Motorcycle oil vs Automotive oil comparision

[VisionaryDan]

I don't know if this has been posted before but I found it to be an interesting comparison / study. I know it's an old artical but I think it's still a good reference. It shows that the motorcycle specific oils are not really any better at holding up to viscosity break down than the standard automotive oils when run in a bike.

http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm

I've never tried Moble 1 in my Vision but I have ran both of the Castrols that are listed and was happy with them both. I recently changed my oil and tried Valvoline synthetic ($599 a quart!) and I'm not happy with the way that's performing. Shifts clunky and no where near as smooth as how the bike shifted with the Castrol Synthetic. With the price of oil going through the roof I can't see spending the extra money for motorcycle specific oil. What do you all think?

Dan

[h2olawyer]

The main thing to watch for if you use automotive oil in your V is to make sure you aren't getting an oil with friction modifiers.  These also go by the name "fuel saving" on the oil container.  Friction modifiers can cause clutch slippage.  Most of the stuff on viscosity breakdown is just marketing.

H₂O

[louthepou]

Use bike oil, your tranny and clutch need it.

Lou

[Paul_Jungnitsch]

That's a good article. I got my 82,000 km with my Vision on Castrol GTX 20w50, so I'm not afraid of car oil.

I've really liked synthetic in my truck, used it to extend my oil change interval to once a year (it's at 390,000 now, so it didn't seem to hurt anything).

This week will be switching the Vstrom from Castrol 10w40 motorcycle oil to synthetic Shell Rotella diesel 0w40.

[Robin Hood]

Only $6 a quart and you guys are complaining?

At over £6 a liter, which is almost a US quart we have to pay almost double that here in England.

And thats the cheapest motorcycle oil.  :o

[Lead_Deficiency]

I use mobil1 motorcyle oil 10/50 and it runs cooler, also amsoil syn in the diff and it runs cooler.

[Night Vision]

I still can't find the Mobil 1 around here. I'm thinking about Harley Syn3. They use it in the primary and transmission. only thing is it's 20w-50, but being synthetic, that might be ok. $10 a quart

[Lead_Deficiency]

try this
http://clients.mapquest.com/mobil1/mqlocator?link=find

says autozone has it in north syracuse

[Night Vision]

no wonder... I was looking in motorcycle shops  ??? that's 2 klicks from where I work.
thanks

L_D you're using 10w-50? all I saw on the website was 10w-40 and 20w-50 (and two stroke oil)

[Lead_Deficiency]

oops 20/50

[VisionaryDan]

I just put Mobile 1 extended life 15-50 in my original Vision this week. It shifts so much better than the Valvoline 10-40 Synthetic that I have in my second Vision. I'm dumping the Valvoline for the Mobile 1 this weekend. It even seems to run quieter.

Dan

[jasonm.]

Stay away from the Harley Syn3. Many report problems...seal leaks and more. After couple hundred thousand miles of 2 wheeeling I mostly use Castrol synthetic 20w50 from WaMart or AMSoil 20w50 from the auto parts place down the road. Amsoil seems to be less resistant to heat...lowering the oil pressure. Yes, I have a guage.