Motorcycle Repair: Oil Change for Honda Shadow Aero 750cc, stroke cycle engines, honda shadow aero 750

Question
Hello there, I bought Honda Shadow Aero 750 CC from a private sale. It is 2005 and have been ridden 5000 miles.
1. How can i find out if the previous owner used synthetic oil?
2. I just purchased Repsol Moto 4T Sintetico Synthetic Blend oil - 10W40. The box says Gasoline Motor Oil. I need to know if it is ok to use this oil for a oil change. Hope fully it is not the one which is used for premixing with gasoline?... Please suggest

thanks a bunch


Answer
1) Unless you know an oil technician who can analyze the oil that is in it now, the only way to find out if the previous owner used synthetic would be to ask him. Or look at the service receipts if he provided them.

2) Multi grade oils (the ones with a W in the middle like 10W40) are generally designed for 4 stroke cycle engines (like yours). (Engines that require the oil to be mixed with the fuel are 2 stroke cycle.) The oil you have bought is designed for engines that run on gasoline. Diesel engines have different lubricating requirements and use different oil.

As far as I know, Repsol shuld be fine in your engine. Some people will try to tell you that you must always use nothing but "motorcycle oil". This is not true. In fact, some oils that are packaged as "motorcycle oil" don't protect your engine as well as nexpensive automotive type oil. See this article: http://www.nightrider.com/biketech/oiltest1.htm

BTW: If you bought the bike in Canada it's odometer is probably in Km, not miles.