Choosing the correct Oil for a wet-clutch Motorcycle

Oh then that explains it. I was looking at the wrong Rotella. Glad I didn't buy it

 

Too many kinds of oil! Screw it, I'm going with vegetable oil!

 

Castor oil is fine, so long as you're not planning on riding hard, or for very long between decokings.

Show of hands. Who has torn down an engine JUST for the purpose of removing carbon and sludge?

 

Rotella (nor any Shell product I can see) is on the PDF dated Nov 1, 2016. As k-moe mentioned maybe they didn't pay for the cert anymore. However did go hunting for JASO MA compliant oil.

Currently picked this up (as written on the side)...

Shell
Rotella
T4 Triple Protection
SAE 15W-40

On the back panel the bottle states "*Compared to prior Shell Rotella Triple Protection 15W-40" and later states, "Meets the performance requirements of: ... JASO MA/MA2 ..."


Given the notes and compliance listing, seems like the right thing.

 

It is. Shell is above-board when it comes to their claims.

 

K-Moe what is the weight that you would use for shell rotella on an xj750??
Thanks Chris

 

Conventional Rotella Triple Protection only comes in the one weight; 15W-40.

 

Why does no one recommend a 5W-40, or a 5W-50....if available, surely, that specification gives THE most protection/cold start protection.....cold start is, supposedly where 80% of engine wear occurs...I have always used the broadest range of protection available?

 

5W is for cold cold weather riding like below freezing

 

Thats a very common misconception though, the 5 part is ONLY applicable upon cold start, like any modern multigrade, once the engine warms up...the 5W, 'magically' becomes 10W, then 15W, etc, etc, until it reaches 40 or 50W........IE: the broadest range of protection !

Just wondered why no one else uses or likes a 5W-40 (or 50...if thats even available on this spec) multigrade oil.....?

 

yamaha spec is 10w30 for colder weather
and 20w40 for warmer weather

you can run what you want but do you really need the 5w spec?

it gets minus 20 here I do not start my bikes over the winter

 

Lol!
I HATE oil threads too, but, just curious as to why no one would consider a 5W-40 spec, thats all!

Well, even though NY Winters can be pretty horrendous, most every cold start, unless the height of the Summer could be classed as cold...cold weather, that is, thus I'd always want that precious golden liquid to be flowing quickly, and freely around the engine.....cold start's ( allegedly) are where 80% of engine wear occurs...!

 

what do you pay and brand of your oil?

I use rotella T3 Tripple (discontinued)and will be going to T4 when my case of oil runs out at 14$ a gallon.

 

I've been using Shell Rotella Diesel, for as long as it's been available, in 15-40 but lately 5W-40..although I DO think the sulphur content has gone down

 

You say you used to use Rotella T4 15w-40, but now use 5w-40? Is that 5w-40 stuff you use simply another variant of Shell Rotella? I am curious what that oil you are using is and how much it costs.

I'm literally heading to Wal-Mart right now and I am going to pick up a gallon of Shell Rotella T4 15w-40 for about $14.

 

Yes..
the 'Old' Shell Rotella was a 15W-40.....which was fine, but I always thought it would be 'better' if it was a 10W or even a 5W
lo and behold, the 'new' Shell Rotella is a 5W40... although, supposedly the sulphur content has gone down

I've been using it for a few years now.....

 

A lower sulphur content is not a bad thing. It does nothing to help lubricate, resist shear, or improve longevity of the oil.
You may be thinking of ZDDP, which has been lowered, but not enough to be of concern for us.

 

That MIGHT be it, i thought sulphur was good for (coating?)cam bearing surfaces, and the like?....but, i might have gotten that confused with ZDDP......

 

Seems lik you did. Sulphur is a naural component of crude oil, and is removed (to varying degrees depending on the end product) as part of the refining process.