P500 Oil Recommendations

[TCJ2436]

Hey all. I’m new to the P500 family, and am getting ready to do my first oil change. Wondering what the concensous is on what brand oil is best to use? I’ve heard many suggestions ranging from only using Honda oil, to Royal Purple, to NAPA brand(which I’ve been told is made by Valvoline), to everything in between. Care to share what you guys use? Thanks up front!

 

[Buford]

Personally, I would run a mineral oil for a while longer before switching to synthetic. The Honda GN4 oil has a proven track record, and when you're only talking 3.2 quarts, the extra cost isn't enough to matter.

 

[NitroxDiver]

Cant go wrong with the Honda oil. But I have used the both the Honda oil and the Valvoline ATV/motorcycle oil with good results. I didn’t make the switch to synthetic until the 500 mile service. I feel the most important thing is to pick a good oil with the proper rating and stick with it. I switched over to the Valvoline because of its easy availability (Walmart, or about any parts store).

 

[tomcj2]

I use NAPA Synthetic for everything EXCEPT my P500. Because the transmission and engine use the same oil (as does the
Lamborghini Miura) I use Honda oil.
Here is what the manual shows.

 

[TCJ2436]

I use NAPA Synthetic for everything EXCEPT my P500. Because the transmission and engine use the same oil (as does the
Lamborghini Miura) I use Honda oil.
Here is what the manual shows.
View attachment 93781

Hey all. I’m new to the P500 family, and am getting ready to do my first oil change. Wondering what the concensous is on what brand oil is best to use? I’ve heard many suggestions ranging from only using Honda oil, to Royal Purple, to NAPA brand(which I’ve been told is made by Valvoline), to everything in between. Care to share what you guys use? Thanks up front!

Thanks you guys for your replies. I think I’ll head on down to the Honda dealer this morning and get me some Honda oil.

 

[alloutdoors]

I too use GN4 from Honda for decades with no problems... In fact, watching post for years the chance of a oil related failure is relatively low, except for those taking units swimming then drowning or excessive abuse, LOL...

 

[SouthwestORV]

I'm thinking the same thing - after my Little Sahara Sand Dunes trip this coming week my new Pioneer will have at-or-over 100 miles on it. It will be time for some fresh aceite. Although, I admit I'm leaning toward the Honda "Synthetic" HP4S.

 

[Chuckerbird]

I've been using the Honda synthetic hp4s since the 3rd oil change. Seems to shift better with the synthetic oil. I also changed the gear oil to 85/140 synthetic. A lot less gear noise.

 

[alloutdoors]

I'm a dinosaur and haven't gone to synthetic oil, LOL

 

[SouthwestORV]

I've been using the Honda synthetic hp4s since the 3rd oil change. Seems to shift better with the synthetic oil. I also changed the gear oil to 85/140 synthetic. A lot less gear noise.

Cool! Which brand of gear oil did you go with? Where did you buy it?

 

[SouthwestORV]

I'm a dinosaur and haven't gone to synthetic oil, LOL

You can sit back and bask in the satisfaction that the rest of us are blowing our hard earned $ on unnecessary synthetics, while we sit back and feel comforted that we (believe) we're using something better.

 

[Chuckerbird]

Cool! Which brand of gear oil did you go with? Where did you buy it?

Just some 85-140 oil I had. Used it when I was working to quite some noisy rear ends in some trucks on the job site. It is called Hydo- Tech. Was really expensive. I remember the boss complaining about the cost.

 

[MarlinWalker]

I use Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40 in mine. It is non-energy conserving and meets JASO-MA specs, so it is suitable for wet clutches. A lot of people use this stuff in their bikes to 4 wheelers to just about anything else with a wet clutch. Its quite a bit cheaper than a power sports synthetic like Honda and from oil analysis's to customer testimonies, it seems to be just as good. I have a pet peeve with buying higher priced Honda oil just because it's Honda and "I'll sleep better". If I can't find some form of evidence that the Honda oil is better, which I can't, I won't use it on that principle.

I use the Rotella T6 as kind of a fleet oil and buy it by the 2.5 gallon jug which saves a little money. I put it in my Honda Foreman 450, lawnmower, generator, and pressure washer. I'm sure it's a bit over kill putting synthetics in things like the lawnmower but it makes it handy having one universal type for all the motors in the garage. Before I purchased the P500 I used Rotella t4 15W-40 conventional for all of the above. It was fine and met all the requirements but I figured I'd go synthetic with a brand new SxS.