For those of you running full synthetic, how often do you change your oil?

Also, can anyone recommend a good place on-line to buy oil filters for the '14?

Thanks.

Don't know about filters-but I'm usin "automotive" Royal Purple Full Synthetic 10/40 for now.Seems very good-at least as good as Motul(Kawachem).I get about 3,000 miles between changes-but that's all relative anyway.It could definitely go longer.Or you can change it sooner-whatever ya feel is good for your own bike.I normally run till the shifting begins to get notchy.For me,that's around 3,000 miles.My oil generally looks "almost" the same as the day I put new in there.Certainly NOT clear as new-but not black or anything near that.And it doesn't smell burnt either.Hope that helps some?This Royal Purple is a new oil for me-it's now got about 1500 miles on this fill-so can't really speak about longevity yet-but-it is definitely NOT changing colors so far.Looks pretty good in there.Nice and clearish still.Motor sounds real good also-very quiet.(valve train noises and such).

* Last updated by: blue07 on 12/1/2009 @ 1:38 AM *

So you're not using the motorcycle-specific oil? It's OK to use "regular" oil in the bike?

I paid a butt-load for motorcycle-specific Mobile 1 synthetic, almost $9/qt - which is one of the reasons I'm hoping the oil will last longer than 3K miles!

I run the motorcycle specific mobil full syn and change it every 5-6k miles (closer to 6 usually lol).

I did some research reference oil and oil change intervals on our fleet vehicles at work.

Synthetic is super refined standard oil (lots of additives called TBN's). It was developed for jet engines which "ate" normal motor oil. Our engines don't even begin to "stress" the synthetic motor oil so I think that we are quite safe at 500 miles.

The real damage comes from contaminants such as dirt in the oil. What we need to determine is which oil filter is best. I've read about the Scott re-usable filters but it doesn't look like it would filter fine enough.

Are stock Kawasaki filters the best or are there better?

I'd say Mama Kawasaki designed their filters to be the top performer for THEIR motorcycle.Ya-I'm stickin with Kawi's.As far as the oil question to txspike-the Royal Purple Syn is NOT the MOTORCYCLE SPECIFIC.But I spoke with a rep there and he assured me that the 10/40 automotive product was perfectly fine to use for the zx14 application.The main concern is the clutch slippage from automotive oils-but he said this wasn't a problem with the Royal Purple.So far,no slippage in mine-1500 miles or so on this oil change-29,000 miles on my zx.(ya I know-"the rep will tell ya anything to sell ya somethin")-but actually he did not "recommend" the motorcycle specific grade for mine-even when I asked him about it.

Are stock Kawasaki filters the best or are there better?

I have used nothing else but Kawi filters. I don't think it would be possible to measure the efficiency or performance enhancement of high flow filters. I would be worried about what was NOT getting filtered with a high flow all the time. Not worth the chancing it.

Rook, I agree with you. When I said high performance I was referencing filtering and not flow. Has anyone tried the Scott re-usable or know anything about it?

Has anyone tried the Scott re-usable or know anything about it?

I'm actually using the PC racing re-usable filter thats pretty much exactly the same like scotts...i put the two together and they were almost identical except for the price...the scotts one they supposedly welded on the filter to the housing, and the pc racing one they used some kind of epoxy or whatever...they both looked the same, and the pc racing one is running great...seems to catch a lot of crap from the motor, the fuzzy shavings, especially on the magnetic pre-filter that it has on it...can't tell u if it increases flow and stuff like that than a regular filter...the main thing is that it filters great and pretty much pays for itself over time, comes with an extra o-ring whenever the first one gets messed up and those are easy and cheap to find either way, I'm coming up on my 5th oil change with the filter and still on the first o-ring, to give u an idea i guess...still looks like the day i bought it and the non-welded filter element is still intact. using rotella-syn in the machine and all running well right now

I am using a Purolator filter. About $3.00 from any auto parts store. Same diameter as the Kawi filter, just about an inch longer. I figured a longer filter would have more filter media.

Which Purolator filter Redtrace?

I use the PL14610. If that is not available, the P14610 also works, its just shorter and is the same as the stock filter.

Just dont run an after market air filter, thats what trashes your engine. More air = more dirt. ! Get a magnetic drain plug as well. As far as the oil and filter goes I dont think you will see a oil related failure with any of todays motorcycle oils.(car oil is not recomended) I use Mobil 1 oil and filter, the M110 fits the 14. I saw where purlator said not to run there pure 1 filter on motorcycles, I am not sure why but i will take there word for it! It might have something to do with the flow and pressure.

* Last updated by: buck20 on 12/14/2009 @ 1:15 AM *