Topic: The oil thread of all oil threads?!!

[Stev-o]

Yes, I'm starting an oil thread!


We all know that Spectro is the best oil, Greg has used it on his 750F and has 250K[?!] trouble free miles for over 40 years!  Is this it?

https://www.amazon.com/Spectro-R-HD25-Heavy-Engine-Oil/dp/B01M7V6TT6?th=1

Time for my annual oil change and with 7 bikes in the garage that need oil, that could get a llittle pricey at $15/quart - 500 bucks?!

My go-to has been the Rotella, can get it now for $16/gallon with free [prime] shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LH7L0XA/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1


What is the best oil?! [for the price]    I've experienced two catastrophic engine failures in the last 15 years  [Big Bang Bike & H1] and neither was oil related. So it seems Rotella is doing it's job.

So what do you use??   

[RAFster122s]

In my Vstrom I have been using Spectro Golden 4 15w50 semi-synthetic, currently unavailable at Amazon. I don't have my CB rebuilt and Motor is torn down on CX500 for timing, water pump, and stator replacement
Likely to use it in both.
Probably will break in bike with Rotella though...
Inexpensive at Walmart...if you shop there.

Spectro Oil U.SG4155 Golden Semi-Synthetic,1 Pack
https://a.co/d/4PTn28E

20w50 is available
SDSWWFFFWWW Spectro Performance Oils U.SG425 Golden 4 Semi-Synthetic (20w50, 4 Quart)
https://a.co/d/c7RhpJM

[BenelliSEI]

Here in Canada, I shop for oil at Canadian Tire. I’ve always used their Castrol 4-stroke motorcycle oil or their own brand (from Castrol, bottled for them). One of them is often on sale, so I stock up. Never any issues and relatively inexpensive. I change oil and filters frequently as I feel it’s cheap insurance.

[RAFster122s]

HondaMan has said in the past he is a fan of BelRay Mineral oil in his bikes. My VStrom had BelRay in it from dealer but I changed to semi synthetic after moving to the desert. Our extreme temps make it warrant the added capabilities of a semi-synthetic or full synthetic.

I bought three 4L jugs at $32 in 2020 from Amazon...price was unusual low and I jumped on it. The 20w50 is currently showing a price of $56.

[Alan F.]

Whatever your choice, I agree with Stev-O the best prices lately are on Amazon Prime. Checking regularly can still turn over some good deals now and then.

[Johnie]

Castrol 20/50 4T motorcycle oil. I have been having trouble finding it lately. None at Walmart, Autozone, O'Reilly, NAPA, etc. Like you said I found it at Amazon.

[HondaMan]

Don't forget some ZDDP...

[Alan F.]

Castrol 20/50 4T motorcycle oil. I have been having trouble finding it lately. None at Walmart, Autozone, O'Reilly, NAPA, etc. Like you said I found it at Amazon.

My Royal Enfield Interceptor requires 10/50 full synthetic and I'd been looking for a decent deal pretty much since last summer when I bought the bike. I bought a 6-pack of Castrol on Amazon for $8.78/Qt delivered, together with a good deal on oil filters directly from India on ebay, I'm set for 2 oil changes at about $35 each. It's too easy to overspend these days and I'm fighting it tooth & nail.

[PeWe]

Yes, the old good oil thread had the Spectro 20W-50 mineral as a good one.
Loads of zinc and phosporous. Greg supplied a list. (The Spectro Semi was good too, all Spectro Motorcykel oils)

[grcamna2]

I bought Spectro 10/40 dino by the case direct when I had my repair shop in the early 90's;the qts. were affordable back then.. I personally liked the Spectro Semi-Synthetic the best.
I like Shell Rotella T4 15/40 in my vintage Japanese bikes;I change engine/trans case oil when the shifting begins to degrade and the oil looks thin on the dipstick.

[Kevin D]

Hey Stev-o, can I bring up filters?

Rock auto has oil filters.

Fram CH6009 $2.30
Wix   24940   $5.73

https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=ch6009

I have never tried the Wix on my Honda, but it’s the filter of choice for my cars. Go figure.

[dave500]

ive used castrol rx super or rx diesel for years in all but my wifes cat equipped hyundai,one oil fits all use it in my mowers,20 litre drums were 100 bucks,goes on special from time to time.

[Bailgang]

I haven't tried anywhere near all the oils available but so far I've tried Honda, Royal Purple, Mobile 1, Ams Oil, and finally Rotella T4 and T6. My 750 never seemed to mind what oil I used but I could tell differences with my 83 GL 1100 interstate and that difference was on how smoothly its transmission shifted and so far my Goldwing likes Rotella the best. It was fine with T4 but one time during an oil change, no store in town had T4 in stock so I had to settle with T6 ...... and the Goldwing seemed to like it even better. No scientific data to prove/disprove and one could argue it's my imagination but I use Rotella in all my bikes. Is there a better oil? Probably but Rotella T4 or T6 is good, affordable and easily available for me.

[Stev-o]

Castrol 20/50 4T motorcycle oil. I have been having trouble finding it lately. None at Walmart, Autozone, O'Reilly, NAPA, etc. Like you said I found it at Amazon.

