oil recommendations?

[MikeCheng]

i tried doing a search but not much came up, what brand do you recommend for motor oil? heard good things about honda oils.

[nikzoom]

I use Shell Rotella 15w-40 oil in my SV. It’s not a motorcycle specific oil (it’s actually a diesel oil) but it works quite well on my bike and on many other SV riders on the SV board. I used to use motorcycle specific oils, but I got tired of paying the outrageous prices for them. It goes for about $6 a gallon at Walmart.

[deathblow]

I used Spectro for the first 10k miles and then switched to Golden Spectro afterwards. I now have 23k miles and the motor runs great.

[PsychoBabble]

I've been using Mobil 1 (15w-50) for my R1. I know it's not motorcycle-specific, but it works without any problems. The bike runs and shifts smoother. :)

[Ikazuchi]

Originally posted by deathblow
I used Spectro for the first 10k miles and then switched to Golden Spectro afterwards. I now have 23k miles and the motor runs great.

I second that

[Amish Marauder]

Motul 10w40

[Ikazuchi]

Originally posted by nikzoom
I use Shell Rotella 15w-40 oil in my SV. It’s not a motorcycle specific oil (it’s actually a diesel oil) but it works quite well on my bike and on many other SV riders on the SV board. I used to use motorcycle specific oils, but I got tired of paying the outrageous prices for them. It goes for about $6 a gallon at Walmart.

What do you have to look for when using non-moto oil? I know not all auto oils will work correctly...something to do with the oil interacting with the wet clutch. Anybody know? If something works just as well..I'd much rather use that for $6/gallon than $20/gallon.

[PsychoBabble]

Originally posted by Ikazuchi
What do you have to look for when using non-moto oil? I know not all auto oils will work correctly...something to do with the oil interacting with the wet clutch. Anybody know? If something works just as well..I'd much rather use that for $6/gallon than $20/gallon.

The biggest things to watch out for are friction modifiers. Any oil that is energy efficent or touts "enhanced fuel economy performance" might not be well-suited for motorcycle use.

[Amish Marauder]

I see some of you use automotive oil. I too did that a long time ago, messed up my starter as well. I've read up on this topic many times and have come to the conclusion that automotive oils should'nt be used. You can find a ton of articles on the web to read on this very subject, such as this auto Vs moto (http://www.cbxclub.com/timoil.html)

[nikzoom]

As PsychoBabble said, the thing to watch out for when using auto oil is friction modifiers because this will cause our wet clutches to slip. Energy Conserving oils such as 5w-30, 5w-20 and 10w-30 usually have them so avoid those.

I've been using Shell Rotella oil now for about 10,000 miles and I have no problems. I get nice smooth shifts with this oil and no clutch slippage. Even Shells website mentions that this oil is fine for motorcycles.
http://www.rotella.com/answerresult.php?rowid=81

Here's more info:

http://www.yft.org/tex_vfr/tech/oil.htm

[PsychoBabble]

Thanks Rodger...

There's arguements on both sides when it comes to motorcycles running car oil. I did a lot of research as well when I decided to go with Mobil 1 car oil...

Anyway, it's a toss-up. Go with what you feel safe going with.

BTW, how did the type of oil screw up your starter, Amish Marauder? :confused:

[Bryant]

To put things in perspective... I would not want to buy a used motorcycle where cheap non-motorcycle specific oil was used.

[PsychoBabble]

Originally posted by Bodmaster
To put things in perspective... I would not want to buy a used motorcycle where cheap non-motorcycle specific oil was used.
I understand where you're coming from...The Mobil 1 full-synth that I use isn't what I'd consider "cheap" for motor-oil, but it does just as good of a job at a better price. ;)

[kc1717]

yeah i use moble one red cap and it works great.


anything that is non energy conserving is going to be fine.

[CjrJAM]

Originally posted by Bodmaster
To put things in perspective... I would not want to buy a used motorcycle where cheap non-motorcycle specific oil was used.
What do you use BK?

[Amish Marauder]

Originally posted by Bodmaster
To put things in perspective... I would not want to buy a used motorcycle where cheap non-motorcycle specific oil was used.

agreed. even if mobil 1 is used.

as for how automotive oil screwed up my starter well i'm not sure, i was warned (this was years ago) not to use auto oil with my bike (Yamaha 750 Special 82 or 1983 model can't recal) the Mechanic told me not to use auto oil cuz it would mess up my starter, I was like "yeah what ever" and sure enough about 3 months after using Castrol 10w-40 my starter started slipping, its hard to explain, but the starter is internal and it would "slip" and half the time the bike wouldn't start and the other half it would...strange. don't claim to understand it...but that mechanic knew what he was talking about. course this IS a old bike we are talking about...anywho, I'll stick with MOTO specific oils only please. 20 bucks for oil each change is nothing compared to the value of my bike...to me...

