Just got the 600 mile service at a dealer. They clearly state in their invoice that they use "10W-40 Yamalube from barrel". I thought it was supposed to be Kawasaki oil. Well, I guess they know what they are doing. From the next time, I am planning to change oil and filter by myself and already ordered OEM filters from Partzilla. My question is the oil...yes, the oil. I have been using Motorcycle oil in the past as my bikes were old or its Catalytic converter removed. Now my 2014 ZX-14R is not modified and that means it still have the catalytic converter in the muffler. If I use motorcycle oil, wouldn't damage the catalytic converter due to high content of Phosphorous? One of the justifications of paying for motorcycle oil is its higher Phosphorous content as automotive oil doesn't contain much Phosphorous as it will damage the catalytic converter. I am saving some money to buy a set of slip-ons but till then should I use automotive oil to prevent the catalytic converter go bad?

EDITED: THIS IS NOT ACCURATE! UNFORTUNATE INTERNET MISINFORMATION...

14Rs have 3, one in the collector too, and one in each muffler.

* Last updated by: VicThing on 10/10/2014 @ 10:03 PM *

https://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Car_Care/AskMobil/Catalytic_Converters_Collection.aspx

It would take lots and lots of miles to close or collapse the honeycombs> before you clog the muffler flow. That's basically what happens in both mufflers, not the header, Vic. I have two years worth of R headers and neither has a cat. Mufflers, yes. The OP knew he had cats. The question was, will the chemical reaction etch and weaken the metal to curl over a comb and slow the whooshuthell up, fella! Used is not ready for prime time playing.

Now, read the next post more accurately so we don't start paging the place for a simple url read. And for a penalty box move, remove either muffler and show us the cat...

* Last updated by: Hub on 10/10/2014 @ 4:22 PM *

So I guess the only choice is a full system or automotive oil...

Thanks, Hub. I like Mobile's answer "We have no information that the level of phosphorus in Mobil 1 Racing 4T is going to significantly shorten the life of your catalytic converter. Catalyst poisoning from Phosphorus is a well known issue; however, premature poisoning of a motorcycle converter is somewhat rare. In motorcycle applications the higher level of phosphorus to protect against excessive wear in the engine and transmission outweighs the concern for poisoning." It is cheaper to replace Catalytic converter than the worn-out engine. I guess I will use motorcycle oil.

YW, OM. Mobil 1 is automotive and we are using the same basic metals for emissions. Lets turn back the clock, say we have 50% on pipe, 50 on the OE. We are not hearing power loss posts from the older catted OE's, or we'd be hearing driveability complaints. Now lets say that 10 or 5% of the OE's were running high phos oil content. Use any oil you like. That cat will outlive you, OM.

"So I guess the only choice is a full system or automotive oil..."...HUH?Why are you even THINKING automotive oil?Just keep puttin Kawasaki Syn in it...or another Dino oil made for the 14 engine...You don't need anything different than what's either on the bike...or IN the bike....stock cats and mufflers sure as shit aint gonna meltdown unless ya put LEADED gas in there.Oil aint gonna harm anything....

"Just got the 600 mile service at a dealer"...a Yamaha dealer,yes?. Don't know what they might put in their oils for THEIR bikes...but it should be okay long as it's Jaso or whatever that designation is for the Kawasaki motor.

"14Rs have 3, one in the collector too, and one in each muffler"...where is this collector cat at?.I removed my stock headers...twice...on my first 2012,then my now 2013.There aint no cat in there.A SEPARATOR...yes...but a cat,I didn't see one in there.In the collector area.Looked again just now...nope...no cat in there(and I'm not joking).

Perhaps Vic you could show me one in there...that I'm missing...or in the book somewhere?.Honestly...I'd like to know for sure or not.

You WILL have to CUT the midpipe OFF at the muffler weld...it's right there.Only way to get to it.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/10/2014 @ 9:35 PM *

I apparently got confused about where the cats are at on 14Rs. I knew the mufflers had cats, but I thought there was a cat in the midpipes/collector too for some reason. It seems like I remember someone saying it could be removed to save about 11 lbs.

Thanks for clarifying this!

EDIT:

Yes, apparently there was some misinformation about the 14R's exhaust having 3 cats. Here's a video where a guy removed his stock header and addressed the issue dispelling the myth. I knew I'd read it, unfortunately just not true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Z7LSye7pBl4

* Last updated by: VicThing on 10/10/2014 @ 10:01 PM *

assist

No cat in my header either. Its sitting in my closet.

Hey Vic you might have read about the cats in the headers starting in 08 on gen1's.

My cats live on the roof and front porch... Maine Coon's they are... Big, and the dogs don't mess with them... Oh!!! sorry, cat converters!!! LOL!!!. I'd like to convert the cats; at least get them to do basic chores around the yard... They just lay around and consume food; worse than my teenage son!!! Will it ever end?!!!
.

This is where the rumor started, this is from a 2012 manual, for some reason, it shows a
Cat in the header pipe :

* Last updated by: carabuser on 10/12/2014 @ 12:15 PM *

Hmmm...I'm noticing that pic...those dark outlines around the Header inlets.....and also on that 'cat' area.What the hell are THOSE doing there?Never seen any pics from a manual or fiche showing a diagram like that.It must mean something...if that's authentic.Out of the parts fiche that is.Also...looking at the 'cat'...doesn't it look like there's a 'separation' betweem the two sides of the diameter of it?It does to me....only thing I can think of are the vanes for flow channeling in that part of the pipe.Mine doesn't(didn't)have any honeycomb material in there.Have a 2012 and a 2013 header right here.

You don't think MAYBE that 'cat' area is actually just shaded in to show those vanes are in there?

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 10/12/2014 @ 3:26 PM *

D = Manifold or what we call the header.
A = Cat [call] in euro or none cat in D, meaning, no cat/02 in US/CAN/CA is how you read the opposite page.

This is where the rumor started, this is from a 2012 manual, for some reason, it shows a
Cat in the header pipe :

Thanks for posting this carabuser. I didn't know how it got started, but I had read it several places early on reading about 14Rs. I assumed it was true because it made sense in a way. For example if adding slip-ons the system would still have a cat in it. By looking at that diagram, I can see how people could get this impression.