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
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...
All of the name brand ones are good, you will have to try some until you find the one that suits your needs.
Hot dang? An oil thread!
(http://www.guywheatley.com/gifs/index.php?cmd=image&sfpg=KnNoYXJlcG9wY29ybi5naWYqMDllZWIwYjdmZDFhNzNmNmQ1MzZiMzdlZDI2ZWJlMzc)
(http://www.guywheatley.com/gifs/index.php?cmd=image&sfpg=Kmhvcm5ldHMuZ2lmKjkxYWUxMWEyMmFjYmU3Y2Q1MzgxMTkwMjY4MTBjMzQ3)
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.
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) :D
Jus' buttering up the pop corn and drinking the Fat Tire...
Hop Along
In my WalMart the motorcycle oil is not with the auto oil, so you have to look for it..
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
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...
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?
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...
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
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.
I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous to me. Where did you read something like that?
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?
Amsoil states double the recommended interval or one year...
On a Magna the book says 7000 miles and that's for dino oil....
I usually run 8-9k in a year...
I change my oil once a year, usually in May/June just before the hot season...
I usually go with 20w50, but 10w40 is fine... 50 will cling longer, but 40 will flow easier... I go with 50 because it is also transmission oil and gear oil is usually 80 or 90.... That's my thinking, but it can be argued either way...
I thought I might weigh in on the oil topic. I used the Honda Pro oils when the bike was new and changed oil and filter every 4k. After much research, at 23k miles decided to use plain old Castrol 10w-40 in the winter and 20W-50 in the summer. At 65k miles started changing oil and filter at 3k miles. At this time I have 165k miles and the bike is still running good. Its not using or burning oil. I knew I was going to put a lot of miles on the bike and needed it to last since I commute 300 miles each week. I know I have paid alot of money on oil and filters, but its like they say "pay me now or pay me later."
Quote from: MagnaMikeD on January 08, 2013, 07:50:28 PM
I thought I might weigh in on the oil topic. I used the Honda Pro oils when the bike was new and changed oil and filter every 4k. After much research, at 23k miles decided to use plain old Castrol 10w-40 in the winter and 20W-50 in the summer. At 65k miles started changing oil and filter at 3k miles. At this time I have 165k miles and the bike is still running good. Its not using or burning oil. I knew I was going to put a lot of miles on the bike and needed it to last since I commute 300 miles each week. I know I have paid alot of money on oil and filters, but its like they say "pay me now or pay me later."
165,000 and counting, way to go Mike!
I have seen the same as Hoot mentioned above, synthetics you double your change intervals.
I use the heavy duty diesel oils in my bikes and go 10k between changes, in the cars I use the specific Mobil 15K guarantee synthetic and go 15K between changes.
I've had lots of luck with Maxima Maxum4 Full Synthetic 15w50 oil. Temps stay cool and shift and clutch are great. I've been very happy with this brand. It's reasonably priced at $55 plus shipping for a gallon. Also, I've never heard anyone complain about it and lots of guys on the pro racing circuit use it. Just my 2 cents.
Quote from: Chokse on January 09, 2013, 08:48:04 PM
I've had lots of luck with Maxima Maxum4 Full Synthetic 15w50 oil. Temps stay cool and shift and clutch are great. I've been very happy with this brand. It's reasonably priced at $55 plus shipping for a gallon. Also, I've never heard anyone complain about it and lots of guys on the pro racing circuit use it. Just my 2 cents.
Hey dude, you still hanging out overseas?
Nope. Been back in the US for almost a year (Keller, Texas). Had trouble bringing my bike back, though. US Customs said I couldn't bring it or register it because the frame number was not from a US bike (Japanese frame number). So, I had to take it apart just before the move and had everything but the frame shipped to the US (Customs would allow that... go figure). Had lots of other stuff to deal with getting settled in, etc. and the bike got put on the back burner. I finally bought a local Magna (in November) and I plan to start tearing it down to the frame and sell off all the bits and pieces from it. Once that's done, I'm going to make all the modifications to that frame, powder coat it, and then put my bike back together on that frame.
I think I'm going to have to try and organize a wrench session at my place to take the bike apart and another one to put it back together. If the free pizza and beer isn't enough to get people interested, maybe getting a closer look at what's involved in the CBR wheel swap and VFR engine swap will.
Welcome back... Sorry to hear about the customs BS..
Wish I were closer, I'd help out..