[kc1717]

Originally posted by Amish Marauder
agreed. even if mobil 1 is used.



i dont belive you know what you are talking about

[Amish Marauder]

Originally posted by kc1717
i dont belive you know what you are talking about

how so exactly? in thinking its best to use moto oil only in bikes? about mobil 1? or about the starter?

as far as the starter goes I don't quite understand that one myself. Just worked out that the guy warned me about it and sure enough it happened. go figure.

if its about my choice not to use automotive oils in bikes or mobile 1 to be specific, well then I could care less what you think.

[kc1717]

oh i dont care what you use,

im just saying that the tests have been done and mobile one 15-50w without friction midifiers performed as well if not better then most moto synthetic oils.

just saying that maybe something else went wrong with your bike, but i doubt that the oil you put in was the reason for the starter to fail, (unless it contained friction mod. and it penetrated the gaskets


just saying that full synthetic oils for bikes are 8-12 a quart and i like to use a flush quart and with filter thans 5 quarts or almost 50 in oil where as you can get mible one 15-50 in a 6 pack for 24 bucks.

not saying what you should use, but it does work just as well for half the cost

[Philo]

Of course, Mobil 1 caught on and now sells motorcycle specific $11/qt full synth. Yes I bought it, but I don't ever see myself doing another $50 oil change, until my MV F4-SPR arrives in a crate. :pray: From all the studies I've seen, the high-end moto specific oils should be worth an extra $0.50-1.00/qt MAX over the price of Mobil 1 synth car oil!!!

There's a pretty good chance that Mobil 1 full-synth automobile oil is better than what you're using now.

[Bryant]

*snipped from the land of the internet*

Motorcycle Oil vs. Car Oil

Can I use Mobil 1 15W-50 in my bike, just like I use in my car? Mobil 1 is Mobil 1, right?
Mobil 1 for cars and Mobil 1 for motorcycles are markedly different. Every oil is a balance of benefits. Mobil 1 Tri-Synthetic · Formula for cars has been developed specifically to satisfy car manufacturers' needs for increased fuel economy and low emissions.That's why new cars come with friction-modified, low-phosphorus 5W-30 motor oil. The low viscosity and the friction modifiers help fuel economy. The low phosphorus levels help protect catalytic converters.

So how is Mobil 1 for passenger cars different from Mobil 1 for motorcycles?
First, let's be clear about Mobil 1's overall benefits compared to those of conventional motor oils, whether for passenger cars or motorcycles:

Superior long-term engine protection.
Superior high-temperature stability.
Excellent low-temperature starting.
Outstanding engine performance.
Low volatility/low oil consumption.
It's a little hard to generalize about the difference between Mobil 1 passenger-car motor oils and Mobil 1 motorcycle oils. That's because not all viscosities of Mobil 1 passenger-car oils have the same levels of zinc and phosphorus, and there are even greater differences among the three Mobil 1 motorcycle oils. In general, Mobil 1 motorcycle oils have:

Different base stock systems.
Different additive packages.
Different formulations to meet very specific engine requirements.
What are the overall advantages of Mobil 1 motorcycle oils?
In addition to the overall benefits listed above · Especifically, high-temperature stability and low volatility/low oil consumption. · Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oils also offer superior anti-corrosion performance compared to conventional motor oil, which is important in many parts of the country where bikes may sit in garages for several months of the year.

Compared to conventional oils, Mobil 1 motorcycle oils have superior wear protection, engine cleanliness, high-temperature protection and lower oil consumption performance.

Once you get past these general advantages, you have to deal with each specific motorcycle oil one at a time to understand the benefits.

Okay. Let's start with Mobil 1 MX4T. What does it offer that Mobil 1 for cars doesn't?
Mobil 1 MX4T is designed for sport bikes. Most of these bikes have multi-cylinder/multi-valve engines and use a common sump, which means the engine oil lubricates the engine, transmission and wet clutch. So unlike Mobil 1 for cars, Mobil?1 MX4T has no friction modifiers, which could lead to clutch slippage.

The motorcycle oil also has more phosphorus/zinc for enhanced wear protection at high engine speeds and high loads. Remember, most bikes don't have catalytic converters, so higher levels of phosphorus are not a problem.

In addition, Mobil 1 MX4T uses different dispersant/detergent technology for better high-temperature performance and engine cleanliness. Mobil 1 MX4T is also offered in a different viscosity grade than Mobil 1 for passenger cars.

What about Mobil 1 V-Twin oil? How is that different from Mobil 1 for passenger cars?
Mobil 1 V-Twin oil is designed for air-cooled, large-displacement bikes. Because of their design, these engines can generate very high localized oil temperatures and high overall bulk-oil temperatures.

