2022 DL1050A using oil?

[pichulec]

My bike on normal trips to work and back does not take. But if I go for a long run (200miles + in one go) it can take even 200ml. It all depends from how hard life the engine have in my opinion.

[mrp192]

Thank you to everyone for your replies.
My understanding was based on what the technician at the dealer I bought my 650 from in 2015 and the ‘how to check the oil level’ from the owners manual, which is the same in the 650 and 1050 manuals.
As I was buying my 650 I was told that for 2015, Suzuki had altered their recommendation for oil from semi-synthetic 10/40 to fully synthetic 10/40 and doubled the service mileage from 3750 to 7500, purely because of this change. The Orwell’s technician recommended to keep using semi-synthetic and do an oil change at the old 3750 limit between the 7500 services. He said it was something to do with the 650 clutch working better on the semi-synthetic oil.
 I did this throughout the 40,000 miles I had that bike for and never had a problem and think I had to top up between those changes only once.
When I changed the oil I did the 3 minute run/3 minute drain down procedure from the manual and this seemed to work fine. But this was whilst filling from empty, so that might have simplified things.

When I bought my 1050 I saw the service limits were 7500mile so assumed that would mean fully synthetic oil required. This was from a different dealer and I didn’t think at the time to check.
I was surprised when I rang them last week, to check what they had used at the 600 mile service before I topped it up, to hear it was semi synthetic. The bloke I spoke to said Suzuki recommended both semi-synthetic and fully synthetic 10/40 oil for the 1050, both with an oil change limit of 7500 miles. He said it was purely down to personal preference so long as the two different types weren’t mixed. I knew they couldn’t be mixed, which had prompted my call to find out what they had used.

I’m hoping to clean all the chain lube/ Scottoiler oil (result of being a total numpty  ) off the bike in the next couple of days and then give it a run with the oiler turned off. Hopefully this will show no signs of any leak and I can carry on enjoying my ownership of this great bike.

Thank you again for sharing your advice with me.

[porter]

I would do with your new bike what you did with the 650 but I'm sure someone will have the opposite option.

[Upt North]

Could someone please inform me where they have seen the recommendation for semi synthetic/synthetic oils for 650/1000 STroms?
The riders manual for a 2017 650 has no such recommendation I see and only refers to SAE/JASO and Energy Conserving warnings. The same applies in an earlier 650 service manual.
As for mechanics advising the use of different oils, what extra factual information can they have access to, to then advise customers to carry out an alternative service regime. I doubt any motorcycle dealer is sending oil away for analysis after various change intervals.
I'm entrigued, please enlighten me.
Plus, is there any evidence of engine damage to VSTroms from poor oil? They seem pretty robust to me.
Upt'North.

[Methusela]

Just looked at the invoice for the annual service carried out on my 2019 650 in June, and the oil used was 10/40 semi synthetic.

[Upt North]

I think semi synthetic is probably the norm now isn't it for most modern engines other than LL oils for cars and lorries etc.
I know Dino oil is still sold for bikes, just don't know who's buying it?
Upt'North.

[vstroman]

Changing the oil and filter is the cheapest best and simplest maintenance you can do. I wouldn't wait till 7500 miles anyway, I'm stretching it enough I think to every 5000 miles.
I always use Motul semi synthetic 10w40, both the 5000 and 5100 labelled varieties are semi synthetic, from what I can find out I think the 5100 has more detergents in it or something, the 5000 variety is cheaper.

[Joe Rocket]

Oils are very much preference of course. I can't offer better advice than vstroman. Regular oil and filter changes. I will differ on choice of oil though. I will put in 'correct grade' and 'approved' oil from my supermarket, simply for economy reasons. The V-Strom is not a high performance racing engine (obviously so!) and usually under no pressure of anything approaching significant or sustained load.