10w/60 engine oil

[rupertu]

Very useful blog... we are in Egypt on our round around expedition on KTM 990 Adventures and having bikes serviced in Sharm El Sheikh at an amazing KTM centre. Only down side is they are putting Motorex 20W-60 into the bikes which is extremely expensive (over 110 Euros for 4 litres) and usually bikes have 10W-60 oil.

Does anyone have any input of changing brand to Total orMobil ? or indeed another and whether 10W-50 as recommended in the manual is OK.

Also what is the difference berween Motorex Cross and Power Synt?

We know oil is the life blood of the bikes and we have very long expedition, but sometimes we cannot find the oil we want and not sure we can live with 100 Euro /4 litre oil for too long or we'll get very thin.

Thanks,

Rupert & Fanny
South Africa to China
www.bigbiketrip.net:)

Originally Posted by bajadog

Just found this piece of information about KTM's reason for
requiring 10W-60 oil.

"Limited Availability of the Endorsed Motor Oil
KTM recently sent dealers a bulletin reminding them that the required oil is of 10W-60 viscosity and has the JASO MA rating. Oils meeting these requirements are not widely distributed in North America, and not even every KTM dealer is actively stocking or using the endorsed Motorex Cross Power 4T 10W-60 oil. Many people have reported using 50-weight oils with no discernible problems, but the bikes are fairly new and not many people have racked up a lot of miles on them yet. It would be safest to use the endorsed oil, especially while the bike is under warranty.
Note that there's some indication that KTM has used silver bearings in the new LC4 motor. Using silver, instead of lead, provides greater strength than any other bearing material, and it also resists corrosion better and is more thermally conductive. Silver bearings are more typically found in heavy duty marine diesels or jet engines. Unfortunately, the detergents in automotive and motorcycle motor oils (primarily ZDDP) will attack and eventually degrade silver unless they are specially stabilized. This may be the reason behind KTM's strong endorsement of the Motorex Cross Power 4T 10W-60."

[aevans17]

I have a 2001 LC4 Duke II. I am the third owner, and bought my bike from the previous owner in Washington state. The owner before him lived in California, so the bike was originally sold in the US. I read this thread before doing my first oil change and was all ready to order Motorex 10W/60 for about $75 for 4Liters online. Before clicking the buy button, I checked my manual and it says this:
API: SG, SH
<===(-)=== 0 degrees C ===(+)===>
<===(-)=== 32 degrees C ===(+)===>
10W/40 | 15W/40
10W/50 | 15W/50

The text actually recommends using synthetic Shell Advanced Ultra 4, with rating SG and SH. I just put 2 quarts of Mobile1 full synthetic 15W/50 ($8 a quart) in. Is everyone else's manual different then mine?

What I don't understand, is why would you ever use 10W/60??? The 2 numbers (10 and 60) are a measure of viscosity. The 10W means viscosity at 0 degrees celsius, and the 60 is viscosity at some standard engine temerature (I think 100 C, but not sure.) If the bike likes oil that has a viscosity of 60, when warmed up, why wouldn't you want to use an oil who's viscosity is relatively the same at all temps? Wouldn't 15W/60 or 20W/60 be better?

[anzhsb]

that is not the problem. the problem is KTM only allow us to use motorex power cross 10w60 .

[rupertu]

It seems 10W-60 ioall researcs the oil for KTM LC4 and LC8engines according to all research I have done. We had to put in the racing spec 20W-60 in Egypt as that is all they had, but next oil change is back to 10W-60 Cross Power which pretty much everyone recommends. I suppose you could put a lesser 10W-50 if you were struggling in BFNW, but if you can order the right stuff best do that.

www.bigbiketrip.net

Originally Posted by aevans17

I have a 2001 LC4 Duke II. I am the third owner, and bought my bike from the previous owner in Washington state. The owner before him lived in California, so the bike was originally sold in the US. I read this thread before doing my first oil change and was all ready to order Motorex 10W/60 for about $75 for 4Liters online. Before clicking the buy button, I checked my manual and it says this:
API: SG, SH
<===(-)=== 0 degrees C ===(+)===>
<===(-)=== 32 degrees C ===(+)===>
10W/40 | 15W/40
10W/50 | 15W/50

The text actually recommends using synthetic Shell Advanced Ultra 4, with rating SG and SH. I just put 2 quarts of Mobile1 full synthetic 15W/50 ($8 a quart) in. Is everyone else's manual different then mine?

