Modern Buddy

Am about to do the 600 mile oil change on my 2019 Buddy 125.

Owners manual suggests a 15w-40 generic oil.

I always run synthetics and don't find anything readily available at local auto stores in a 15w-40 synthetic, and not inclined to have a quart shipped FedEx shipped to me.

I've got 10w-40 and 20w-50 Mobil one "cycle oil" on my garage shelf and trying to decide which to use.

My riding is only from 60f to 95f so no cold weather use and the scoot always get a bit of warm up before giving the stick to it.

I'm thinking of using the heavier Mobil one 20w-50.

Any thoughts on this from the group?

Rotella T6 is readily available in 15W-40 in local box stores. Having said that, I don't imagine either of your other choices would hurt the engine.

I ran 10-40 cheap Wally World oil in my Buddy 125. Got 40,000 trouble free miles before selling the Buddy, and last I heard it's still running. So running 10-40 synthetic shouldn't be a issue.

Thanks, Dooglas.....I didn't find it at Advance Auto, etc here......but see Walmart carries it I think.

I'll probably use the other oil I've got here in the 1931 Model A Ford I guess. It's not particular in what oil it gets

I'm planning on haulin' the lil Buddy 125 back down to Sanibel early 2021.

You gonna be back down there this winter at all?

fried okra

Thanks, sc00ter, yeah, they seem to be not too particular on what oil is in the crankcase, as long is some is there.

They are tough lil rascals for sure.

fried okra

fried okra wrote: ↑Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:27 amYou gonna be back down there this winter at all?

Nope, not this winter. I'll be hiding out in Oregon hoping for better days.

When Pep Boys was going out of the parts business, I picked up a few quarts of conventional 15W-40 for under $2/qt. I'm sure it will be fine, and probably keep me going for at least a couple years.

Rotella T6 15W-40 is cheap enough at Walmart at around $21. Why not run synthetic?

Yep, everything I've got gets synthetic....except my lawnmower.

Steer clear of "cycle oil".

That stuff is meant for motorcycles with wet clutches and gearboxes.


Stick to Rotella - it served me well.

Yep, these engines are tough little beasts. I've been running whatever I can get my hands on in my Buddy 150. Dino oil, semi-synthetic, 10-30, 10-40, 15-40, whatever. Lately I've been using 10-40 (or is it 15-40?) Chevron oil from Costco. I change the oil filter about every other oil change. She seems happy so far. 19K miles and still going strong. Probably should check the valve clearances though. I think I hear a loose rocker.

So, just to close the loop here.

I looked at the Mobil one specs for both their 10w-40 and their 20w-50 cycle oils and their 20w-50 has a lot higher zinc and phosphorus than does their 10w-40. So I used the 20w-50 Mobil one I had on the shelf in the garage.

My dealer did not trust the oil the far east manufacturer may have put in so drained the oil at time of delivery and put in their choice of oils, a 5w-40 Motul I believe when seeing what they have on their shelves there.

Anyway, with the 20w-50 Mobil one cycle oil the engine seems a lot quieter now and the scooter still tops out at about 60 indicated mph in a brief time, and seems to get there quicker too but that is very subjective.

So, I am satisfied....and really only ride from about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and above so feel the 20w-50 will be fine.

70F and above?

It was maybe 50F on my ride this weekend.

Last weekend it was snowmobiles, this weekend motorcycles; Gotta love the midwest.

Yep, 70 degrees and above for me now.

Used to live in Ann Arbor, Michigan.....than Great Falls, Virginia.

Now its Charleston, SC in the summer and southwest Florida in the winter