thickest dino oil rec

[b4cruz]

what is the thickest oil you guys feel safe using in our bandit 400s?
my engine is still eating oil.  I think when I switched to synthetics
it cleaned out too much sludge inside, so now I need to go back to the
thickest Dino oil I can use without causing harm or performance/ startup
issues to the bike.  I live in SoCal so cold starts aren't an issue.
Even at 40 degrees F in the cold night I try to warm the bike for as long
as I can before taking off; its never had any problems so far.

[Thief400]

Using a thicker oil will only cause it to burn more oil. The oil rings can't scrape a thin oil off of the cylinders wall, they are going to scrape off even less of a heavier oil. There is no way around an oil burner other than fixing it. If it's burning lots of oil you have to worry about that cylinder or cylinders detonating and causing even more damage like pounded out rod bearings, spun rod bearings.

[pmackie]

You should be OK with 20W50 conventional, (non-synthetic). You may have to change the oil a little more often. See this thread under "Leaking Oil Seals":

http://forums.banditalley.net/viewtopic.php?t=3835&highlight=

[b4cruz]

See this thread under "Leaking Oil Seals"

I remember reading that but forgot where it was located.
THANKS for the link!
your insights are just what I was looking for

i started with synthetic blends in the summer and
then it started leaking I assumed inside @ the valve
seals.  So I just kept adding more oil but this time
Rotella T synthetic, and then it leaked faster.
And now I 'm using Chevron Delo 15w40 diesel
and its slowed the leaking a bit to 1/8 qt - 300 miles.
I don't ride that much so its hard to tell
how bad the leak really is.

So I'm gonna do a full oil change to regular dino
10w40 Valvoline as a flush and then a month
or so later switch back to regular non-syn
diesel oil Rotella.

Unless anyone thinks its just too late
and i'm leaking way too much already.

My favorite for all autos/bikes was
Walmart/Quaker State recycled
synthetic blend 5 qt jugs for $11!
and then like your thread said
diesel syns, when I could find them
cheap @ truck stops or walmart.
I even found a cheap ford brand
diesel syn once, but never again.

I try to convince others about the
advantages of diesel motor oils
but nobody ever believes me;
mostly because everything i own
is old and running bad.

[tannerismyhero]

you can go to any ford dealer and get a synthetic blend for 11 or 12 bucks for 5 quarts....its 10w 30 tho.