First Dumb Question - Oil Change

[gbium]

Here's my first dumb question as promised...

Why does the Haynes manual for the XJ600 specify either:
10w30 (viscosity below 15 degrees); or
20w40 (viscosity above 5 degrees).
Which incidentally looks like the same temperature range to me, i.e. below 15 but above 5).

But if you look in most threads / shops / auctions etc 10w40 seems to be recommended. Does it make any difference and if so, what?

I'm going to give the bike an oil change as it's stood a lot over the last year or so (other than a run or two by the previous owner to get the MOT). Clutch is a bit sticky (to say the least) so I want to give it a fresh fill of oil and filter prior to digging any deeper (and need to pass my test before I can give it a blast to see if it's just due to standing around).

Cheers,

Paul

[Deleted]

Heres what i found

www.bikebitzuk.co.uk/yamaha-xj-600-diversion-super-4-oil-oil-filter-kit-9203-p-7718.html

[bobh]

I think Haynes is just repeating what it says in the original handbook, which is applicable world-wide and so has to cater for wide variations in availability.

As far as the UK (and Yurp generally) is concerned, if you want a decent quality semi-synthetic oil 10W40 is the most readily available grade and usually the cheapest.

Although some prefer to use a motorcycle-specific type, the 600 seems quite happy on a car oil such as Halfords, which is usually a bit cheaper. Halfords also do Champion oil filters which are somewhat cheaper than Yamaha ones, though the local branches round here seem to be frequently out of stock.

Another source of decent oil and filters is Hein Gericke, who often do a deal of a free filter with 4 litres of their own brand oil.

[gbium]

Cheers, will go for the 10w40 then....

[tomcat]

Simple explanation.
www.aa1car.com/library/oil_chart.jpg

[cam7777]

Aug 27, 2011 14:10:20 GMT bobh said:

Halfords also do Champion oil filters which are somewhat cheaper than Yamaha ones, though the local branches round here seem to be frequently out of stock.

Sometimes, they put the bike oil filters in the car section by mistake