I have been using Amsoil 10W40 exclusively after break-in, and no issues.
My question to travelers, are Amsoil products readily available in Central and South America? Or should I transition to another brand of 100% synthetic lubricant products.
Salty

I've never searched for Amsoil in Latin America so I can't answer directly.

My experience:

At a motorcycle shop you may find some kind of synthetic oil, but it will be very expensive (based on my experience in Veracruz, Mexico). As I recall it was a Yamaha oil.

At Walmart type stores you may find synthetic oils, but they will likely not have a Motorcycle rating (JASO MA1 or MA2).

I would think that the search for a particular brand would be very time consuming and frustrating. Personally, I would use whatever 10W40 I could find that met my bike's specifications and not worry about it.

I actually bought that very expensive oil from the shop- in exchange for a place to change my oil, a bucket to drain it into, and a place to dump the old oil. I considered that a pretty good deal.

Plus, I enjoyed chatting with the mechanics and the girl at the front counter.

.......................shu

Thanks Shu for the info. Question now, as synthetic oil and brands are expensive and harder to find, can / should I go back to a good guality mineral oil?
I have heard that you can not go from synthetic to mineral?
Salty

You can change motor oils, mix motor oils, and generally do whatever you please with motor oils. Just be sure to avoid the ones with friction modifiers, which will mess up your clutch.

I use synthetic oil at home, but in Central and South America I used whatever I could find. My single cylinder bike lasted almost 100k miles/160k kilometers on the road, and is still being driven around town by the guy I sold it to. It's ok--just change oil when it needs a change (i.e., according to how you've used the bike, not by an arbitrary schedule), change filters at least every other oil change, and take good care of your air filter.

That's my theory, and I'm sticking to it. There are a lot of accepted truths which haven't proven true in my experience--like the one which says you need to change out front and rear sprockets every time you install a new chain, and the one which says you need a custom seat and expensive aftermarket shocks to travel overland. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thanks Mark. Good to know. I will look into which oils work best for this trip. I can carry synthetic differential oil with me as a liter will go a long way. For the oil and air filters I will invest in washable reusable types.
Salty

What bike are you riding? Did you say "differential"? So maybe BMW?

If you're riding an old dry clutch air head, then no worries about using Synthetic oil with friction modifiers (which ruin wet clutches on bikes so equipped).

So, this means you can use any high quality, name brand synthetic oil if you have a dry clutch BMW. Otherwise, use caution. Mobil One make several good synthetic oils WITHOUT friction modifiers. I've been using them for over 10 years and 100,000 miles on several bikes. All good. It's car oil, works perfectly in any bike. And yes, as said above, you can switch back and forth from Syn to NON syn oil no problem, mix and match as you please.

In Mexico you will see lots of US oil brands (Havoline, Penzoil, Quaker State, Castrol and more) It's ALL Pemex. (made in Mexico !!) ... it's relabeled Pemex (Mexico's only oil). The US companies sold licensing for the use of their label and logo ... but the oil is simply Mexico's Pemex ... which honestly is real crap.

Ever wonder why even fairly new cars in Mexico smoke? Crap oil. So, the American companies sell the label but not the secret formula and additive packages in their oil.

Mexican Pemex has none of the modern additives common in good US
and Euro brand Oil. Ask knowledgable local bikers about this ... they ALL know and use only made in USA oil.

Look for speciality bike or car shops, you may find "the real thing", that is, oil made in USA, France, UK, Germany or Italy.

ALL contain modern additives and are "real" synthetic oil.

You'll never, ever find AMSoil down there but ... maybe
Mobil One. (car oil ... which is one of the best!)

I was able to find made in USA Mobil One at Mexican Wal-Mart stores but it's a bit rare ... and costs more than Hecho en Mexico Mobil One, which is also for sale and like all the others, is just Pemex in a Mobil One bottle. So, check the label for where it's "hecho'd"



Good luck from the guy who installs new sprockets with a new chain!

Why in God's name would one continue to run a worn out Sprocket with 20K miles on it? It's $30 and my new chain is $150.

In certain circumstances you may have no choice, but given the choice ...new sprockets when possible please.

A worn sprocket will EAT UP a new chain in short order. So instead of 20K service life, you get 10K!

In reading ride reports the last 10 or 12 years, failed drive lines (either chain or sprockets or both) are the number one show stopper for amateur travelers.
They simply IGNORE their drive line. Seen this several times ... IN PERSON ...
and when pointed out to traveler ... they had no clue the trouble they were in. Pretty common.

You're lucky, you have a shaft drive bike ... and they never fail ... right?
Where is Touring Ted and Ta Rider when we need them?

Well, that's what I keep hearing, but my direct experience has been otherwise. I change front and rear sprockets when they need changing (i.e., teeth are worn out), and not before. My chains last a minimum of 15,000-20,000 miles, often more, no matter. Front sprockets last twice as long as rear, contrary to all predictions otherwise. I can't argue with the evidence directly in front of me.

I also don't take care of my chains. When I think of it I lift the rear wheel, drop it into gear, and spray with WD40--more of a quick rinse than anything else. I might bother to do this every 400 or 800 miles, depending. Sometimes I wipe briefly with a rag afterwards, but as often I just rev the engine to spin off excess. I've experimented, and found that this does indeed cut chain life by about 5000 miles over taking proper care, but I really haven't found that worth my while.

Your mileage may etc., but that's been my experience.

I trust the OP is satisfied with the answers to his original query.

