Synthetic Engine Oil preferences?

hop along · January 06, 2013, 02:54:28 PM

Ok, I am looking for a new engine oil. I had switched to Rotella T Synthetic 5w-40 a while back and have been enjoying an annual spring oil change (typically 12,000+/- miles per year). It seems Rotella T Synthetic has been replaced with Rotella T6 Synthetic which I'm currently using.. but I really honestly feel that the bike is running hotter-I notice more engine heat.

So I'm looking for a decent replacement. FWIW it is a 2003 Magna with @108,000 miles. Living in Oklahoma but travel alot during the year-I'm not always riding in HOT weather.

Thanks in Advance-
Hop Along

hootmon · January 06, 2013, 03:14:45 PM

Preference is the key here....
I've run Amsoil and was happy with it...
Last time I used straight Mobil 1 for cars... Not as happy...
The Mobil 1 seems to make the engine noisier... Is that scientific, nope, but it's my observation..
I was thinking about trying Valvoline for motorcycles... Just because I can get it at the local WalMart...

Preferences on oil on a forum is always very subjective...
I'm sure if you do a search, you will find several LONG threads about oil preferences...

I did see a independant study that showed Amsoil was excellent, it has just become more of a hassle for me to get at a price I'm willing to pay...

TLRam1 · January 06, 2013, 07:00:09 PM

All of the name brand ones are good, you will have to try some until you find the one that suits your needs.

guywheatley · January 06, 2013, 07:31:00 PM

Hot dang? An oil thread!

Greg Cothern · January 06, 2013, 07:58:29 PM

I personally run motorcycle synthetic in my bikes. Costs a tad bit more but I believe its well worth it. AND they shift much better than anything else I have used.

hop along · January 06, 2013, 09:15:08 PM

Agreed: Synthetics, and available widely. I'm not normally a shopper at Wal Mart but they used to carry the Rotella T, so it was a nice thing to know it was available while travelling.
Finally, I felt good about putting my money in it (read: cheap but not dirt cheap)

Jus' buttering up the pop corn and drinking the Fat Tire...
Hop Along

hootmon · January 06, 2013, 09:28:00 PM

In my WalMart the motorcycle oil is not with the auto oil, so you have to look for it..

Brad Badgett · January 07, 2013, 04:24:18 PM

At the Norman Atwood's we can get Amsoil motorcycle syn oil at a reasonable 10.99/ qt. (10w-40 or 20w-50). I ordered from a region distributor once, but the postage was outrageous. Then found Amsoil at Atwood's.

Brad Badgett
MOOT #164
OK Region
1996 VF750C

hootmon · January 07, 2013, 05:11:02 PM

Where I work is a Yamaha (marine) dealer... Yamaha just reformulated their synthetic oils, so I looked into what I could get the oil for as a dealer... It worked out close to $10 a quart...

So, I decided it wasn't worth buying a whole case...

TLRam1 · January 07, 2013, 09:02:21 PM

Quote from: hootmon on January 07, 2013, 05:11:02 PM
Where I work is a Yamaha (marine) dealer... Yamaha just reformulated their synthetic oils, so I looked into what I could get the oil for as a dealer... It worked out close to $10 a quart...
So, I decided it wasn't worth buying a whole case...

When did you start working there? Do you have a boat?

hootmon · January 07, 2013, 09:17:27 PM

I've been underemployed for well over a year now...
Not even a canoe...
Seeing the money people spend on boats, I'm pretty sure I don't want one either!
BOAT = Bust Out Another Thousand...
We are a dealer (again, marine) for everyone except Volvo and Tahatsu/Nissan..
If you need a marine part, let me know...
I did talk to my local Honda dealer, and I complained about paying retail (usually about a 100% mark up)...
He said send the tax certificate for the job over and he would give me a break..
I faxed the certificate over today... So, we will see...

hop along · January 07, 2013, 10:51:59 PM

Brad-I am liking Atwoods more and more every time I go there... Good thing it's not on my way to work like Swirls at the Mont

It would seem to me a 10w-40 would be suitable for year 'round riding in Oklahoma yes?
Hop Along

lragan · January 08, 2013, 10:56:02 AM

Quote from: hop along on January 07, 2013, 10:51:59 PM
It would seem to me a 10w-40 would be suitable for year 'round riding in Oklahoma yes?
Hop Along

10W40 seems to be the recommended weight in our area. Since I don't ride in really cold weather, but do in really hot weather, I have opted, this last oil change in both bikes, for 20W50, just from looking at the recommended temperature ranges for each weight.

I quite running synthetics in my vehicle engines, including my tractor, after reading that they fail catastrophically at elevated temperatures -- like if you lose coolant and don't shut down the engine in time--whereas lubricants derived from petroleum in the traditional distillation column process will need to be changed, but will not congeal into a gelatin-like mass that will require disassembling the engine to remove.

Magniac · January 08, 2013, 12:37:26 PM

I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous to me. Where did you read something like that?

lragan · January 08, 2013, 02:45:54 PM

Quote from: Magniac on January 08, 2013, 12:37:26 PM
I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous to me. Where did you read something like that?

I don't remember where I saw it. Doing a little web research just now, it appears the opposite is true -- synthetics hold up better at elevated temperatures. Thanks for questioning my understanding of the synthetic oil.

I read in several places that oil change intervals can be safely lengthened with pure synthetic oils. One answer from a purveyor of synthetic oil claimed lower cost based on these extended use periods. What is your view of this position?