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BR Oil

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6.2K views 11 replies 6 participants last post by  Z15  
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#1 ·
I previously ran a Honda Foreman 400 for 14 years and used Mobil 1 synthetic oil in whatever weight was recommended by Honda. The machine idled more smoothly and shifted much more smoothly immediately upon making the switch from Honda oil. The guys I ride with all did the same and all had the same result. There were no problems whatsoever, nor did we expect any, other than the rather steep price per quart.
I intend to do the same with my BR, but now my dealer says that synthetic oil is fine for BR but that it has to be Honda synthetic oil because of graphite or some other unclear ingredient or reason. Again, I did not use nor would I use the graphite oil that is available as I know from first hand experience how it can leak out of seals on autos and trucks.
Has anyone used regular Mobil 1 synthetic (or any other synthetic brand) on their BR? Is this just a sales ploy like with my Harley Davidson dealer does with oil and my Harleys. Mobil 1 is not cheap by any account so it is not a matter of saving money, but Honda Oil is not readily available to me without a 2 hour trip to my dealer. If need be, I can just buy extra quarts of the Honda synthetic oil and keep them around my workshop but just wonder about the necessity.
Between the oil change engineering design of the BR and the alleged oil requirements of the BR, the whole oil change scene with the BR has become a bit of a hassle. Who would'a thunk it?????.........:idunno:
 
Discussion starter · #3 ·
Thanks - very helpful. I am much the same myself and usually follow the book. I too have generally followed your scheme of storing and using nearly every specific brand of lubricant required for my machines from Husqvarna chainsaw to Lawnboy mowers to Yamaha boat motor... At some point in time, I expect that a machine I buy will require a bottle of pure eagle tears:hmm:

I am having the dealer do the service (check things over once) and first oil change on my BR so that I can see how they do it. I will try to post what I observe. I will probably just stick with the regular Honda oil and stock up on oil and filters while at my dealer.
Thanks for your advice...
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
How often (mileage interval) is everyone changing their oil and filter? The dealer gave me a bit of a grey answer in the form of something around every 600-700 miles. I had dealer change at 100 miles and did my first personal change at 600 miles and am now at nearly 1000.
Everything running great although I have some sort of suspension related squeak when going over a bumpy trail. Pushing BR side to side or shoving up and down on front and rear bumpers however doesn't produce the squeak...

Anyone else experience this? Did a 270 mile trip last weekend that included driving through a day of 6 inches of rain in 5 hours! Was great fun but picked up the squeak the following day. I know squeaks can be hard to locate but this is annoying. Something needs lubricated somewhere...:crap:
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Thanks for squeak tip. That sounds like a very likely candidate. I will try that this weekend.
Do you change oil by hours or miles and how many?
After completing a detailing of my HIPPO (named with affection) after our 270 mile trip, noticed that the camoflouge decal applied to the cargo box side is beginning to peal back. Have glued it back down but suspect that at somepoint in the future I will end up with an all tan box...:hmm:
 
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