Triumphrat

MorganB

I came across an interesting article about motorcycle-specific oil. It seems to be true that synthetic oils are in fact better than dino oils - especially in air-cooled engines, but there is absolutely no difference in performance between those labeled as motorcycle oil vs. car oil (other than cost, of course ).

Check out the article here.

Pokeyjoe

I didn't see anything about clutches and the Jaso MA spec. That's the only thing I can think of that would differentiate the oils.

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John

Some people are like Slinkies. They're really good for nothing. But they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.

ricksd

Interesting article that i suspect may be truthful, but I can't help wonder why it is not published somewhere other than an Internet site. Some well known consumer report type magazine, or automotive mag. Then again those oil companies advertise in the automotive and motorcycle mags and the mags aren't likely to bite the hand that feeds them. At least the professor referenced in the article actually still works at CSU, LA. I am tempted to go with Mobil 1 full synth automobile oil at next change. I just changed my Speedmaster's oil yesterday - Mobil 1 Racing 4T, 10W-40 fully synthetic. It cost $9.50 per quart at Discount Auto, which is why your thread caught my attention.

PAAS

There's no reason why you can't use a good quality fully or semi synthetic auto oil of the correct viscosity rating in a Bonnie engine. A lot of people seem to like Shell Rotella, which is intended for use in diesel engines. But, you need to be wary of those oils that claim greater engine efficiency and better gas mileage, as they may contain friction modifiers that make them unsuitable for use in an engine with a wet clutch.

It was interesting to note that neither of the "motorcycle specific" oils tested by the Prof were fully synthetic (one was a "dino oil", the other semi-synth). A more meaningful comparison might have been testing Mobil 1 Racing 4T against Mobil 1 auto oil.

I guess the market is different in the UK, but here 4 litres (just over 1 US gallon) of Castrol Power 1 GPS 4T 10W40 (a motorcycle oil) costs the equivalent of $58 at Halfords (probably like Autozone in the US, but more expensive!). The equivalent auto oil, Castrol Magnatec 10W40 costs $54 for the same amount. Not a huge difference. They are both semi-synths.

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Paul.

Herts. UK
Opal & Tangerine 05 T100 (865cc)
(Previously Ducati Monster S4 and numerous UJMs)

metasac

can't help but notice that this article is 14 years old, for whatever that's worth. i wonder how much has changed since then.

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2001 Triumph Bonneville
mods:
BellaCorse Slip-on Teardrop Mufflers, Nology coil, Nark airbox removal kit and K&N pod filters. stock needles + 1 shim under each. 150 mains, 42 pilots, 3 turns out.

CommandoRdster

Jeez,how many times do you have to be told?

That article is almost 15 years old.Automotive oils have undergone a complete change in their additive package in the last decade.

It was found that soluble metals in oil were coating,and ruining cat converters.By federal mandate,the auto makers have to warranty all emission related components of their cars for 7 years.This forced the oil companies to reformulate their oil to eliminate these additives.

It's these soluble metals that primarily protect your transmission.

Rotella is fine,because C (commercial) rated oils have no prohibition against those additives.Additionally Rotella(and Delo,Delvac,and other C rated oils)are designed to run at least 30k before being changed.

Also,don't be tempted to save money by using dino oil.These engines use plain bearings,and they were designed from white paper to use synth oil.We need the film strength of synth oil to protect our plain bearings at start up,and and the viscosity stability of synth oil to protect our air cooled motors against temp spikes.

I'm not saying putting car oil,or dino oil, in there will ruin your engine.If your oil is dangerously low,and that's all you've got,by all means use it. Just don't do a complete oil change with car,or dino oil.

Just in case anyone missed this the first time around,car oil in 2008 is completely different from car oil in 1994,and is no longer suitable for use in your motorcycle.Use it in emergency only!

Thank you.
Bruce

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metasac

that's what i'm talkin about.

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2001 Triumph Bonneville
mods:
BellaCorse Slip-on Teardrop Mufflers, Nology coil, Nark airbox removal kit and K&N pod filters. stock needles + 1 shim under each. 150 mains, 42 pilots, 3 turns out.

PAAS

Just as a point of information, and if I recall correctly, the Bonneville owners manual specifies that synthetic OR semi-synthetic oil should be used in the motor. Plain bearings in air-cooled engines were around long before synthetic motor oils became available.

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Paul.

Herts. UK
Opal & Tangerine 05 T100 (865cc)
(Previously Ducati Monster S4 and numerous UJMs)