92KK 84WW Olaf
Life time member
Number of posts : 7955
I seem now to hit 20-25,000 miles a year.
Oils have changed so much since Ks were designed.
I don't put mineral oil in anything. While it works its got to be changed a lot more frequently because it doesn't have long life. Diesel cars in 80s were change oil 2,000 miles although that was partly to do with fuel quality. My Honda fours back in the 70s were change at 2,000 miles running on mineral oil because that's all there was. Even then people fought over whether you used Castrol GTX or Duckhams.
Semi and fully synthetic oils last much longer and retain their quality better. For the extended life you need fully synthetic and then you can go for very long service intervals. This works for fleet users because it extended costly service intervals.
I don't get hung up on the brand name, love those debates where 'mine goes 0.002mph faster with X brand or I get 0.5 miles extra per tank of fuel. Reality is none of us will notice the difference and it may be the case its actually the same oil with a different name on the container. You can go to Lidl, Aldi, Halfords or many more and buy oil that meets the spec.
Manufacturing tolerances have improved and improved engine management has allowed closer tolerances meaning thinner oils are needed hence 5 and 10W for cold starts. On old school, old or well worn engines 5W may struggle to get up oil pressure. The upper 30 may be too thin when engine is hot and clearances open up a little, in extreme hot you will see 50W specd.
There are endless heated discussions on oils but while mineral oil will work bottom line is it has been superceded by improved technology.
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1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles.
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles
Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500