what type of motor oil to use?

spacerobot

hello everyone.
I'll keep this short. My 1978 Yamaha chappy is low on oil (not empty yet, just low. the light turned on). My problem is that I don't know what kind of oil to put in it! Google is not being helpful. Anyone have any advice? I would like to take it out today, so if anyone knows... please, share with me!

thanks!

DeShadowC

Well assuming its high mileage I always preferred the high mileage oil, since it helps build up the gaskets in your engine, which lowers your chance of oil leaks.

Durandal Infinity

ROFL that thing is adorable. Any 2stroke oil should do, I assume its ultra high RPM

http://www.valvoline.com/pages/products/product_detail.asp?product=75 this should do the trick. Though make sure you check the engine if it is a 2 or 4 stroke before you buy motorcycle oil

spacerobot

I'm pretty sure that it's a 2-stroke (but I'm not positive)
So I could run down to the gas station, but some 20W-50 and that should work? How important is it that its specifically motorcycle oil? I live in a rural area and even buying a stick of deodorant constitutes a road trip.

Durandal Infinity

car motor oil is for larger 4 stroke engines. The oil wont mix well

spacerobot

Just because I don't want to screw things up...
on the bike, I do not mix the oil. It goes into it's own tank... where I guess it mixes on it's own? I'm not too sure. Does this mean that it is still a 2-stroke?

Donovan Puppyfucker

From the pictures I have seen in GIS, it looks very much like your Chappy has a 4-stroke engine. But to really be sure, the best thing to do is ring up your local Yamaha dealer and ask them.

spacerobot

My Father thought it was not a 2-stroke, so he recommended I call up my uncle (who was in care of this bike before I was). He's not home right now, but I'll see if he can help out. Thanks for the help though!

Jigrah

I am not an expert on this topic but I was told once that older smaller engines were always 2 stroke. This was supposed to be because of the expense it would take to manufacture a four stroke engine of that size.

I am trying to think of different ways you can check, and the only that comes to mind is the color of the smoke it produces. Is it a blacker thicker smoke or a white smoke?

fuelish

I looked around on the WEB and the pictures of chappys I saw were two strokes, but it sounds like some are four stroke, from some of the text. It is a little hard to believe you could run it very long and not know it was a two stroke because the oil tank would run out the oiler would have no feed and the motor would lock up(Or you would be mixing gas and oil with every fill up)
Generally you don't want to run automotive oil in a motorcyle, even a scooter, because the the gearbox also runs in the same oil and the clutches are usually wet(They also run in the same oil) Looks like some chappys have auto boxes(I kind of remember some stepthrus with a semi auto?) and that could be an issue as well. You need to go down to the local Yamaha shop(or good/old independent) and ask them.
I have had RDs for years and run Golden Spectro product.

P.S. Thanks, I now need to look for a Chappy

P.P.S. To check for a two stroke motor: Pull the carb(or open the butterfly/slide, look in the hole in the block. If you can see the piston/cylinder it is a two stroke. If you see a thin rod that runs across the runner(that is the "tube" you are looking into) it is a four stroke.

AtomBomb

Looks like a 2 stroke that mixes for you. Looks like fun