Fellow riders,
Please forgive me if this has been covered before. I've tried to read a bunch of posts, but still confused. I've had a CBR250-RA for 2 months, 1,800 miles. Breaks my heart, but I'm afraid to try riding on snow. Going to have to store it in an unheated shed during the Wisconsin winter.
I was going to do an oil and filter change, but don't know what oil to put in for the winter storage. I was going to use Honda GN4-4stroke. Then I read that pure synthetic would be better for storage. I got some Mobil 1 10w30, high mileage (silver bottle) from an auto store. The owner's manual says to avoid "Energy conserving", and this was the only choice. The manual says look for API SG or higher, and the mobil 1 is API-SL. No mention of "JASO MA or MB". Some folks recommended Shell T6 Rotella (sp)? but I couldn't find it in 10w30, and Shell T5 is used in the oil change walkthrough in this forum but it's 10w40 and not pure synthetic.
I'm sorry if none of this matters and folks feel I'm wasting their time by asking. This is my first real bike and I love it... I'd hate to screw it up through ignorance.
Thanks for reading, suggestions welcome.
Fellow riders,
Please forgive me if this has been covered before. I've tried to read a bunch of posts, but still confused. I've had a CBR250-RA for 2 months, 1,800 miles. Breaks my heart, but I'm afraid to try riding on snow. Going to have to store it in an unheated shed during the Wisconsin winter.
I was going to do an oil and filter change, but don't know what oil to put in for the winter storage. I was going to use Honda GN4-4stroke. Then I read that pure synthetic would be better for storage. I got some Mobil 1 10w30, high mileage (silver bottle) from an auto store. The owner's manual says to avoid "Energy conserving", and this was the only choice. The manual says look for API SG or higher, and the mobil 1 is API-SL. No mention of "JASO MA or MB". Some folks recommended Shell T6 Rotella (sp)? but I couldn't find it in 10w30, and Shell T5 is used in the oil change walkthrough in this forum but it's 10w40 and not pure synthetic.
I'm sorry if none of this matters and folks feel I'm wasting their time by asking. This is my first real bike and I love it... I'd hate to screw it up through ignorance.
Thanks for reading, suggestions welcome.
Don't worry about what kind of oil is best for storage, just be sure to change the oil before storage, and then don't start it before you get it out of storage again in the spring. Your oil doesn't deteriorate when the engine isn't run, so it will be OK in the spring.
Which kind of oil you use isn't as important as changing it regularly, except that it needs to meet the requirements of the engine and the clutch (your CBR250R has a wet clutch), so "Energy Conserving" oil isn't a good idea.
Use the Honda GN4-4stroke; then you know it'll be right for your motorcycle . . . .
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"What do YOU care what other people think?" --Arline Feynman
If you've only done 1,800 miles on it, I wouldn't bother changing it. Honda recommend a service (including oil change) at every 8,000 miles, or once a year, whichever comes soonest. If your bike's a year old, change it, if not, don't bother, and get it done at 8,000 miles. Honda know what they're talking about.
BTW Welcome aboard Matey.
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You meet the nicest people on a Honda.
I completely agree with what pooder7 posted. You won't go wrong using Honda oil and would like to stress the point of not starting the engine during the winter. Warming the engine then letting it cool in frigid temperatures causes condensation inside the engine. I know you were only asking about oil, but storing in a shed in the cold there a couple of other things you might consider. Bring your battery inside and connect it to a Battery Tender charger. Clean and lubricate your chain, it will keep it from rusting. Last thing is to treat your gas with StaBil stabilizer, ride it for 10 miles to get it into the entire system and you should be pretty well set. That's what I do over here in Michigan.
If you've only done 1,800 miles on it, I wouldn't bother changing it. Honda recommend a service (including oil change) at every 8,000 miles, or once a year, whichever comes soonest. If your bike's a year old, change it, if not, don't bother, and get it done at 8,000 miles. Honda know what they're talking about.
That's generally true, but for winter storage it's a good idea to have nice fresh new oil in the sump so that there won't be any condensation and associated rusting. So, here in Minnesota, I run the motorcycle with Stabil in a full tank of gas and change the oil immediately before storage, regardless of mileage. Then in the spring, it's ready to go for another season of riding . . . .
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"What do YOU care what other people think?" --Arline Feynman
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Newby seeking advice for winter storage oil...
