been "broken in", and that the minerals in the conventional oil will better protect the clutch since synthetic oils lack those minerals. He did say that they are suggest P5 owners use 10W40 as oppose to the recommend 10w30. This what a Honda service has told me take for what's it's worth I plan on using HN4 10w40 and when my warranty is done then move on to synthetic 10w40.

 

[Montecresto]

So I gotta do my first oil change in the spring and I spoke to a honda service rep for some advice on oils other than what they recommend. He told me that they recommend synthetic oil should NOT be used within the first 10,000km (6,250m). Reason being that the oil is thinner (Can't quite figure that out, smaller molecules maybe?) and won't protect the engine that has not been "broken in", and that the minerals in the conventional oil will better protect the clutch since synthetic oils lack those minerals. He did say that they are suggest P5 owners use 10W40 as oppose to the recommend 10w30. This what a Honda service has told me take for what's it's worth I plan on using HN4 10w40 and when my warranty is done then move on to synthetic 10w40.

I can’t imagine that they would consider the break in period for a UTV would be over 6,000 miles. 😳

I’ve been running synthetic in mine since 1,000 miles. In fact I’ve gone to synthetics in everything and my machine seems the better for it.

 

[HUCK]

So I gotta do my first oil change in the spring and I spoke to a honda service rep for some advice on oils other than what they recommend. He told me that they recommend synthetic oil should NOT be used within the first 10,000km (6,250m). Reason being that the oil is thinner (Can't quite figure that out, smaller molecules maybe?) and won't protect the engine that has not been "broken in", and that the minerals in the conventional oil will better protect the clutch since synthetic oils lack those minerals. He did say that they are suggest P5 owners use 10W40 as oppose to the recommend 10w30. This what a Honda service has told me take for what's it's worth I plan on using HN4 10w40 and when my warranty is done then move on to synthetic 10w40.

Ya cant go wrong with that plan .