What Oil do you Run in your KTM 350EXCF & 500EXCF’s?

[Anthony G]

I know the recommended oil according the manual is 10W-50 using Motorex Brand Synthetic Oil. 
I have a 2020 KTM 350EXCF myself. 
I cant get Motorex brand oil locally and I cant find any 10W-50 at all. Only 15W-50. 
 

I did some searching on the forums and it seems this is a debated topic.. 
Some people run Rotella T 15W-40 or even 10W-40 Mobil 1 4T racing oil.

I need to do an oil change asap on my bike and all I have right now is new oil filters.

What oil do you guys use & recommend for dual sport use?

Anything that you can get locally maybe..?

Thanks 

[ktm junkie]

While KTM recomends Motorex,  what is required is an oil meeting the standards they call out.  So if you can't get Motorex,  go for another synthetic that meets the standards and weight.  I believe Castrol makes one, and it is lower cost.  As far as Rotella T  or Mobil 1 4T look and see if it meets the standard called out.

[brute448]

i run rotella t 15-40 based on this break down. chilly ran rotella T 15-40.

 

http://www.enduro360.com/2015/07/30/products-tested/2015-ktm-450xcw-tear-down/

[Spud786]

7 hours ago, brute448 said:

i run rotella t 15-40 based on this break down. chilly ran rotella T 15-40.

 

http://www.enduro360.com/2015/07/30/products-tested/2015-ktm-450xcw-tear-down/

Nice article, but that exhaust valve (no way was it was sealing correctly), which article didnt mention, they said exhaust was fine and they werent.  His rings looked very clean at 250 hours, I wonder what they'd look like at 500 hours, if not much different , that would be really good. His ring end gap at .48 mm didnt mention whether old ring or new(or if he even replaced). The 1mm limit spec is total garbage imo, which is why ktm has a .64 ounce per hour oil use as in spec and normal.

Zero oil burners require less the .4mm ring end gaps, gets border line around .5mm

Edited March 13, 2022 by Spud786

[SteveThe Snakes]

I run 15-50 Mobil 1 

[ktm junkie]

15 hours ago, brute448 said:

i run rotella t 15-40 based on this break down. chilly ran rotella T 15-40.

 

http://www.enduro360.com/2015/07/30/products-tested/2015-ktm-450xcw-tear-down/

many of the rotella T series oils are for diesels and meet C (compression ignition) standards but not S (spark ignition) or JASO spark standards which are the standards called out by KTM/Husky.  T6 15W/40 is  my favorite oil for my diesel truck since by not meeting the latest S (SN?) standard they can have more zinc for cam protection, but for my Husky I'd rather get an oil that meets the Husky spec requirements.  Castrol, Mobil, Motorex all have some good choices.  I just buy it by the 4L jug,  way less expensive than by the qt/litre

Edited March 13, 2022 by ktm junkie

[johncr250]

I run the motorex 10-60 but mobile one 15-50 is good stuff too 

[JamesT]

Maxima ProPlus is available in a 10-50. It is a high quality, motorcycle specific oil that meets all of the specifications stated in your owners manual.

[Hans Schmid]

Rotella 15/40...zero issues! 

[8675309]

Amsoil now has a 10-50 for the KTM engine, $20 per year to get preferred pricing. 

 

 

[flat lobes]

9 hours ago, 8675309 said:

Amsoil now has a 10-50 for the KTM engine, $20 per year to get preferred pricing. 

 

 

Am i oil and Mary Kay are the same group right?

[Craig_87]

I've ran amsoil 10w50 dirt bike oil since new. 2018 500 over 200 hrs no issues

[8675309]

40 minutes ago, Craig_87 said:

I've ran amsoil 10w50 dirt bike oil since new. 2018 500 over 200 hrs no issues

500 hours 2016 450 xcw

[brute448]

rotella t 15/40 (white jug) 335 hours 6200 miles

[Stu Jordan]

...or use generic Rotella T4 15w-40...better known as Super Tech Heavy Duty 15w-40...virgin oil analysis reveals they are identical in every meaningful way.  Just less expensive...with a tad more zinc and phosphorus...slightly higher TBN and viscosity.  Buy a 2 gallon jug at Wally World for less than $30...that includes tax.

Back to Rotella T4...know from personal experience that T4 in a KTM product works very well.  Shifting is less notchy than using a 10w-50 full synthetic.  Magnetic drain plug had less than 50% of metal flakes showing after a T4 oil change compared to many, many previous Castrol 10w-50 full synthetic oil changes.  I'm still baffled by it.   To be clear Castrol Racing 4T 10w-50 is a waste of money...

Presently using Mobil 1 15w-50...it too presents the cleaner magnetic drain plug as found while using T4.  Makes me think the base oil used in a 10w-## oil is too thin to adequately protect.  That said once all my current stock of synthetic is used up, this Summer I hope, I'll be trying Super Tech 15w-40.

 

Edited April 20, 2023 by Stu Jordan

[cbrenthus]

The oil change kit with Motorex seems to be readily available online, are you not able to get that? And do we have dry clutches? If so, the M1 15W50 is probably great and what I use in my Harley

[ktm junkie]

wet clutch not dry clutch.  Dirt bikes with a dry clutch are pretty rare, if there are any.

[sirthumpalot]

34 minutes ago, ktm junkie said:

wet clutch not dry clutch.  Dirt bikes with a dry clutch are pretty rare, if there are any.

Was the twin cylinder Aprilia MX bike a dry clutch?  

[SteveThe Snakes]

2 minutes ago, sirthumpalot said:

Was the twin cylinder Aprilia MX bike a dry clutch?  

Don’t think so. Only road race or street bikes use a dry clutch that I have seen. 

[sirthumpalot]

11 hours ago, SteveThe Snakes said:

Don’t think so. Only road race or street bikes use a dry clutch that I have seen. 

Same.. I imagine a dry clutch on a dirt bike would be a disaster.