Quote:
Originally Posted by
Petenz
I wouldn't...
Car engine oil dosn't have to
lube a wet clutch or the high
shear loads of a gearbox..
The case harding on the gears
is what will really suffer long term..
but short term just to use it up shouldn't
be to much of a issue..
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The shear load/gear hardening is probably more relevant than clutch slip - as I said I've been using unbranded car oil for years without clutch slip.
However, there are a number of motor cars that specify car oil for the gearboxes.
From the ancient Morris 1000s and other BMC era cars of the sixties, the Mini and the more recent 1980/90s SAAB 900 (I had a lot of those) they all specified car oil in the gearbox. Or more to the point they specified non-EP non-hypoid oils - usually straight 30, or in the case of the SAAB 10/40 and 20/50 in the Mini.
None of the above had reputations for premature gearbox failure - the SAAB you wouldn't be able to change gear if it had gearbox oil!
Neither have I heard of premature gearbox failures in motorcycles due to wear.
But as Petenz says, your choice.
You can always change the oil more frequently. Buying 5 litres of unbranded car oil for half the price 4 litres of the same spec branded motorcycle oil will allow much more frequent changes - still saving.
The XT engine is a relatively old fashioned, lo-tech, unstressed motor that should give years of service - but my guess is keeping to the frequency of the changes is more important, so long as the oil meets the minimum spec.
As has been said elsewhere this is a subject that will cause a war! There's no definitive answer.