How-To: Change Final Drive Oil

[jkautz]

Thanks Alibally. I really hope it's okay, it seems like there is so much variance in what can be put into these things. 10w30 10w40. MA or MB. I get confused lol

[jkautz]

bump............

[maddiedog]

Use 10w30 in the final drive.

It should be ok with 10w40, but Honda calls for 10w30.

[maddiedog]

Mel -- I never change crush washers, and have never had a problem. They'll get worn and crack eventually, that's typically when I replace them.

[maddiedog]

Since it was mentioned in a BUNCH of threads using 10w30 versus 10w40 for the final drive, I feel like this needs a better explanation...

10w30 --- this is an oil weight. In layman's terms, the 10 refers to cold thickness and the 30 refers to hot thickness. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. A w30 oil is thinner than a w40 oil when it gets hot. "Hot" can be defined as engine operational temperature, and "Cold" can be defined as turned off and left off overnight temperature. The specifications are exact, but you're not a mechanical engineer, so that should suffice.

Your drivetrain never gets to "hot" temperature because there is no combustion in the final drive. That means functionally 10w30 is more or less the same as 10w40 in the drivetrain. You are fine using either. Honda calls for 10w30.

Personally, I'd use either in a pinch and never think twice about it. Since I have 10w30 anyways, and even if I didn't, since a quart of 10w30 synthetic is REALLY cheap, I'd just run what Honda calls for.

[jkautz]

Thank you Maddiedog!

[you you]

Since it was mentioned in a BUNCH of threads using 10w30 versus 10w40 for the final drive, I feel like this needs a better explanation...

10w30 --- this is an oil weight. In layman's terms, the 10 refers to cold thickness and the 30 refers to hot thickness. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. A w30 oil is thinner than a w40 oil when it gets hot. "Hot" can be defined as engine operational temperature, and "Cold" can be defined as turned off and left off overnight temperature. The specifications are exact, but you're not a mechanical engineer, so that should suffice.

Your drivetrain never gets to "hot" temperature because there is no combustion in the final drive. That means functionally 10w30 is more or less the same as 10w40 in the drivetrain. You are fine using either. Honda calls for 10w30.

Personally, I'd use either in a pinch and never think twice about it. Since I have 10w30 anyways, and even if I didn't, since a quart of 10w30 synthetic is REALLY cheap, I'd just run what Honda calls for.

Totally agree. Thank fork someone will shut them up

Can I just say most oils mostly weigh the same despite the viscosity Or will this start the hares running again

[you you]

Mel -- I never change crush washers, and have never had a problem. They'll get worn and crack eventually, that's typically when I replace them.

Get a copper one and you can re anneal it indefinitely

[maddiedog]

Can I just say most oils mostly weigh the same despite the viscosity Or will this start the hares running again

Might want to avoid that, I'd likely ramble about fluid density versus viscosity.

[jkautz]

Totally agree. Thank fork someone will shut them up

This is why this forum is slow. Ppl trying to learn, and someone like you pops off. Because everyone should know what you know correct? You must live a sad life.

[Bidlack78]

4 oz 10w 30 Mobil 1 full synthetic.

[Jge64]

how simple...did it this morning in 5 min......I used 10w 40 syn as that's what I owned....a great syringe here you can use for topping off crank oil too....it allows you to get the crank level perfect.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7 ... ge_o06_s00

[you you]

how simple...did it this morning in 5 min......I used 10w 40 syn as that's what I syringe.a great syringe here you can use for topping off crank oil too....it allows you to get the crank level perfect.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7 ... ge_o06_s00

Syringes and tubes are really useful for bikes and scooters for replacing fluids. A decent sized syringe and a shot length of tubing would make oilchanges a breeze

[homie]

Syringes and tubes are really useful for bikes and scooters for replacing fluids. A decent sized syringe and a shot length of tubing would make oil changes a breeze

youyou avatar... you have no pants like me now! That's not a wing tip

I agree there probably nothing to see in the wire basket anyway... its not like its a filter.

[iceman]

how simple...did it this morning in 5 min......I used 10w 40 syn as that's what I syringe.a great syringe here you can use for topping off crank oil too....it allows you to get the crank level perfect.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000G7 ... ge_o06_s00

Syringes and tubes are really useful for bikes and scooters for replacing fluids. A decent sized syringe and a shot length of tubing would make oilchanges a breeze

Recently changed the main oil but not checked the final drive oil yet (it should be ok but just in case it's low) so just bought a 150ml syringe + plastic tube for £2.60 delivered Ebay (100ml is a little over £2 delivered). I've stopped using Amazon for lots of small things now as I don't want to keep adding to the basket just to take cheap things over £20 - so Ebay it is. Also, it seems some UK dealers, even bike outlets, that charge postage on Amazon give free postage for the same thing on Ebay (I found Ghostbikes (UK) did that so worth checking Ebay for the dealer if you find small items on Amazon and saving p/p).

