Ummm, help?

[*spikey*]

Ok, this is going to start of with 'my mate did this' but he did. Honestly. Let him take my bike for a couple of hours today as he's thinking about getting changing to one and rather than arse about with booking a test etc, it just seemed easier. Anyway, I had noticed the oil level was low in the sight glass on the centre stand, but knew it was ok and stupidly mentioned it, with the intention of picking up some oil on monday. My mate, being the considerate bloke he is, said as he was out and about he'd pick some up for me. So he arrives back this evening, raving about the bike (great), said he picked up the oil (Castrol Actevo) and had put some in for me - about 250ml brought the level back to mid level on the sight glass and handed me the plastic bag with the oil. I've just checked the bag... It's Actevo for a two stroke Have just ummm 'spoken' to him, he's saying he only did about 30 miles after putting it in as it was on the way back.

Given the small quantity added, what's your opinions? I'm no mechanic but even I would have read the bloody bottle! Can I just run on? Should I do an oil change? Will this have f*cked anything?

 

[KMD]

You definitely get points for an interesting variation on the 'what oil' thread!

 

[the-other-bradders]

dont know if its an issue or not, but I'd change the oil anyway

 

[david a hall]

On the plus side its only about one fourteenth of the oil capacity, the likelyhood of that being a prob is slim to none, on the downside my ty250 yam needs 850 cc so no point in making an offer on the remaining 750cc's of oil!!

 

[*spikey*]

Thanks for the replies folks

You definitely get points for an interesting variation on the 'what oil' thread!

dont know if its an issue or not, but I'd change the oil anyway

Kinda what I was thinking

On the plus side its only about one fourteenth of the oil capacity, the likelyhood of that being a prob is slim to none, on the downside my ty250 yam needs 850 cc so no point in making an offer on the remaining 750cc's of oil!!

Thanks David, I did think the ratio would be pretty small and as they're both mineral oils it'd be ok, but have no clue about the differences in two stroke and four stroke oils ...and it was a half litre bottle he bought, so even less available. Postage would probably be more than just buying some

 

[ktmmark]

As quantity you added was low you won't have done any damage,But i would warm the engine up drain the oil & replace with the correct oil.Filter will be fine unless its it's close to a service in which case i would do oil & filter

 

[Kaybe]

If was me, when it came to draining it, I'd probably think about using a flushing oil step as well, just for piece of mind, before putting in the new oil.

Small expense, but not bad thing (IMO) to do from time to time in any case.
That said bikers tend to renew their oils on a regular basis, so perhaps more "belt and braces".

As an ex ducati man, always living on the edge, maintaining them or riding them

 

[Brian ROSEN]

A drop of two stroke!

Nobody is going to give you a straight answer I would guess, because none of us knows enough about the constituents of modern oil. You now would seem to have a mixture which is about 6% two stroke; personally I wouldn't think it would cause any problem at all - BUT 4 litres of oil costs very little from Halfords so why make a fuss - just change it.

 

[Nate]

Nobody is going to give you a straight answer I would guess, because none of us knows enough about the constituents of modern oil. You now would seem to have a mixture which is about 6% two stroke; personally I wouldn't think it would cause any problem at all - BUT 4 litres of oil costs very little from Halfords so why make a fuss - just change it.

+1 Oil is a lot cheaper that rebuilding the engine

 

[GSmonkey]

I'm sure it'll make bugger all differences given the ratio. Extract from the font of all knowledge (wikipedia)

Comparing regular lubricating oil with two stroke oil, the relevant difference is that two stroke oil must have a much lower ash content. This is required to minimize deposits that tend to form if ash is present in the oil which is burned in the engine's combustion chamber.

If that's all it is, you're 100% OK.

Either way, I'd drop the oil, for no other reason that your bike could drop a valve tomorrow and you wouldn't want any 'evidence' of oil problems, even if unrelated.

............sounds as though your 'mate' owes you some more oil, a filter and a trip down the tip to get rid of the used oil

 

[*spikey*]

Guys, thanks for the responses, appreciate it. Decided the ratio was low enough to survive a bit of a run today, will do the change tomorrow when I pick up some of the proper stuff. My mate was actually out with me today, very embarrassed, very apologetic and offering to buy whatever necessary... hinted at a GSA as a second bike but he wasn't wearing it