Who Uses Synthetic

[slow mo]

diesel oil

i also use can. tire severe service diesel oil works great for me and is one of the least expensive oil on the shelf,, ride safe ,,,slow mo!!

[snowdog51]

oil

put 260.000 on my ist bmw 235000 on my next bmw 75000 on my 1st xs
amsoil in all

[xsivegary]

Whatever oil you use, you should stay away from SM rated oils. These are formulated for late model roller cam engines and don't have the ZDDP additive that is needed to protect flat tappet cams and lifters. Rottella and the cheap oil I buy at Tractor Supply have ZDDP, I run them in all my old cars, bikes and tractor with flat tappet cams and use Modile One synthetic in everything with a roller cam. ZDDP protects the surface of metal to metal contact areas under high load...aka, camshaft and lifters. The street rod crowd has seen a dramatic increase in cam failure with SM rated oils, if you google it, you'll see they are all running away from SM oil as fast as they can.

[jetmechmarty]

Rotella

Take ROTELLA off your list. It has been upgraded to no ZDDP as well. So have the other diesel oils. I'm not sure it's safe, but I've resorted to YAMALUBE. I have been assured that NEW HOLLAND motor has not and will not be upgraded due to its strictly off road vehicle use. Buy it from your local NEW HOLLAND dealer.

[Axel]

Amsoil

After a few thousand kms .I am very happy with Amsoil motorcycle 10w40 . Bike runs better ,even sounds smoother and my minor clutch slippage I had with the Canadian Tire dino oils is gone . Dont have to change oil all season . What could be better ?

[WMarshy]

I use Valvoline motorcycle oil 10w40. I went on their site and found this...

http://www.valvoline.com/faqs/specialty-oils/motorcycle-oil/

"Do I have to use an oil formulated specifically for motorcycles in my bike? Why can't I use the same oil I use in my car?

The American Petroleum Institute (API) now requires more friction modifiers in oils meeting the current SL/SM standards for gasoline engines. Our motorcycle tests show these oils can cause excessive wear in wet-clutch applications. That's why we designed an oil specifically for these applications. Valvoline 4-Stroke Motorcycle Oil is available in SAE 10w40 and SAE 20w50 viscosities."

Is this statement a little vague or is it just me... Does their 4 stroke motorcycle oil has the friction modifiers in it then? I swear the oil I just put in my bike had a designation of either MA or MS...SM...? Cant quite remember have to check tomorrow. Anyone use Valvoline?

[03mach1]

Amsoil motorcycle 10w40 link: (http://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?G...168?ZO=1378030) is what I use, seems to work well, 2 seasons with no problems.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Marshy,

Their statements are that their specially formulated motorcycle oil does NOT have those modifiers that they found caused wear on the clutch.

Below is a set of examples of API oil seals, the ones on the LEFT show the Friction Modifiers statement in the lower half of the seal....and that is what you DON'T want to see in any oil you get for your bike!


T.C.

[Crazcnuk]

The oils I use are the Cf-2 type, which are diesel oils.

As I have said, many times, the 15W-40 Low-ash, Severe Service motor oil meets or exceeds all the reqs of gasoline, diesel, propane, natural gas, etc. engines. it produces less carbon (the black stuff) and has been certified by Mack, Cummins, Detroit, GM and several others as well as auto mfgs.

In addition it meets or exceeds all US and Canadian Military standards to use in everything the army needed motor oil in.

If that isn't severe service, I don't know what is. You can choose your favorite brand.

The rest is a function of advertising, personal preference and the coolness factor.

The only other choice is synthetic, and it makes no difference what brand you like.

i've been using this oil for 26 years in a multitude of vehicles and never had an oil related failure.

[latexeses]

TC,

I guess I am a bit confused. Are you stating that the oils listing that they are "energy conserving" are not the oils for our bikes or as the Amsoil page states that the oil meets the SL, SG specifications would mean the same thing?

Did that make any sense at all?

[Crazcnuk]

It's the 'SM' one to stay away from I believe. This is the 'energy saving' feature.

Each of those specs, SF, SE, SG etc. usually supersede the previous spec by covering all the previous conditions, then adding some more.

With the SM designation it seems they didn't quite test it enough and they are having problems with metal on metal lubrication, so things like cams that have no bearing have been failing using the new oils.

Since the XS has bearingless cams, it is just thought prudent not to test it in the field.

[madmax-im]

TC,

I guess I am a bit confused. Are you stating that the oils listing that they are "energy conserving" are not the oils for our bikes or as the Amsoil page states that the oil meets the SL, SG specifications would mean the same thing?

Did that make any sense at all?

That is correct..........
Anything that says "energy conserving" is what you should AVOID...they contain MOLY...as a friction modifier...this will cause clutch slippage.

[cycleguy]

amsoil

I've been using amsoil in all my bikes since my 74 Z-1. Had some clutch slippage, put abarrnet cluth pack in & no more slippage....but harder pull, had some drag - ie. hard to find neutral. Replaced with stock fricton disks & barnet springs worked very well. New 78 XS1100, rode it home & put amsoil in it with new barnet springs...in 92,000 miles never slipped. NEVER had a tranny problem! Quit using oil at 26,000--seat rings b-4 using synthetics!! Did the same (amsoil-springs) on my new 83 venture royale. My 86 venture,about 20,000 clutch started dragging-installed barnet CARBON FIBER fricton disks w/new oem diaphram pressure plate-45,000 later ,STILL LOVING IT!! I now use amsoil 20-50 motor cycle oil. Change oil @ 6000 miles. IN the stock car amsoil ran 40 degrees cooler. now fixing 82 XJ after sitting in the shop for 12 yrs!!!!

[Athedra]

I use Castrol GTX2 20W50. I drive three months on it and do about 70km's per day. I drained it today just for the fun of it, and you could still feel that the oil is good. Only problem I found with it is that it turns black very quickly. Apart from the blackness, I found no problem with it on any of my bikes. By rule of thumb, I do oil changes every six months on all my bike. This include the filters. This I do whether I traveled 2 km with it or 2000km.

[Crazcnuk]

The 'black' is just soot form the combustion process. It doesn't bother anything, until it gets to be a large percentage of the oil. It only takes a little to turn the oil black.