=== OIL ===

Message

sthomson1 · #1 Post by **sthomson1** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:39 pm

According to the manual, the recommended oil is 15w/50 ... has anyone used 10w/40 or 15w/40 ... its about half the price .. 15w/50 seems a bit of an odd viscosity.
Ive decided to change the filter/oil because my gear change is really clunky, im hoping new oil will sort this out

Thumper · #2 Post by **Thumper** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:05 pm

The manual recommends full synthetic also but if you read further it says to use a good quality oil if its not available. I used 15/50 semi in he summer and 10-40 in the winter 40k miles and the engine is better than ever with no clutch slip either but if your going racing well use the full on gear

Aladinsaneuk · #3 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:49 pm

oh my, here we go again

i think, but dp stand to be corrected on this

if you have an early falco, then use semi synth

some later falcos seem to be fine with fully synth

***

I know that full synth on my falco makes the clutch slip faster than a politicians promises.... and i have an original 1999 black one

HOWEVER - i can run 1/40 semi synth quite happily year round

sthomson1 · #4 Post by **sthomson1** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:56 pm

Aladinsaneuk wrote:oh my, here we go again

i think, but dp stand to be corrected on this

if you have an early falco, then use semi synth

some later falcos seem to be fine with fully synth

***

I know that full synth on my falco makes the clutch slip faster than a politicians promises.... and i have an original 1999 black one

HOWEVER - i can run 1/40 semi synth quite happily year round

cheers guys, ill buy some 10w/40 semi synthetic tomorrow (my falcos a 2002 model)

i actually had this problem with my last bike, TL1000S, clutch used to drag causing clunky changes ... i soaked the clutch plates in new oil, and then done an oil change ... sorted !!! these v twins are terrible with the clutches, must be all that torque

HowardQ · #5 Post by **HowardQ** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:49 pm

No problem with using fully synth on a Falco, (well on my 2001 anyway), you just need to remember to change the clutch every time you go out for a run.
Last time mine had fully synth at 10K mile service by local Aprilia dealer, it slipped on the way home and gradually got worse, after about 200 miles it was slipping like hell under power.
Swapped for semi synth and and 26K miles I am still on the original clutch with no problems at all.

Stick with good quality semi synthetic.

sthomson1 · #6 Post by **sthomson1** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 11:54 pm

HowardQ wrote:No problem with using fully synth on a Falco, (well on my 2001 anyway), you just need to remember to change the clutch every time you go out for a run.
Last time mine had fully synth at 10K mile service by local Aprilia dealer, it slipped on the way home and gradually got worse, after about 200 miles it was slipping like hell under power.
Swapped for semi synth and and 26K miles I am still on the original clutch with no problems at all.

Stick with good quality semi synthetic.

Hey Howard, did you use 10w/40 ?

HowardQ · #7 Post by **HowardQ** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 1:14 am

It was Putoline Syntec 4 15-50 that slipped.
Now use Castrol Power 1 GPS Semi Synth, not absolutely sure but think it's 15 - 50 again, will check tomorrow.

Don't think it should be a problem using 10 - 40, especially in winter, probably fine all year round as Aladinsane says, just that I haver not tried it myself.
It's just that Aprilia clutch plates, particularly on earlier models do not like fully synth, neither does my old CBR1000, but then again not many older bikes do.

Aladinsaneuk · #8 Post by **Aladinsaneuk** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 6:35 am

please forgive my dyslexic keyboard for earlier typos...

10/40 is fine i think, though I will probably go for 15/50 on the next oil change - no reason beyond trying a few things....

fastasfcuk · #9 Post by **fastasfcuk** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:36 am

i've used putoline syntec 4 since new on a 05 and never had a problem as it's got anti slip properties in it.but beware a 10w 40 when really hot and thin can be squezed from between the crank shells and the crank.sean at corse performance had two milli's in with nackered cranks.

FalcoJock · #10 Post by **FalcoJock** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:42 pm

Tuppence worth -

I always use the recommended 15/50 (but semi) and the only problem I experience is getting the clutch to disengage to get into first when I first set off (even though indicating warm). This goes away by the time I've gone a short distance, and isn't too bad by the time the oli is due to be changed again.

I once tried 10/40, then I put her in to an Aprilia dealer for a couple of more tricky jobs to be done. When I picked her up again, the mechanic said he noticed that the oil was too thin so changed it for 15/50. The oil had only be in the bike a fortnight!!!

He told me they don't like it so to stick with 15/50.

Fausto · #11 Post by **Fausto** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:19 pm

I'm using 15/50 too. No more expensive than 10/40 so that's not an issue but it can be a little harder to source. Putolene is fine for me.

As for sticky gear changes - try looking at the shift lever and linkages. They can get dry / dirty and that can't help. It's easy to pop them open for a clean and regrease.

Falken · #12 Post by **Falken** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 4:35 pm

Stick with the 15/50 semi all the time.

I've had a stupid dealer put 10/40 in at the first service, and before the next service there was none to be seen in the view tube.
This was an authorised dealer at the time, but since lost the dealership.
Found another dealer to do the servicing whilst under warranty, who reccommended 15/50 only.
Changed back to 15/50 semi and still going strong after 36k miles.

D-Rider · #13 Post by **D-Rider** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 5:13 pm

Saw this on the AF1 forum a while ago .... thought it might be pertinent to this discussion - given that it's an official Aprilia Technical Bulletin :

Please note that this is dated 1999 - so that will be with the old clutch that was more prone to slipping. I don't know whether any of the advice has since been modified.