Righto. 'Fess up. Who bought a CRF450L?

The only change was oil, from Mobil 1 R4T to Delo 400. Its not inconceivable that they weren't installed 100% from new, but they still exceeded their nominal service life, they're a 150 hr item in the manual and went at 180 hrs, my bad. The camshaft has a concave ramp on valve opening and must be very hard on the followers. I still have the bike and it doesn't get much use, but now at 820 hrs total and the bearings are still the ones I fitted back then, along with a new camshaft because I stuffed it letting them go too long. The bottom is 100% original, even the clutch plates. I did fit a new piston at 100 hrs because a valve seat let go, so head job too at the time.

So with an incremental 640 hrs, the replacement roller followers bearings are now over 4 times their nominal life and the only change was the oil at 180 hrs. Not scientific and a sample of 1, but has convinced me of the merits of Delo 400.

One theory was that the maybe slightly less slippery semi synthetic forces ball/roller bearings to turn rather than skid, but I can't confirm.

Unreliable and Husabergs don't go together in my experience. My 2007 FE650 still hauls too and its all original except for a couple of water pump seals @ 325 hrs. Delo 400 from the beginning!

This is now officially an oil thread

For me any decent diesel or petrol semi synthetic oil made from a decent base stock and contains ZDDP in a decent amount, I am happy with.

Delo 400 and many of the Penrite oils fit the bill.

Many high range synthetic oils don't contain it and if my memory serves correct, it is being weaned out in the US.

"Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is the most commonly used anti-wear additive in motor oils. It contains both zinc and phosphorus components that work together to provide anti-wear protection and minimize lubricant breakdown."

I have used the Delo 400 in the Africa Twin Kasu but I prefer something like a 10/50 or 15/50

There was a big hooha a couple of decades back caused by Mobil when it was found that what they were calling a full synthetic was actually a semi synthetic (or something along those lines)

Other way around BW,

Mobil took Castrol to court.
The skinny was,
Castrol did a commerial made claims, Called there oil Synthetic "Syntec".
In a ruling released April 1999, the NAD addressed complaints filed by Mobil Oil Corp. regarding the truthfulness of Castrol North America Inc.’s claim that its Syntec® provides “superior engine protection” to all other motor oils, both synthetic and conventional, and that Syntec’s esters provide “unique molecular bonding.” Mobil charged that the advertisements inaccurately represented that the current formulation of Syntec is synthetic. The challenge was filed based on statements Castrol made in a series of television commercials, Web site publications, package labels, and brochures.
Mobil tested that oil, it was not Synthetic but mineral oil.
Castrol said it used to be but changed the oil, did not tell the comsumer as the oil still was good anyway.
Mobil stated Castrol changed the oil as the oil was cheaper to make to make to increase profit margins.
Castrol claims Mobil just wants to dominate the market with Synthetic oils.
Story links at the bottom.

Funny story:
"Around that time John Force the FORD funny car guy with the Chrysler HEMI in it, Sponsored by Castrol, Austin Coil his crew chief was having troubles with engine blowing up, they changed the oil to Kendall to fix the problem while riding a CRF450L.
Mobil makes oil for Kendall well they were back then".

1 Both parties to this proceeding agree that synthetic motor oil provides better engine protection than natural, i.e., “conventional” motor oil.

From that court ruling now from what Castrol did, they can sell cheaper oils and make claims about them.
Oil companies can advertise an oil as synthetic and it is mineral oil, hence cheaper to make.

Not all Synthetics are Synthetic.

While the field is not wide open, a new ruling confirms that the definition of “synthetic” is still largely in the hands of marketers.

Interesting read if your into what happened.
Disclaimer : no CRF450L's are mentioned in these links below.

http://xtremerevolution.net/a-defining-moment-for-synthetics-by-katherine-bui-lubricants-world-1999/

http://xtremerevolution.net/a-defining-moment-for-synthetics-by-katherine-bui-lubricants-world-1999/

CRF450L review from some dude

So they called it Syntec and Mobil didnt like it and lost

What I want to know is..........



























Who actually gives a fuck?

Get back to the 450L, ,, and spend 15 bucks and change it often,or when clutch/clicker feels diffrent,
I guess no matter what part of the world we live in,,,,
Things get lost,hijacked.

Not you, Nepa 450x, i4bikes and Woody 2627 it seems

Hey, I did say it was something along those lines but yes, I thought it was Mobil taken to court.

At its price I think the KTM 690 looks much better.

My buddy is from NZ ,it takes a bit to understand him,lol
And I'm from mars as the guys in usa tell me, but I'm a bit rusty on kewe.
I mean well,

The problem is no one is game to buy a CRF450L until they can decide what oil to run in it. Or worse, if it won’t run on their favourite oil, then they won’t/can’t buy it.

Ok i got it figured out,,
Sorry,I'm new to this thread

If you can understand my mars english,
Check out 450L old guys forum in thumpers, I have oils ,pipes,baffles bs there on 450L.
Thanks guys.
jt

I think the service interval (oil discussions aside) is 1000km?
Out of interest, does anyone know thte service interval for the CRF250L Rally?

Well I still have almost 3 liters of Delo 400, and I need to make sure it is OK to use in my next bike because there is no way I am going to throw it out or just let it sit there going to waste...



(I do have 3 liters of good Castrol two stroke oil in the shed, and every time I see the bottle I think to myself that I should buy another two stroke so it doesn't go to waste.)

This is for the 250L but same engine, so 12,800km or every 12 months apparently.


And the CRF450Ls.

Nup, nope. Too big, too heavy, too expensive, too fragile. Love the things, the motor is an amazing thing but would not spend the money on one.

A good, used 625 looks even better still.

Now a 690 with carb in a 625 setup like yours would be something! They would sell like Bunnings sausages!

Sure would. And they'd taste better too.