Ok, lets say your mechanic fills your car/bike with oil?
And then one day, your oil is running oil , and you want to top it up, will it do any damage to your car/bike if you top up with a different brand/type oil??
btw, this is for a motorbike (Zzr250). But answers welcome about cars, shouldn't differ much between the two.
2007-06-29 18:34:59 · 12 answers · asked by djdx2 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
Mixing oils will not damage your engine. You can mix sythetic and conventional oil as well. That's exactly what a synthetic blend is. They usually contain 10-30% synthetic oil base stock with the rest conventional. You can also mix grades of oil with no adverse effects.
Some argue that the different additive packs of manufacturers can conflict and cause the oil to break down. I would challenge you to search for hard evidence of this however, as most of it is just hearsay.
So, top off with whatever you have and sleep well.
2007-06-29 18:50:37 · answer #1 · answered by flyboy77s 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are conventional oils, synthetic oils, and blended oils, consisting of conventional and synthetic oils mixed together, so, obviously, mixing oils will NOT harm an engine. As long as they are both the proper viscosity, they will protect the engine. There is no chance two modern oils will form some harmful reaction and stop lubricating or otherwise protecting the engine. Since some oil remains in an engine during an oil change, such an adverse reaction, if possible, would certainly occur in thousands of cars a day when people changed their oils without maintaining brands.
Also, using the "perfect" viscosity is not even particularly important. Engines will run well on a range of oils. Many OEM manuals will show a number of viscosities that may be used, often to cover the temperature extremes. In the middle of the temperature ranges, three or four viscosities will work just fine. Additionally, as an oil is used, polymer chains inside the oil shear, causing the viscosity to drop. Old oil is much thinner than new oil.
The oil companies and the quick lube companies have created quite an industry convincing people that oil is the lifeblood of their cars and that the oil's brand, formulation, and cleanliness is essential to the motor's performing well and lasting long. The fact is, oil-related failures in engines are extremely rare, and oil change intervals need not be anywhere near the 3,000 miles recommended by those who profit from the sales of oil and oil changes.
2007-06-30 02:01:10 · answer #2 · answered by Scott A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not much of a problem anymore. A long time ago it was. The companies used their own base stocks which came from different areas. The oils would be different because the plant life and other things that created the crude oil were different. Today, with the crude coming mostly from the Middle East, it's basically the same. The refining methods have gotten better as well. As long as you make sure the ratings are the same, you shouldn't have a problem.
2007-06-30 01:50:40 · answer #3 · answered by Firecracker . 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There are a lot of oils for cars and bikes. If it wouldn't make a difference there will only be one. type of oil Correct? Now, you should not mix the oil only because of the Grades of the oil. All you got to do is read the can and the ingredients. Please be aware of mechanical errors, if you screw up you will pay more than what you bargain for.
2007-06-30 01:44:05 · answer #4 · answered by peaches and cream 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can mix synthetic and regular dino oil. You can mix brands.
Its recommended that you use the same weight, but anything is better than running your bike low on oil.
2007-06-30 18:01:29 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally I would not mix the oils. Use a motorcycle specific grade and stick with it. One of my employees has not used the correct oil in an Ag-bike, $2000 it cost for an engine rebuild. So it is critical to use engine specific oils. I'd go for a synthetic oil for your ZZR.
2007-06-30 02:33:40 · answer #6 · answered by Don 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ive always heard from the nit-picker know it alls that you shouldnt mix oil-that it is bad for your car. But i dont know if i believe that or not. I think as long as its a good name brand oil you will be ok, regardless if you mix brands or not.
2007-06-30 01:41:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
*shrug* When I change my oil, I use two liters of Castrol 10w40 and then top 'er off with 20w50. Doesn't bother me none. My motorcycle is worthless (1985 Yamaha Virago, about 80,000 miles on it) . Opened up the engine not long ago. Everything looked okay to me. Sooner my darned old motorcycle breaks down, the sooner I get a new one.
2007-06-30 21:42:22 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you topped off with motorcycle oil you'd certainly be safe. The specifications for automotive oil and hot running air cooled motorcycle engines are two totally separate animals.
2007-06-30 01:44:50 · answer #9 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
shouldn't make a difference unless you mix synthetic with conventional. also a good idea to stick with the same weight...ie. 10w30 vs. 10w40
2007-06-30 01:39:42 · answer #10 · answered by deedub80 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