Hey all, I'm a noob to this forum (I just found out about it today) but I'm on SBN and charlottesportbikes.com a lot. Anyway, I need to change the oil in my f3 and I was wondering if anyone uses a standard synthetic oil in their bike? My dad was browsing the VFR discussion and touring forums and came across a HUGE thread about oils and a guy popped on there that worked as a tester for one of the major oil companies. Through their testing they found out that Mobile 1 20w50 had virtually no wear on internal parts compared to all other oils that they tested. However, this oil (20w50 Mobile 1) is almost impossible to find. You can find 15w50 Mobile 1 synthetic though.

Anyway, I went to the auto parts store today to buy the 15w50 and found out that the auto parts stores have NO cross-referencing for bikes so I couldn't find an oil filter or plugs.

What I'm getting at is - Does anyone use plugs and/or oil and filter that are not from a Honda dealer? If so, what do you use?

PS: I know this is taboo for posting about using conventional synthetic oil vs. that of the coveted Honda oil, but I would really like to be able to service my bike without driving an hour plus to pay 2x more for things I can buy right down the street.

Thanks,

Nick

 

Here ya go, Nick

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/oilfilter.htm

I recommend the Mobil1 M1-108 filter. If you have aftermarket headers (or the patience to make it fit) you can try the M1-110 which is an inch longer. Any filter that'll fit on a 92-94 Mazda MX-3 (V6 Engine ONLY) will fit on the F3.

 

SWEEEEEET! Thanks a bunch. After dinner I'm going to make another trip down to the autoparts store to pick up some oil and a filter. It's driving me nuts that my bike is almost due to for an oil change.

 

I run amsoil 10w40 w/ a honda filter with no problems at all. As far as plugs go the stock plug is an NGK. I believe the code is CR9EH or something similar to that but I am not at all positive so don't hold me to it. Just look in your manual or call a dealer and ask. Once they tell you what it is you can buy it anywhere.

 

Great! I'll call the Honda dealer and find out what plugs it takes. Once I get the spark plug info that'll be all that I need.

 

I bought the 108 Mobile 1 filter but I could have easily gotten away with the 110. The 108 is a TINY little filter and there is plenty of room for the larger (longer) 110 filter on an f3 in case anyone was wondering.

My dad found the spark plugs but I'm not sure what they are at this exact moment. I'll hit him up later on tonight and post it on here for future use. I haven't bought the spark plugs yet but I did do the oil change with the 108 filter and 15W50 Mobil 1 oil.

 

All this oil and filter talk has me worried haha. I have a 01 F4i I just bought the bike and changed the oil and filter. Used a fram oil filter and 10w-40 spectrum 4 oil. Am i going to ruin my bike now ? Haven't started the bike yet with new oil and filter so it isnt to late to switch it over but if its not going to be bike threatening here then i don't want to.

 

It's not going to ruin your bike.

I use a Fram filter and Pennzoil 10w-40 (non-synthetic) in my track bike and cannot tell the difference. However, regular oil breaks down quicker and needs to be changed sooner that synthetic or syn-blend. Personally I'd only go 1500 miles on regular oil and 3000 on synthetic.

I prefer the Mobil 1 filters because they use a synthetic element instead of paper.

NEVER USE 10W-30 OIL IN YOUR BIKE.