Mark

Preparing my 2012 S10, slowly for this journey. So trying to dot i’s and cross t’s, hoping to circumvent potential problems, especially a major one, Onward and forward with mods to the bike.
I am a retired senior very much trying to achieve a long established bucket list, about half way through now, Ushuaia or bust.
My biggest obstacle will be transporting required meds for a six month trip, border crossings should be interesting, especially carrying sutures, needles etc.
Next to establish:
Tires.
Spare gas can(s) on custom made peg packers
Gas filter(s). Currently located, I believe, in gas tank. Not service able.
Custom cargo plate / storage zone under top box / med cooler and rear crash bars.
Sensible tool kit / manual / spares
Hammock / Bivi combo
Ridding gear combo. As I am an odd size, this will be a custom ensemble.
Salty

There's been a lot of interest over the years in ways of keeping medications chilled on long trips. When you've got it worked out, please post about this in a separate thread to make it easily searchable by other riders facing the same issue.

As a point of personal preference, I'll add that the trip from North America to Ushuaia does not need to be particularly rugged, and that there is therefore less need for elaborate preparations than one might think. If I was doing the trip a third time, I'd probably again skip most of the standard advance prep and obsessive attention to obscure details--just as I did the first two. Of course, my experience (and preferences) are just one data point of many.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I think we all obsess a little too much over oils.

The cheap stuff you find in Wallmart/Asda is probably better than the super-dooper Oils you were buying £20 years ago.

Use any brand Motorcycle oil with a wet clutch and any old oil in a dry clutch bike.

However, I always stick the the recommended oil weight specification.

But when it comes down to it. Any oil is better than no oil..

__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

The S10 is a tough, reliable bike, should go 6K miles between oil changes? So plan changes where decent oil is available. Most big cities have dealers that can help out. Many have tires too.

Fuel filters. I don't know the S10 well, two riding friends have them, one just bought latest version and sold his original S10 with 40K miles on. Loves it.

Some F.I. bikes don't allow access to internal fuel filters feeding fuel pump.
High pressure lines preclude having easy access. (I think?)

I use pieces of women's nylon stocking to filter gas when filling up. Simple.

I like your med cooler idea. Some documentation on official stationary showing your meds are prescribed by your Doc might be a good idea, if asked by "officials". I would not offer up this info nor show them what you're carrying.
95% sure they'll never find it or even look.

Tires: Problematic for everyone. Many big S. American cities have major bike dealerships. These often carry tires (inconsistent supply) S10 sizes are same as BMW GS. (19" front 17" rear) These sizes should be around or you can order them ... and wait. Email dealer or call ahead and prepay. (but no guarantee)

Some prefer to pack spare rear tire on the back. Generally two rear tires to one front. High highway speeds and heavy load wear rear tires faster. Get NEW tires at US Border ... even if you're current ones not 100% used up. If you can make it to Colombia you should be able to re-tire there. After that ... I'm not sure.

Camping may be overrated in Mexico, Central and S. America unless you are good at "Wild Camping", which is often all there is. Many reports show that riders end up packing full camping gear ... and never use it!

A Bivi and Hammock make sense for emergencies ... not sure about a tent, sleeping bag and cooking gear. Up to you. You can start with it ... and jettison if not working out.

Best to have a tool kit you have actually used. Tire repair is an important element. Plugs or sticky strings, compressor or Co2 cartridges, rubber cement and proper insert tools all should be part of your lexicon ... be comfortable and know how to use all that stuff as tire repair is maybe #1 issue riders have.

Check out your lighting ... make sure it's good. We say we'll never ride at night.
yea, right! Stuff happens! Good lighting a must, IMO.

Much riding will be in HEAT and HUMIDITY. Canadian spec'd gear will give you heat stroke. But ... in the high Andes you will freeze! So you need to be able to handle both environments ... wide range of weather. (no big deal)

Around the Block Moto Adventures (a tour operator and more in Peru) recommends MOTUL 7100 Full Synthetic oil. He says it is available all over South America.

I don't know this first hand, just relaying info I have found.

Have a great trip!

__________________
'96 1200 Bandit
'16 Tu250X

If that is true about Motul, then that's great news!

But I would double check WHERE that Motul is actually made.

Years ago USA sourced Motul used to be made in France, I used it over 10 years ago. It became very popular here.

Then, Motul switched and began making their oil in Los Angeles at an old shut down US oil company that went bankrupt, located in Downtown LA. (Kendall)

The color and consistency changed, the smell ... everything. I no longer trusted it, have never used it since. (yes, I know we're not bathing in it! )

As always, YMMV. IMO, it's unlikely if that Motul is made in any S. American country, it may not contain the proprietary additive packages found in modern oils. If made in Peru' or where ever, what "Base oils" do they use? Ester? These sort of "make or break" synthetic oil.

Also, IIRC, here in USA that Motul 7100 is VERY expensive. Now add the 100% to 300% import duty, might get a bit out of hand!

It's true, we DO obsess over oil. But we're spoiled as ANY "off the shelf" oil in USA or UK is made to a certain standard. Mexican oil is not. Trust me on this, I could go on and on.

Pemex is one of the most corrupt monopolies in the world ... and locals tell me it's a guarantee Pemex spend ZERO on research and development.

With modern USA oil, even cheapo car oil, it at least will protect your engine for a while. It may not protect that long, but it's certainly OK for 2000 miles or so at least. This may be true with the Mexican oil ... but since I already lost one engine due to using Mexican oil ... I won't ever do it again.

But things are changing all over Latin America and more and more ...better products are available that were never for sale in years past.