Final Drive Oil

[majicmaker]

I Googled every word combination I could think of to @FJRForum.com and didn't find what I was looking for. I remember seeing a few discussions in the past about all the inexpensive equivalent alternatives for our final drive oil.

Can anyone please throw a few out there? I refuse to pay $24 for a quart at the dealer just on principle.

Thanks in Advance.

 

[ynotride]

I've been using Mobil1 synthetic 75W/90 for the last 60000 miles with no problems. A quart is around 9 bucks and is good for at least 4 fill ups.

 

[SwollenRaccoon]

^^^^^^^ What he said.......

I change it every fall when I store it. Anywhere from 5k to 7k miles on it. It's such a small amount that the cost of Mobil1 doesn't bother me.

 

[majicmaker]

Thank You, Sir! I'll check that out.

 

[MCRIDER007]

I think Yamaha's current final drive oil "requirement" is GL-5 and that is what I have used for the last 10 years (before that I used GL-4). In 250k miles I have never had a problem using non-synthetic final drive oil costing less than $2.00 a quart but I finally gave in to peer pressure last year and bought a quart of Walmart's synthetic oil for $4.70 .......and have my fingers crossed that it will work as good as the $1.70 dino oil it replaced.

 

[Top_Speed1]

I Googled every word combination I could think of to @FJRForum.com and didn't find what I was looking for. I remember seeing a few discussions in the past about all the inexpensive equivalent alternatives for our final drive oil.
Can anyone please throw a few out there? I refuse to pay $24 for a quart at the dealer just on principle.

Thanks in Advance.

Try "keyword" + "site:fjrforum.com"

I use Mobil1 75/90 as well.

Cheers!

 

[TomInPA]

Mobile 1 Gear Lube LS 75-90, but I think I have used synthetic Valvoline in the past. Any synthetic GL-5 oil meets final drive specs for most bikes. I have to wonder what Yamaha packs into those expensive bottles and drums. I'm pretty sure they are not in the oil business upstream of retail and distribution.

 

[kballowe]

A buddy of mine sold his Gold Wing a few years back, and gave me a dozen bottles of the Genuine Honda final drive lube, complete with a picture of a Gold Wing on the front of the bottle.

So, that's what I use for now.

How often do all ya all change that Mobil 1 75W-90 LS ?

 

[TomInPA]

I think I'd be glad to use the free Gold Wing drive juice. I generally change the gear oil every other oil change (10,000 miles). The manual calls for every 16,000 miles.

 

[Pterodactyl]

They are all wrong. Only Valvoline Synthetic 75W-90 will work. Unless the store is out of it, then any brand will do.

 

[Twigg]

Spec calls for GL-5

So use GL-5.

What you pay for it is between you and your credit card. If it says "GL-5" on the bottle, it's good.

 

[idfc]

Spec calls for GL-5
So use GL-5.

What you pay for it is between you and your credit card. If it says "GL-5" on the bottle, it's good.

FWIW, nowhere in any manual for 2014 called for GL-5. I think I saw it in 2013 Owner's manual but it was removed in 2014 Owner's manual.

 

[majicmaker]

Thanks for all the info, Boys! I have a pretty good list to go by now. Topspeed, I absolutely used the word "Site:" on all of my searches. It didn't make any difference.

 

[Old Guy]

I recently sold a 4WD and had a gallon of Amsoil 80W-90 left over. I figure I'm good on gear oil for the rest of my life

I'm glad my 2013 is still OK on GL-5 because I'd hate to buy that $24 stuff too.

 

[Twigg]

Spec calls for GL-5
So use GL-5.

What you pay for it is between you and your credit card. If it says "GL-5" on the bottle, it's good.

FWIW, nowhere in any manual for 2014 called for GL-5. I think I saw it in 2013 Owner's manual but it was removed in 2014 Owner's manual.

The you should ask Yamaha for the spec ... there has to be one.

I believe that, at least in the US, they have to do more than recommend only their own oil. They can do that but then they have to supply it free.

They can recommend "YamaLube", but they have to give the spec.

Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Bustanut joker]

Vic, I've used off the shelf store brand for 20 years in 3 bikes.. My V Star is still cruising South Carolina with 178k on the clock and he's still using Valvoline Hypod stuff.

 

[Bounce]

you should ask Yamaha for the spec ... there has to be one.

I believe that, at least in the US, they have to do more than recommend only their own oil. They can do that but then they have to supply it free.

They can recommend "YamaLube", but they have to give the spec.

It's all about the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnuson%E2%80%93Moss_Warranty_Act

Warrantors cannot require that only branded parts be used with the product in order to retain the warranty.[7] This is commonly referred to as the "tie-in sales" provisions, and is frequently mentioned in the context of third-party computer parts, such as memory and hard drives.

 

[robo6701]

In both my 13 and my 06 I use the Amsoil i believe 89/90 and have not had an issue. But somewhere I did see an artical about using synthetic in the 14's and it was not recomended. I am not sure if they changed a seal or something on why this would be. But for now mine seem alright.

 

[richsp51]

Mobil1 75/90 , as the previous owner did once a year.