What I don't understand, is why would you ever use 10W/60??? The 2 numbers (10 and 60) are a measure of viscosity. The 10W means viscosity at 0 degrees celsius, and the 60 is viscosity at some standard engine temerature (I think 100 C, but not sure.) If the bike likes oil that has a viscosity of 60, when warmed up, why wouldn't you want to use an oil who's viscosity is relatively the same at all temps? Wouldn't 15W/60 or 20W/60 be better?

[North bay canada]

Originally Posted by anzhsb

Not sure anybody discuses about this before ? but I just bought a 690 duke III and I am that kind of person that if I can do it myself I will do it. I can find the 2 oil filters from ebay and no problem to ship it to malaysia for me . but that is a problem ... I can't find 10w/60 engine oil over here other then buy it from KTM dealer ... and it kind like very very expensive ... I am wandering did any of you guys using other grade engine oil like 10w/40 or 10w/50 which is widely available in the market.

Try using motul 7100 10w60

[aevans17]

Originally Posted by anzhsb

that is not the problem. the problem is KTM only allow us to use motorex power cross 10w60 .

I understand that the new 690 Duke uses 10W-60, and requires that the moil be Motorex power synth. My question was targeted twoards anyone who has a 2000-2002 LC4 640 (either Duke II or Adventure), and see if their manuals for recommend Motorex 10W/60 or Shell 10W-15W/50. Obviously mine is different since it does not recommend motorex.

[aevans17]

Originally Posted by North bay canada

Try using motul 7100 10w60

I'm not going to use 10W/60 since it doesn't say that I should in my manual. I'm going to run the 15W/50 for a few hundred miles. After that I'm going to drain the oil and check the screens/magnets for excessive fillings. If I don't see any and/or if I don't experience any issues I'm going to stick with Mobile 1. I emailed the guy who I bought the bike from and he said he didn't use a specific brand, but just bought whatever 15W/50 full synthetic that was on sale at the auto parts store. I'll post later once I see how it goes.

Rode the bike for over an hour on Saturday and Sunday. Let the bike cool down when Sunday night and checked the oil level. All seemed fine, and the oil color still looked clear. I've got my fingers crossed that all goes well.

P.S. Tried adding a link to the picture of my manual page, but it didn't work. Here's the link.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=771c6b1a25

[reddogs]

Originally Posted by Roadrogue

Seems a reasonable price. You've got 2 filters, 2 quarts of expensive oil and two screens to remove and clean, one of which requires removal of the lower exhaust "fairing". On a Duke 690 that is.

i use a cut in half milk jug with a rag under it as a shield to do the oil screens on my duke. no need to remove the muffler its just alil tricky getting one of the screens to line up but its doable. also id buy locally and just get a good brand oil, you dont have to use motorex. i wouldnt use car oil obviously main reason being is the api service rating is the newer sn which just means they dont put any of the good lubricating stuff in it. i personaly use rock oil racing 15w50 which is the exclusive oil my ktm dealer uses in all their bikes with no issues. a diy oil change from my local store is about $50 for premium synthetic oil

[JayT]

This only applies to bikes still under warranty which i think is valid for a standard 12 months after purchase from a dealership recommended by KTM, but as soon as you change the oil from the recommended brand and spec then the warranty for the ENTIRE bike is void.

MY Duke 690 from 2011 takes 10w60 Motorex, can't remember the specific type, either way the bottle has an enduro rider on it (if interested then pm me and i'll find out). It costs a bomb but if your planning on selling on your Duke or renewing the warranty then this is just a friendly heads up!