Oil is often an afterthought for most ATVers, but it can actually make or break your machine. Obviously you wouldn’t run your quad without oil in it (because you wouldn’t make it too far), but should you use synthetic oil, or will conventional oil do the trick?
The basic breakdown is this: Synthetic oils are designed to withstand higher engine temperatures, reduce friction on engine parts, and resist thermal breakdown. Synthetic oils, because they are engineered, are made up of uniformly sized molecules, unlike conventional oil, because it comes from naturally occurring crude oil, which is made up of a collection of varied molecules (and the smaller molecules can evaporate when the engine gets hot). But, synthetic oil can also cost up to three times as much as conventional motor oil. Conventional oils do all of that to a much lesser degree and may contain trace amounts of contaminants. There are arguments for and against each type of oil, but the real catch is cost. If you are willing to pay more for synthetic oil, then your quad is probably better off with it than with conventional oil. But if you are like most ATVers, conventional oil works fine and fits nicely into your budget.
Pros: Fewer contaminants, doesn’t break down or evaporate as easily, works well in extreme hot or cold weather
Cons: Costs up to three times as much as conventional oil, should be used at the beginning of an ATV engine’s life (not on an old engine).
Pros: Easy to find, easy on the wallet, gets the job done.
Cons: Contains contaminants, more prone to viscosity breakdown.
As always, you can leave your opinion at the bottom to let us know which side of the great oil debate you fall on.
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Comments (2)
Gentlemen;
I have been a professional mechanic for 20+ years. Synthetic oils are by far much better than conventional oils. They provide much better lubrication than conventional oils. They also prevent thermal breakdown, and actually will give the engine it is used in better performance,mileage, and can be changed at much longer intervals. The cost is quite a bit higher but the added protection and differences in performance is well worth the extra money spent. All of my vehicles quads, trucks,cars, and even the outboard motor, on our pontoon boat are using "Valvoline Full Synthetic" motor oil.In my daily driver Chevy Pickup I actually gained a noticable difference in performance and also noticed a 1 1/2 to 2 more miles per gallon.in the gas mileage when using conventional motor oil. I am a firm believer in synthetic oils.
I just bought a new Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4. When should I put in synthetic oil? I think it came with conventional. They said to change it when I use about 5 tankfuls. I have 59 miles on it right now. I never used synthetic oil in my car or trucks , but I would like to try it in my new baby which I work hard pulling firewood off a mountain side.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)
Gentlemen;
I have been a professional mechanic for 20+ years. Synthetic oils are by far much better than conventional oils. They provide much better lubrication than conventional oils. They also prevent thermal breakdown, and actually will give the engine it is used in better performance,mileage, and can be changed at much longer intervals. The cost is quite a bit higher but the added protection and differences in performance is well worth the extra money spent. All of my vehicles quads, trucks,cars, and even the outboard motor, on our pontoon boat are using "Valvoline Full Synthetic" motor oil.In my daily driver Chevy Pickup I actually gained a noticable difference in performance and also noticed a 1 1/2 to 2 more miles per gallon.in the gas mileage when using conventional motor oil. I am a firm believer in synthetic oils.
I just bought a new Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4. When should I put in synthetic oil? I think it came with conventional. They said to change it when I use about 5 tankfuls. I have 59 miles on it right now. I never used synthetic oil in my car or trucks , but I would like to try it in my new baby which I work hard pulling firewood off a mountain side.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)