Topic: What oil to use, here is a great article.

[Master Ted]

Changed oil and filter yesterday, filled with Rotella T 15-40.  Clutch slippage is gone, and actually seems to run better, too.  Found that a gallon of Rotella is just under 9 bucks at Wal-Mart. Another thumbs up for Rotella!

I'm running same for about 2 weeks with no issues so far.

What oil were you using b/4 Rotella? 

[ic455]

Changed oil and filter yesterday, filled with Rotella T 15-40.  Clutch slippage is gone, and actually seems to run better, too.  Found that a gallon of Rotella is just under 9 bucks at Wal-Mart. Another thumbs up for Rotella!

I'm running same for about 2 weeks with no issues so far.

What oil were you using b/4 Rotella? 

Coastal 10w40 from Autozone (cheapest they had; learned my lesson)

[nickjtc]

I'm running same for about 2 weeks with no issues so far.
What oil were you using b/4 Rotella? 

Coastal 10w40 from Autozone (cheapest they had; learned my lesson)

Was that 10w40 motorcycle oil, or 10w40 automotive oil?

My head is spinning here. This subject is almost as contentious as the whole gun ownership one. Whew!

For the simple soul that I am, will someone please clarify what it is that is new being said here?

We all know by now that motorcycle specific oils are best in our machines....check??

Given this, whether you use synthetic or mineral is your choice....check??

Am I to conclude from the initial posts of the thread that in a, for example, '98 Honda CRV, or any other modern car, I should consider using a motorcycle specification oil??

Sorry to appear a dumbass.

[Master Ted]

Nick, I'm real sure the coastal 10-40 from AZ is a straight auto oil. The Rotella 15-40 is an HD oil marketed mainly for Diesels and referred to in the article originally posted (type and weight). My 1987 Toyota 22RE motor really likes the Rotella (especially the hydraulic chain tensioner). Consequently, I have Rotella on hand. When the article in this thread was posted I drained my GTX Castro 10-40 auto oil and replenished with my Rotella stock until I could look at the matter a bit more. The bike, I can honestly say, likes the Rotella better than the GTX auto oil.

My direction: I'm going to go with motorcycle specific oil from here forward and I'm specifically looking for a good, reasonably priced blended product (blended with synthetic as defined in the old days). Seems the smart play based upon what I've been reading... But, that's just my opinion.

[ic455]

nick, it was just coastal auto grade oil.  have never seen any other type of coastal oil in my area, it's a bottom-shelf product

[jbailey]

You can't go wrong with motorcycle specific oil.  It is made for your bike and is probably the safest and best choice.  However, the one drawback is the price.  My local dealer sells non-synthetic oil (honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki) for about $4.50 to $5.00 a quart and synthetic for $8.00 and up.  Rotella is about $9 for regular or $16 for synthetic a GALLON at WalMart.  They do have a blend, but I have never found that yet.  Rotella is the only non-motorcycle specific oil that is supported by the manufacturer.  If you ask Castrol, Mobil, Valvoline or whatever brand you want, they will advise you to use their "motorcycle" specific oil.  Shell does not sell "motorcycle" oil in North America.  If you go to rotella.com, you will find a forum for using Rotella in motorcycles.  They are the ONLY oil company that will acknowledge that using their non-specific oil in a motorcycle is OK.  Here's a link:  http://www.shellusserver.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=9&page=1

When Shell eventually adds Moly to Rotella, I will gladly donate my money to the dealer and switch to some sort of over-priced "motorcycle" oil.

[bobsmith]

I wish I could get as much sex as I can get info on oils....My problem is, I had sex a few times and liked it. Ive changed oil more than a few a few times and..............well,  I'm still confused. This is a never ending subject, guys,  I have a high milage 750k with no problems so far on just 10/40 Havoline..20/50 in the heat of summer. 2000 mile oil and filter change intervals. Passing around the knowledge is super, it informs us, but I'm willing to bet we can get 100000 miles with Wall of China Mart oil as long as we change it  and the filter (lets not start on the Fram quality issue)  Just my .02C

[333]

Why doesn't Honda think Moly is bad for motorcycles?

I doubt very seriously Honda is thinking about our old crates in this age of liquid cooled motors. I'm not expecting a technical bulletin on my 35 year old rig - are you?

Back in the early to mid 90s when HP4 (Moly version  only) first came out they WERE thinking about our bikes and had a list.  Virtually all our bikes were on the list as OK to use.  The automatics were out as well as anything with a centrifugal clutch(Trail 70 ATC...).  I've been using it for years and still love it.  If you try it and don't notice a smoother transmission, you probably have other transmission problems.

[Master Ted]

Back in the early to mid 90s when HP4 (Moly version  only) first came out they WERE thinking
about our bikes and had a list. 

Interesting... have you got a link to the list of bikes?

[Ibsen]

At the risk of prolonging another oil thread, does anyone use Castrol 4T? I've been running GTX and thought about switching to their special motorcycle formula, but I can't for the life of me find any clue as to what's different about it. It doesn't even say whether it's synthetic or what. It costs a buck more a quart...

I'm using Castrol GPS 10-40 in my CB650. It is a synthetic based oil.

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_usa/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pp.pdf

[Wheelhorse77]

I would hate to have to replace the clutch for that reason, but also don't want to crap out my engine at the same time in the ol sohc

Are you worried about crapping out your engine just by using non-synthetic oil?  I don't think that's something you need to worry about. 

You know how it is when you walk into a bar and conversations are all over the place... SOHC's running 6 seconds in the 1/4 mile LOL.

I recently switched over to the Rotella T 15-40. I couldn't beat the price.

[cb650 bobber]

all i know is i have used the mobile 15000 mile oil in my car for a long time now and it is flat out awesome car runs smooth and dont need to change the oil for a long ass time. I am thinking about using it in my bike ...but dont know if I want to put that much loot in the oil tank it aint cheap even changing it yourself. but it is cheaper than 5 oil changes and saves an ass load of time. and my dad says i am stupid for using it...i hope the car never blows up...it might be the first time i prove my dad wrong...i used it for 90000 miles now and the car had 55000 on it when i started.

[jdpas29]

can i just say ZOMG!!!   

this thread just axe-kicked me in the taint!!!

[kpier883]

I just changed to Honda GN4 before a trip.  Previously I was running a synthetic.  I cut the legs off some rubber fishing wader pants to keep oil off my pants.  Interesting thing is that I got a lot of oil on my waders in the first 100 miles after changing the oil to GN4. I cleaned the oil off at the first gas stop.  But at the next stop, there wasn't as much oil on my pants.  As the trip continued, I began to leak less and less oil, until by 1200 miles, I was barely getting any specks on my waders any more.

It seems that the synthetic tends to leak more and as the dino circulated, the leaks leaked less.  Just my observation and not science.  Only real problem with the GN4 is that I had to choose what to mix it with when the oil got low since there isn't going to be any at the little gas station where I notice that it is low.  I chose Rotella the first time it was low.  Second time I could not find Rotella and used a quart of 20w50 Castrol. 

I will change the oil again since it is now mixed up.  I think one answer is to carry oil with me, which is a bad option since there is very little storage space on the 750.  Or settle on something that is readily available and works.  Maybe the Rotella will be the best option.

Years ago, we used Chevron Delo 300 in everything we owned from Diesel equipment to lawn mowers and seemed to have good results.  Has anyone used the Delo in the CB750?