Topic: For all you who use Rotella 15-40... Too thick for winter?

[grumpy]

YES! I ASKED ABOUT OIL!

Is 15-40 too heavy for winter? that stuff is thick. I'm worried the top end isn't getting any lube. Do you guys use it all year?

[mlinder]

All I know about this stuff is that if your bike makes enough power, and you are nailing it in 3rd at WOT at about 10k rpm, this oil will make your clutch slip.

To answer the question, it all depends on just how cold winter is in your location. When it's really cold out (30 to 40c) I tend to run 5w30. 10w40 otherwise.

[grumpy]

HA! I don't flog it anywhere near as much as you! No slippage probs for me so far.

It's in the 30's when I leave for work.

[mlinder]

I'd move to 5w30 in your case.

[eldar]

The rotella will not make the clutch slip, a poor adjusted clutch will do that. I used this oil for 2 years in 2 bikes before moving to the rotella synthetic. but in this case, it is too thick for winter. A 15 weight oil should not really be used below 30 degrees. Use a 10 weight but make sure it is a 10-40 as most 10-30 oils have friction modifiers that CAN make a clutch slip.

For more info on the rotella, search around here. A lot of good things said about it.

[grumpy]

For more info on the rotella, search around here. A lot of good things said about it.

Yeah - This is where I heard about it.
I'll go get some lighter oil. It's due for a change anyway.

Thanks guys

[mlinder]

Maybe you just dont ride like I do, eldar.
M bike was in perfect running order. Changed oil to rotella, and noticed clutch slip right away. Like a dumbass, I went for a ride without switching back to my old tried and true. The rest is history.

[eldar]

But maybe I do ride like you do. Maybe a lot of others here who use the rotella ride like you do and harder and have no slip. maybe the rotella cleaned sludge off and it got on the fibers? Of course everyone can have a different experience but a simple search will tell him that probably 90% of the people that tried it, liked it. Just cause it may have caused your clutch to slip, does not mean it will do the same to his.

[Bob Wessner]

IMO, 5w30 is awful light, why not stick with the recommended 10w40?

P.S. Just had site supporting idea. How about anyone who starts an oil thread has to send $10 to Glenn? 

[XN]

What ever you use look on the the round seal on the back and if it says energy conserving DO NOT USE IT in your motorcycle if it has a wet clutch. FYI every 10W-40 I've seen is non energy conserving.

[mlinder]

But maybe I do ride like you do. Maybe a lot of others here who use the rotella ride like you do and harder and have no slip.

Not to sound like an ass, but I doubt it. Most people here wont say they spend hours between 8 and 10.5k on one of these. Anyway, doesn't the k8 have a different clutch than the earlier K's? Or am I thinking F's..

maybe the rotella cleaned sludge off and it got on the fibers?

Eh?

Of course everyone can have a different experience but a simple search will tell him that probably 90% of the people that tried it, liked it. Just cause it may have caused your clutch to slip, does not mean it will do the same to his.

I have to give my opinion of things that I have found to be harmful to my bikes. Whether the advice is taken or not is up to them. And again, it's likely that rotella is fine for 'normal' riding.

[eldar]

Given that people here use rotella in their 836 engines, I suspect it is fine for ANY stocker. It is also a diesel oil, I think it is even a c4+ level which is usable in virtually any diesel engine on the road. It is more than adequate for our bikes. The later Ks do have better clutches but it has been used in pre 77/78 bikes with good results. The problem that some may have is that this oil has a high detergent content and if the old oil has left sludge(if it was conventional, this is extremely likely) the rotella will clean it off and that sludge can foul up the plates. If I had to guess, I would bet this is what happened.
After seeing what a can of motor cleaner can do and the chunks that came out, I am not surprised at the sludge that gets left behind. It can hide anywhere.

I certainly do not belittle your opinion. I would never use penzoil in anything even though others say it works for them. I am saying that a number of people here, some with hotrod cbs use it and it works for them. After I switched to synth, I will not go back except maybe to rotella 15-40.

[mlinder]

Ah, detergents.
Perhaps if I had been running Rotella from a fresh build it would have been OK then.

[eldar]

I had an s15 pickup and I ran engine cleaner in it. CHUNKS came out, literally chunks. Not surprising, a little while later, a chunk clogged an oil line and caused it to blow out. Granted a cycle engine has less areas but the clutch plates can get messed up by even small amounts.

[andy750]

I switched to 15W-40 rotella at my last oil change and since then temps have dropped to around 28-32F in the mornings. Ive used it for the last 1000 miles or so with no clutch slip (although I wasnt riding in the 8-10k range  )  -more like the 85mph range at 6K. But not for a while...now its just town riding - 4K-6K, short bursts here and there. Anyway changing back to 10-40 on the next change.

cheers
Andy

[BobbyR]

IMO, 5w30 is awful light, why not stick with the recommended 10w40?

P.S. Just had site supporting idea. How about anyone who starts an oil thread has to send $10 to Glenn? 

+1

[mlinder]

Because it snows. Gets really cold. I run it for 2 months out of the year.

[TomC]

Hi Clutch Slippers
     I have been reading these this, fill in the blank oil, makes my clutch slip threads on a number of forums & lists for some time.
     In my favorite thread the poster had just changed to a synthetic oil. Now his motorcycle's clutch was slipping. In a week or so another post his motorcycle's clutch cable was frayed. Last post he had put in a new clutch cable and all was well.
     Personal experience: I am currently using conventional 15-40 oil in my Hondas. But I have been using a 10-30 Full Synthetic and Energy Conserving oil for the last about 25,000 miles in my Yamaha. From what I read I should not be able to get out of my driveway with this oil. So I am having some what of a problem believing all I read about oil causing clutch slip.
          TomC in Ohio   

[mlinder]

I'm far from a hack, and keep my machines running well. I know the oil caused this, as it went from perfect to #$%*ed with an oil change. I do not have a frayed clutch cable.
What Eldar said may have been the case. The detergent in Rotella may have put some crap from old oil in my clutch plates.