How to choose between products?

My daughter has a Yamaha Raptor 50 ATV, and according to its manual, during the summer months, a 10w40 or 20w40 oil for most operational temperatures is the recommended viscosities. After break-in (she now has 25 hours on it), I have Maxima Maxum Ultra 5w40 in the crankcase.

I use this because one, I want a very stout oil in there, as in this model, the oil both lubricates the engine, plus does transmission pack duty. Two, since it is a full synthetic, the 5w factor means great flow and pumpability for the colder days. Now, if she decides to ride it this winter, I just might switch to the 0w30 grade of the Maxima, just to be on the safe side for the cold start.

One thing I have noticed about this engine is that it is very cold natured. It likes a nice long warm up before it will take off for her without stalling when she thumbs the throttle, so I know a thinner oil helps in that department as well.

Maxima Ultra is a 100% ester based synthetic. The Amsoil you mentioned is indeed a PAO based synthetic. I would not use the Mobil, not because it isn't a good product, I'm just one of those people that likes to boycott the major oil players and opts to support the smaller, specialized players in the lubrication field. Not that Amsoil is small at this juncture either, but they make IMHO a higher quality controlled product than Mobil does.

There are a few more specialty ones out there as well, such as Bel-Ray, Blendzall, PJ1, and Motorex, just to name a few. If you would like, do some searching to find out just the basics of each brand, then decide which one "feels" right for you.

Hope that this helps you out some. There are a thousand different lubricants out there, all gunning for your business and stating that they are, in fact, the best.

You have to take into consideration liquid cooling, air cooling, and shared transmission. Each may affect choices.

I'm a big fan of following manufacturer's recommendations. Not in brands though.

Nothing wrong with Group 3 synthetics. There are some very high performing mixes out there.

The Maxima sounds like tremendous oil. If you find it for similiar pricing, it may be the way to go. Ester based synthetics are the best.

I have taken in account water/air cooled, transmission, etc. Most ATV or motorcycle lubes claim they work great for combined systems. The extent of my experience is some training (Noria of course) and some personal research so I don't really have a lot of experience to draw from. With what I have read I wouldn't have expected an Ester to be recommended for this application. I know PAO's have Ester co-base for the additive package but I would have assumed a PAO was best (in this application). Reason being the issues Esters have with water. I imagine the environment of an ATV invites moisture and with the temperature differential condensation would be high also. Why do you recommend an Ester? I appreciate the help and please don't take my questioning as 'arguing'; I just want to learn more and why.

Thanks again!

Not a problem. In fact, I love it when good questions are asked as opposed to just stateing the unsure.

Basically, all oils will absorb water. There is a technical term for it that escapes me right now, but that function is part of the oil's job. One can counteract that function somewhat, by making sure that the oil does get up to temperature every so often and maintained for a little while in order to burn off. Doing that also helps burn off some of the other nasty that oil picks up along the way: fuel.

All group IV (PAO based) and group V (ester based) synthetics are outstanding base oils. Ester might (I say this based on my research and questions sessions) pick up and hold a little more water than one might like, but not enough to offset the fact that it is one of the best, if not the best, base oil for high operation temperatures. This again, is not to say that a PAO based lubricant wouldn't suit your purpose fine either.

I chose Maxima products for three reasons:
1) Smaller US company, blending their own products inhouse.
2) The additive packages are overkill to say the least, therefore in my eyes, offering the best defense if and when the additives are called upon if the lubrication film is ever broken.
3) I have a close, local dealer that offers me a good price point given that they are an expensive oil.

I also run Maxima's products in my vehicles as well. Again, way overkill for the application, but I like having too much, instead of not enough. Here is a link for you to check them out: http://www.maximausa.com

If you decide to give them a try, great, but if not, don't think that by choosing Amsoil, or another great PAO based lubricant that you've made a bad choice. Most of us being this anal about oil are just that. Oils have come quite a long way since "Your father's Oldsmobile" to quote an old line, and with just a few exeptions of some products that just "make the grade" out there, most of them are very good at what they do, it is just a matter of personal brand preference, basestock preference, and how much of an additive package that you would like to see in your oil.

Long winded, I know, but I hope that this helped!

Well thanks again and I can see already I found place that carries the same passion (others call it obsession) for lube. I have never been satisfied with being told something is 'superior' or better without a clear understanding of why. I've read on many sites people getting into 'peeing' matches over oil brands without any merit to their arguement. Same thing as watching someone reading the back of oil jugs at Walmart. At least they are putting thought into it but I always wonder what are they looking for? I don't want to be fooled with tests that don't apply such as 4-ball and become wiser at making choices. I know there are distributors here but there seems to be a lot of independant individuals with a wealth of information. I will be hanging around and reading more for sure.

Again very much appreciated!

Mike

Glad you are enjoying it. Mind you, I'm not a tribologist, just someone who doesn't mind spending hours and hours searching and reading about this wondeful fluid called oil.

Brian
a.k.a Dad2leia

i've mercedes c240. 2002 USA made, (runtime reading - 74500 miles) engine manual recommends to change motor oil every after 10000 miles run (by using 10w-40) i'm just confused what brand to choose. PLS advice to get a correct decision.. thanks a lot

They should include adequate informational guidelines and safety measures for every end products they manufacture. This is where the basic information of the products where it can educate everyone about its proper usage, capacity and safety precautions. Manufacturer with reputable brand names always do this labeling information to their products and this should other manufacturers do..