Topic: motorcycle and car oil? whats the difference

[xsmooth69x]

so is there a difference if its just regular SAE 10-40 or 20-50 if its car or motorcycle oil?

did they even have motorcycle specific oil back in the 70s?

or are these bikes built around motorcycle oil?

whats the difference the manual only says high quality SAE oil

[cabrala]

Is this a serious question? 1,000+ posts and you haven't come across some of the outrageously contentious oil threads?

I dare you to google search it. What is that; you want me to double-dog dare you?

Popcorn is a poppin'

[xsmooth69x]

Is this a serious question? 1,000+ posts and you haven't come across some of the outrageously contentious oil threads?

I dare you to google search it. What is that; you want me to double-dog dare you?

Popcorn is a poppin'

yup i have come across many many threads about oil......

but mostly oil brands and this that and why....

but nothing about why motorcycle specific oil vs just regular motor oil.....

i understand synthetic isnt good nor all those other crazy motor oils with additives but what about regular SAE good old fashioned motor oil that my dad but in his muscle car?

[cabrala]

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/

Read through both of these, but particularly the first link. Many of the oil threads here explain the differences in oil from the 70's to the present. The biggest change being in the dropped levels of zinc-phosphate due to the increased usage in catalytic converters. Our bikes need said additive (ZDDP), but it is known to destroy catalytic convertors so it is being dropped out of the additive packages.

Motorcycle oils that are branded as such are supposed to have adequate levels of what we all need, especially with our wet clutch systems. People have also had good luck with diesel oils as they do not need to conform to the catalytic criteria.

Your view on synthetics are a bit misguided, but that's something that can be researched with your own opinion being formed after.

"Regular SAE good old fashioned motor oil that your dad puts in his muscle car" doesn't really exist in today's market like it did way back when.

[Dimitri13]

Car oils have that nasty slippery #$%* that our clutches don't like.

There's not much of a difference in price between car and bike oil anyway, so why even ask?

[cabrala]

Car oils have that nasty slippery #$%* that our clutches don't like.

Molybdenum or moly for short

[shinyribs]

The zinc in ''car oil'' is gone mostly,just like was previously stated. That zinc is needed with the rocker arm setup these bikes have. Also,''car oils'' have friction modifiers. Basically,they create a film that clings to cylinders,pistons....to prevent dry starts. That is a big no-no for a wet clutch.  I'm sure there is a lot of other differences,but these are the two biggies,IMO.

[xsmooth69x]

shiat well for testing my bike out i just put regular oil in it.... guess ill take a trip and get some oil

ok please dont bash me but.... i swear the bike stuff was way way way more expensive than regular oil. but then again all i went to was auto parts stores.

so i just need to go to a motorcycle store and ask for motorcycle 10-40 (during cold season) or 20-50 (summer)?

or do i have to specify some specific motorcycle oil for our bike?

[cabrala]

Alright you've got me biting, Smooth. Don't worry so much about the 10/40, 20/50 stuff unless your riding on either side of extreme temperatures. That is a hotly contested opinion and also not really relevant to what you asked. 

So! I've picked up Castrol 4T 20/50 Motorcycle Oil from AutoZone. I don't remember the cost but I also believe in spending the money on oil (within reason). Nevertheless it wasn't outrageously expensive. If you want bang-for-your-buck though, try out Rotella T 15/40 from Walmart. I just picked up a gallon for $12. I also grabbed Mobil Delvac 1300 for about $13 per gallon at Walmart. Both are diesel oils, but Rotella (Shell) does "sanction" this oil for motorcycles. In fact, there was a dedicated forum to Rotella users on bikes.

[xsmooth69x]

Alright you've got me biting, Smooth. Don't worry so much about the 10/40, 20/50 stuff unless your riding on either side of extreme temperatures. That is a hotly contested opinion and also not really relevant to what you asked. 

So! I've picked up Castrol 4T 20/50 Motorcycle Oil from AutoZone. I don't remember the cost but I also believe in spending the money on oil (within reason). Nevertheless it wasn't outrageously expensive. If you want bang-for-your-buck though, try out Rotella T 15/40 from Walmart. I just picked up a gallon for $12. I also grabbed Mobil Delvac 1300 for about $13 per gallon at Walmart. Both are diesel oils, but Rotella (Shell) does "sanction" this oil for motorcycles. In fact, there was a dedicated forum to Rotella users on bikes.

ow so all that Rotella talk was a diesel oil lol

well off to walmart for the rotella to flush my system out and get all the auto oil out and then put the castrol 4t in. cool beans thanks for clearing everything up 

[lucky]

so is there a difference if its just regular SAE 10-40 or 20-50 if its car or motorcycle oil?

did they even have motorcycle specific oil back in the 70s?

or are these bikes built around motorcycle oil?

whats the difference the manual only says high quality SAE oil

No difference except the additives.
You do not want "friction modifiers" for wet clutches in motorcycles.

No they did not have motorcycle specific oil in the 1970's or 60's.
Oil was oil. Single weights back in the 60's.

ALL mechanical vehicles are built around oil. Except nuclear powered things and they need some oil(grease) on bearings. Mars rover may not have any grease. Ceramic or plastic bearings. but plastic is made from oil ....YEP rover too.

That is how the US helped stop WWII. We could not stop the oil, so we bombed the ball bearing factories. Bearings went everywhere!

[zzpete]

I'm only here to stir the pot!!!!
http://nightrider.com/biketech/oiltest1.htm