Hey Johnie...I like Castrol and it shows available at my local O'Rileys but it's $7.99/quart.  I can't justify the cost - twice that of Rotella.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/4t/castrol-4t-conventional-motorcycle-motor-oil-20w-50-1-quart/cas8/mc2050

[Stev-o]

Hey Stev-o, can I bring up filters?

Rock auto has oil filters.

Fram CH6009 $2.30
Wix   24940   $5.73

https://www.rockauto.com/en/partsearch/?partnum=ch6009

I have never tried the Wix on my Honda, but it’s the filter of choice for my cars. Go figure.

Yes, of course!  Not sure why but Fram no longer has a great reputation. 

[ekpent]

I have been using Rotella for quite awhile in all my bikes but am still chipping away on this 5 gallon bucket of 'diesel' oil I bought once at Tractor Supply. At the time it was around $40.00 and some change out the door on sale which worked out to like $8.00 an oil change. Specs looked good and comparable to Rotella. Think its around $62.00 for 5 gallons nowadays - 

[seanbarney41]

I haven't tried anywhere near all the oils available but so far I've tried Honda, Royal Purple, Mobile 1, Ams Oil, and finally Rotella T4 and T6. My 750 never seemed to mind what oil I used but I could tell differences with my 83 GL 1100 interstate and that difference was on how smoothly its transmission shifted and so far my Goldwing likes Rotella the best. It was fine with T4 but one time during an oil change, no store in town had T4 in stock so I had to settle with T6 ...... and the Goldwing seemed to like it even better. No scientific data to prove/disprove and one could argue it's my imagination but I use Rotella in all my bikes. Is there a better oil? Probably but Rotella T4 or T6 is good, affordable and easily available for me.

i been running mostly spectro hd 20w50, which I have found flawless but expensive, so every once in a while I will cheap out with some Rotella.  Difference seems to be the Rotella feels fine to start but can't hang in there for 1500 miles.  Shifting gets notchier and it seems watery on the stick...

[PeWe]

I bought Spectro summer 2021 for OK price here. 4x1 US gallon.
Same shop today around +50% in price ;(

I have used Eurol Harley oil for a while.
Mostly synthetic. Wet clutch and gearbox oil wich is written in the spec.

I use Red Line as additive  2L Eurol + 0.7L Red line (amount at oil change)
Spectro as additive to my K2.

Last order Mineral too. For next break in and the K2.

Seems to be OK.

[rocket johnny]

i run shell rotella t 4 in the winter .  can get a 1 gal for $12.99 at  wally world .   its $18.99 at auto zone .   summer i run phillips
 25-60 aviation oil.  its made for radial ( round motors )  western colo. is high desert and summers run temps of 100 and above most of the summer so the 60 weight is not a problem .  wanda seems to like it .   my problem is getting 10-30  & 10-40  non synthetic  for my older cars and pick up .   wal mart  ,  auto zone , napa , and others seem to have dropped the  all non synthetic oil .   whats a mother to do ?

[Stev-o]

i run shell rotella t 4 in the winter .  can get a 1 gal for $12.99 at  wally world . 

Not any longer! [unless you have a connection at the back door?!]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Shell-Rotella-T4-Triple-Protection-15W-40-Diesel-Motor-Oil-1-Gallon/181236405?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=407&adid=22222222277181236405_117755028669_12420145346&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=aud-1651068665186:pla-294505072980&wl5=9028314&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=181236405&wl13=407&veh=sem_LIA&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3a2iBhCFARIsAD4jQB3C_gIKREmPE4hGqUhVFqGDOef53mhAFE4ds52iPih0zA7QvHoXSE0aAgE-EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds


BTW - I ordered the Rotella from Amazon, will be delivered Monday.

[rocket johnny]

just bought 2 , 1 gal jugs at wally world here in grand jct. for $12.99 .   maybe should have bought a few more

[ekpent]

i run shell rotella t 4 in the winter .  can get a 1 gal for $12.99 at  wally world .   its $18.99 at auto zone .   summer i run phillips
 25-60 aviation oil.  its made for radial ( round motors )  western colo. is high desert and summers run temps of 100 and above most of the summer so the 60 weight is not a problem .  wanda seems to like it .   my problem is getting 10-30  & 10-40  non synthetic  for my older cars and pick up .   wal mart  ,  auto zone , napa , and others seem to have dropped the  all non synthetic oil .   whats a mother to do ?

I know what you mean. Just plain old dino oil seems to becoming obsolete. I buy it when I see it at estate sales cheap. Seems old guys always had a stash around.

[Johnie]

Hey Eric you calling us old guys "OLD"? :-) I think vintage guys sounds better...LOL

[Kevin D]

  Just plain old dino oil seems to becoming obsolete.

I’m using Valvoline 20w50 motorcycle, Dino oil, JASO rated, $6 quart at Meijers
but I have seen Valvoline motorcycle full synthetic 20w50 with JASO rating, a few bucks more.
The future is now??

https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/a3213ab0-e481-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3/97fca89f-e29c-e711-9c10-ac162d889bd3

[ekpent]

Hey Eric you calling us old guys "OLD"? :-) I think vintage guys sounds better...LOL

Ha ha-well at 64 I'm no 'spring chicken' anymore either. I like your term vintage better Johnie, kind of like a fine wine !!