[you you]

Syringes and tubes are really useful for bikes and scooters for replacing fluids. A decent sized syringe and a shot length of tubing would make oil changes a breeze

youyou avatar... you have no pants like me now! That's not a wing tip

I agree there probably nothing to see in the wire basket anyway... its not like its a filter.

I'd be proud ofthat wingtip

[Eiron]

Since it was mentioned in a BUNCH of threads using 10w30 versus 10w40 for the final drive, I feel like this needs a better explanation...

10w30 --- this is an oil weight. In layman's terms, the 10 refers to cold thickness and the 30 refers to hot thickness. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. A w30 oil is thinner than a w40 oil when it gets hot. "Hot" can be defined as engine operational temperature, and "Cold" can be defined as turned off and left off overnight temperature. The specifications are exact, but you're not a mechanical engineer, so that should suffice.

Your drivetrain never gets to "hot" temperature because there is no combustion in the final drive. That means functionally 10w30 is more or less the same as 10w40 in the drivetrain. You are fine using either. Honda calls for 10w30.

Personally, I'd use either in a pinch and never think twice about it. Since I have 10w30 anyways, and even if I didn't, since a quart of 10w30 synthetic is REALLY cheap, I'd just run what Honda calls for.

maddiedog probably already knows this, but the other characteristics to consider are viscosity retention & additive packages. Gears do an excellent job of shredding oil viscosity, & they do that under the extreme pressure action of gear teeth leveraging against one another. Gear oil contains extreme pressure anti-wear additives, but many motor oils do not. And SAE specs kinda tell you which oils have improved additive packages, but don't clearly tell you which ones have better viscosity retention. Euro oil specs do tell you this info, but many oil manufacturers don't list these specs ('cuz it costs more to run additional tests).

If you can find an oil you like with Euro ACEA oil specs, then look for those with A3/B3/B4 listings. These oils will have both better viscosity retention and better anti-wear additive packages. And these are the oils I'd recommend in both the transmission and the crankcase.

[you you]

Since it was mentioned in a BUNCH of threads using 10w30 versus 10w40 for the final drive, I feel like this needs a better explanation...

10w30 --- this is an oil weight. In layman's terms, the 10 refers to cold thickness and the 30 refers to hot thickness. The higher the number, the thicker the oil. A w30 oil is thinner than a w40 oil when it gets hot. "Hot" can be defined as engine operational temperature, and "Cold" can be defined as turned off and left off overnight temperature. The specifications are exact, but you're not a mechanical engineer, so that should suffice.

Your drivetrain never gets to "hot" temperature because there is no combustion in the final drive. That means functionally 10w30 is more or less the same as 10w40 in the drivetrain. You are fine using either. Honda calls for 10w30.

Personally, I'd use either in a pinch and never think twice about it. Since I have 10w30 anyways, and even if I didn't, since a quart of 10w30 synthetic is REALLY cheap, I'd just run what Honda calls for.

maddiedog probably already knows this, but the other characteristics to consider are viscosity retention & additive packages. Gears do an excellent job of shredding oil viscosity, & they do that under the extreme pressure action of gear teeth leveraging against one another. Gear oil contains extreme pressure anti-wear additives, but many motor oils do not. And SAE specs kinda tell you which oils have improved additive packages, but don't clearly tell you which ones have better viscosity retention. Euro oil specs do tell you this info, but many oil manufacturers don't list these specs ('cuz it costs more to run additional tests).

If you can find an oil you like with Euro ACEA oil specs, then look for those with A3/B3/B4 listings. These oils will have both better viscosity retention and better anti-wear additive packages. And these are the oils I'd recommend in both the transmission and the crankcase.

There two teaspoons of oil in the final drive. And two bolts. An inny and an outty. It's about as nursery school mechanics as it gets. Have a go and change it if you want but please don't get all superhero about it..

[Eiron]

There two teaspoons of oil in the final drive. And two bolts. An inny and an outty. It's about as nursery school mechanics as it gets. Have a go and change it if you want but please don't get all superhero about it..

Interesting.

I wasn't referencing the procedure of changing the trans oil.

I apologise if my comments were unclear in that regard, or if any "superhero" intent was erroneously conveyed.

I'm simply trying to share information with others who are concerned about increasing the longevity of their scoots. Obviously, we each have to use whichever products & procedures we're comfortable with.

Yes, I'm an oil geek. I had to become one when I cautiously performed testing protocols to extend my automobile oil change intervals to 2 yrs/20,000 miles.

Since you're not interested in improved engine & transmission protection, I'd suggest not reading my posts regarding that topic in the future.

[sendler2112]

Just changed my final drive oil in the PCX for the first time at 18,138 miles using some Mercedes diff oil I had handy. There was some grey swirl in the old oil.