Which Oil?

Scooby_WR1 · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:23

I gave the duke a service the other week but the clutch has started slipping, I'm guessing that it doesn't like synthetic oil?

I was just wondering what oil you guys recommend and how am I going to flush the old stuff out and will I have to replace filter again?

Dogbreath · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:27

What oil did you use in it? I've never had a problem with bike specific fully synthetic oil, it's the only thing I use in my bikes. Synthetic oils designed for car engines can and do cause problems with wet clutches.

Scooby_WR1 · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:39

It was castrol 10w40 motorbike oil.
A guy at work has recommended Silkolene, never heard of it myself but he seems to swear by it.

tom_e · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:47

I'm going to guess it may well just to coincidence that you changed the oil and now your clutch is slipping as that should be fine, Silkolene is decent stuff but like said I wouldn't have thought another oil change is going to help.

Is 10w40 the correct grade according to KTM?

wazza300 · 30 Mar 2016 at 12:53

Doesn't it state what type in your owners manual? Semi or fully synth

Checked the levels? It might slip if overfilled or underfilled

Scooby_WR1 · 30 Mar 2016 at 13:30

tom_e said:
I'm going to guess it may well just to coincidence that you changed the oil and now your clutch is slipping as that should be fine, Silkolene is decent stuff but like said I wouldn't have thought another oil change is going to help.

Is 10w40 the correct grade according to KTM?

The manual shows SAE 15w50 and SAE 10w40, I doubt it's going to be the clutch though as it's only done 10k.

Scooby_WR1 · 30 Mar 2016 at 13:32

wazza300 said:
Doesn't it state what type in your owners manual? Semi or fully synth

Checked the levels? It might slip if overfilled or underfilled

It doesn't say anything like that in the manual, I will check the level later.

ttaskmaster · 30 Mar 2016 at 13:33

KTM recommend you use 15w50 fully-synthetic, apparently...
I phoned the local KTM place up, although they also sent me this: http://www.ktm-parts.com/pdf/TechBull/TB0802.pdf

ShakenNstirred · 30 Mar 2016 at 19:16

Scooby_WR1 said:
It was castrol 10w40 motorbike oil.
A guy at work has recommended Silkolene, never heard of it myself but he seems to swear by it.

Some bikes just don't like full synthetic and get clutch slip.
the older R1's don't like it if the clutch is stock.
my ZR7 runs fine on Castrol full synthetic, but I am running stronger springs.
Silkolene is no better or worse than any of the big name oils, there all good
but people once they use one they like to stick with it.
a mate of mine will only use the brand rockoil in his zx10r, where I have stuck with Castrol.

The Deuce · 31 Mar 2016 at 20:10

I normally use Motul 5100 10/40 does the job

millsd44 · 31 Mar 2016 at 20:15

Castrol Power 1, my bike runs perfect on that and doesn't use a drop between changes either. I believe there is a fully synthetic version but I use the semi synthetic.

ElliorR · 31 Mar 2016 at 20:34

Motul 300V is a good fully synthetic, we put in all bikes brought in to us for servicing, unless they need semi or customer prefers semi, but all good motorcycle oils, the right grade for your bike, will suffice.

Craig321 · 1 Apr 2016 at 11:43

I've always just used Castrol Power 1 and not had a problem. As said above, just use what's recommended.

Scooby_WR1 said:
how am I going to flush the old stuff out and will I have to replace filter again?

I would just drain it overnight (filter & sump out) and fill with proper stuff. Should be fine.