As you know, a typical air-cooled V-twin's rear cylinder gets a lot hotter than the front cylinder ·it's a matter of airflow. When it's hot out and you're stuck in traffic, the oil temperature in your bike climbs rapidly. Above about 250° F, conventional motor oil is going to break down. Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil is good to above 300° F.

In addition, Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 is a higher-viscosity grade than Mobil 1 15W-50 for passenger cars. And Mobil 1 V-Twin has no viscosity index improvers, so the oil is very "shear stable." Simply put, Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil won't break down as readily as conventional oil.

Like Mobil 1 MX4T, Mobil 1 V-Twin has high levels of phosphorus/zinc and the same high-temperature detergent technology for superior wear protection and engine cleanliness, even at elevated oil temperatures.

With Mobil 1 V-Twin oil, you can go the full length of the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals with ease.

And Mobil 1 MX2T for two-cycle engines? What's the advantage of using that?
First, you should never use an off-the-shelf four-cycle oil in a two-cycle bike. It can lead to severe engine problems. And much of what we've presented about Mobil?1 MX4T and Mobil 1 V-Twin oil does not apply. Two-cycle engines have unique needs, and so Mobil 1 MX2T has some very unique engineering. Mobil 1 MX2T:

.
Exceeds all U.S., European and Japanese standards for two-cycle oils.
Is specifically engineered to protect against piston scuffing and engine seizing.
Provides excellent high-temperature stability, which minimizes exhaust-port blockage and spark plug fouling.
Minimizes exhaust smoke.
Mobil 1 MX2T has a global racing pedigree, and offers the perfect balance of lubricity, engine cleanliness and low smoke for high-performance two-cycle applications.

The owner's manual says I should change the oil every 5,000 miles or once a year. I change my oil every 2,500 miles or twice a year. So why do I need that kind of protection?
For peace of mind and added protection. You pay a lot for a bike these days, so why risk running your engine in ordinary oil? Just like Mobil 1 synthetic oil for cars, Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oil helps keep your engine clean ·free from varnish and deposits ·and smooth running mile after mile, no matter what conditions you ride in.

Mobil 1 benefits engine life and performance. In fact, the lubrication capability of Mobil 1 motorcycle oil helps maintain peak horsepower and acceleration throughout the life of your engine. And with Mobil 1 you can go the full 5,000 miles between oil changes.

So, if you want to ride your bike long and hard and not be concerned about the oil, choose Mobil 1 motorcycle oil or any other *motorcycle specific* oil.

[Bryant]

Originally posted by CjrJAM
What do you use BK?

I still use and have always used Motul 5100 10w40
This used to be Motul 3100 10w40 but they discontinued that when they came out with the 5100 line. I think they are basically the same oil though.

I think that when I sell my used bikes, that it is a strong selling point to be able to answer their question to me regarding oil changes by letting them know that I use Motul 5100 10w40 exclusively and change oil AND filter every 2500 miles supported by receipts as proof.

For you guys using car oils, I'm sure you won't have any problems telling your potential buyers that you are using car specific oil in your bikes cuz you didn't want to pay extra for the peace of mind using a motorcycle specific oil. For me, I will not use car oils until there is DEFINTITIVE PROOF (none of this seat of the pants testing stuff) of their worthiness to use in my precious... PRECIOUS bikes... in addition, I will not use car oils until one of the industry giants decides to put in *writing* and are willing to stand by any claim that their car oils are safe to use in high-performance motorcycle applications with engines that redline past 16,000 rpm at times! Cuz if I get a massive engine failure as a result of their oils that wouldn't last me beyond a normal 3000 miles over perhaps 5 years of use (changine oil at every 3k miles of course) that'd I'd be able to lay blame on to them without the possibility of their telling me that they "never said it was ok to use their car oils in motorcycles!"

Why take the chance and risk it?
Your bike will probably only take 3 quarts per oil change (if you change your filter out as well) and a quart of good Motul 5100 10w40 RETAILS for $6.95 at House of Motorcycles. PLUS, I don't know any shops that give discounts on CAR oils but I do know motorcycle shops offer discounts on such products! So your end cost is really somewhere around $18-$21 per oil change.

$21 to change the oil on your bike using Motul 5100 10w40 that will give you piece of mind.

[Philo]

Just keep in mind, you quoted a multi-billion dollar companie's "reasoning" as to why you should spend !!!double!!! the money on their motorcycle specific oil. In the end, their scientific proof (read: theories) boils down to, "well, we're not really that sure. But why risk it?" Don't you think that if a company with MILLIONS of dollars at it's disposal was producing such an extraordinarily better oil, they would have done those tests and produced the results. Do you really think they haven't done those tests already? Why wouldn't they do an "end all-be all" test of motorcycle oils vs car oils??? Because that test would most likely show them to be only slightly better, if at all. Read below "Above about 250° F, conventional motor oil is going to break down. Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil is good to above 300° F." Well, at what temperature does Mobil 1 full synthetic automobile oil break down, and why didn't you compare it to that, since that what this whole article is about? Read through the article again and note how many times during this Mobil 1 car vs moto oil comparo they suddenly reference "conventional motor oils". How many times can you substitute Mobil 1 synth auto -oil for the moto-oil in those statements and it still be 100% true. You've got....."marketing".
If I remember correctly, about 80% of shear-strength degradation occurs within the first 800 miles of use. This breaks down to the main claim offered by moto-specific oil manufacturers, that their oil retains it's shear strength longer that automobile specific oils. Yes, motorcycles do break down the oil faster than cars due to their wet clutches and mostly due to their gearboxes. I did read a study on shear-strength retention by a professor at a large Cal university (forgot which one). He tested an assortment of oils including Mobil 1 full-synth auto oil and a Motul synth-blend moto-spec oil. The Mobil 1 retained more shear strength than any other oil in the test, although to be fair, no full-synth moto oils were tested.
My unscientific and "tool with too much time this weekend because there's a nail in my rear tire" opinion is, you're much better off using Mobil 1 car oil changing it every 1000-1500 miles than you are using expensive-ass moto oil every 2500. Whatever, though, it's your money. And if I was rich, yes I would always use the $12/qt fully synthetic motorcycle specific oils every 1000-1500 miles. So there's your grain of salt.

[kc1717]

yep i change mine at 1000-2000 miles with new filter and oil. also sport sider i belive it was did a text and mobil one 15-50 out performed their own moto specific oil as well as most others.

i used to use motul, but with mobil one my bike revs faster shifts smoother and made 150.6 at the rear wheel compared to 148.2 on motul 3100(semi synthetic)


but then again, those were on different days and could account for the difference.

but i belive it to be marketing compared to necessity, so continue to pay more.

[Bryant]

Hi Philo,

THanks for your inputs. I am by far no expert on oil. :) I just posted that "snipped from the land of the internet" article as another piece of "pleasure reading." I did not claim to support the article but figured that it was an interesting read.

[Bryant]

Philo said: "Of course, Mobil 1 caught on and now sells motorcycle specific $11/qt full synth."

That's almost twice as much as Motul 5100 which we can get for $6/qt on average.

Philo said: "Just keep in mind, you quoted a multi-billion dollar companie's "reasoning" as to why you should spend !!!double!!! the money on their motorcycle specific oil."

Just want to be clear here that I never said you should use Mobil 1 motorcycle oil. ;) Don't want people to mis-interpret. And if their Mobil 1 moto oil is "double the money" than their car oil... then you're basically telling us that their car oil costs as much as Motul 5100 which is a motorcycle specific oil. :cool:

[Bryant]

Hey guys.. the article Amish posted a link to is also a good read too. Check it out in case you haven't already:

http://www.cbxclub.com/timoil.html

This article references the article Motorcycle Consumer News posted regarding the findings of that one Cal State professor had on oils that Philo quoted off of for us. ;)

[Philo]

I didn't mean to imply you were recomending Mobil1 moto oil, I was just shootin off at the mouth. I prefer fully synthetic oil after breakin, so I was really only yapping about those. If I did use a blend, it would probably be Motul. I've heard a lot of good things about it.

In the end Bodmaster, you could smoke me up the tight side with honey in your engine, so what do I know. :lol:

[Philo]

Originally posted by Philo
In the end Bodmaster, you could smoke me up the tight side with honey in your engine, so what do I know. :lol:

LOL Dude, if we were famous, the newspapers would read.....

"Philo tells Bodmaster to "smoke me up the tight side with honey""

WTF. That sounds so bad out of context.

:eek: :blink: :shocked:

.....and thus the thread collapsed.....

[Bryant]

Originally posted by Philo
LOL Dude, if we were famous, the newspapers would read.....

"Philo tells Bodmaster to "smoke me up the tight side with honey""

WTF. That sounds so bad out of context.

:eek: :blink: :shocked:

.....and thus the thread collapsed.....

:puke: :ko: :ko:

[cbrsmurf]

Originally posted by Philo
LOL Dude, if we were famous, the newspapers would read.....

"Philo tells Bodmaster to "smoke me up the tight side with honey""

WTF. That sounds so bad out of context.

:eek: :blink: :shocked:

.....and thus the thread collapsed.....

dude!!!














.....kinky;)