Motorcycle Oil vs. Motor Oil Test- Interesting

[bobbyrocks]

Guys and gals, here's a study that tested the validity of motorcycle specific oils. Good reading.

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

[LeMans]

Hummm, oil thread!!! :duck: :corn: :beer:
BTW 1994 news ain't really fresh anymore :D

[bobbyrocks]

Guys ad gals, here's a link to a test that tested the validity of motorcycle specific oils. Good reading.

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

[bobbyrocks]

Hummm, oil thread!!! :duck: :corn: :beer:
BTW 1994 news ain't really fresh anymore :D
yeah- coming from a guy with a Repsol bike lol

[RicanRacerR6]

i knew it... its a rip off... hah... now can i say.. I TOLD YOU SO...

[LeMans]

Something a little more relevant with oils you actually use in your bike:
http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0310_oil/

[RickyNo]

i really dont want to read all of that, can someone just put it all in one sentance for me? can i put cheap 2 dollar a quart oil in my bike or am i stuck paying 12 bucks a quart for the rest of my life?

[R1GUN]

I have been using valvoline maxlife in my bikes for over 10 years now! I had 52,000 on my TL and 46,000 on the RC now with 0 ill effects! I have used mobil 1 in the past but I did not notice any improvement ie;gas mileage,shifting,etc. so I can not justify paying more wiyhout any noticeable benifit! I know there will be some that swear otherwise but the proof is in the fact that i have high mileage bikes that are in great mech. condition! no matter what oil you use is not as important as how often you change it and proper maintenance! :biker:

[maggioracing]

My 97 ZX7R shop manual states I can use "motoroil 10w-30".
-Frank
The guy that owned it before me used synthetic oil. I have put 1600 miles on it. I guess I can look in the book but what is the typical time frame milage wise for oil changes?
I have read in cycletrader "changed every 1000 miles religiously".
Thanks,Frank

[LeMans]

i really dont want to read all of that, can someone just put it all in one sentance for me? can i put cheap 2 dollar a quart oil in my bike or am i stuck paying 12 bucks a quart for the rest of my life?
Aren't you the one with the most free time on this site?!?

[liquid_iq]

Here's the Cliff notes version:

Tested oils:

The automotive oils were Castrol GTX 10W40 (petroleum based, $1.24/qt.), Castrol Syntec 10W40 (synthetic, $3.99/qt.) and Mobil 1 15W50 (synthetic, $3.48/qt.). The motorcycle oils were Spectro 4 10W40 (petroleum based, $4.99/qt.) and Honda HP4 10W40 (petroleum/synthetic blend, $5.99/qt.).

Results:

In fact the test results not only indicate the two motorcycle oils being outperformed in viscosity retention by the two automotive synthetic products, but even by the relatively inexpensive Castrol GTX, which is a petroleum product. This directly contradicts the advertising claims made by the motorcycle oil producers.

Conclusion:

Out of the tested oils, Mobil 1 automotive oil performed best.

Personal note:

I only use Mobil 1 in my race bike.

[RickyNo]

Aren't you the one with the most free time on this site?!?

yes but doesnt mean i want to be on the internet all day. thanks for the cliff notes liquid! so i can quit buyin the 12 dollar a quit semi senthetic and switch it over to 2-3 dollar a quart mobile 1? this will save me thousands over the years. it costs me for 4 quarts of yamalube and an oem oil filter 70 bucks to do an oil change every 2 thousand miles. thats insane.

[liquid_iq]

Note that this test is far from all-encompassing as it does not include some prominent players - they even state they did not test the synthetic version of Spectro 4. Others that weren't included are Yamalube, Royal Purple, Silkolene, Amsoil, and Motul - among others.

The debate rages on.

[RickyNo]

someone at a dealer told me that motorcycle oil was specially formulated for our high reving motors. and if i put auto oil in it im really gonna fawk my bike up. you use the 15/50 in your trackbike?

[Unlimited]

yes but doesnt mean i want to be on the internet all day. thanks for the cliff notes liquid! so i can quit buyin the 12 dollar a quit semi senthetic and switch it over to 2-3 dollar a quart mobile 1? this will save me thousands over the years. it costs me for 4 quarts of yamalube and an oem oil filter 70 bucks to do an oil change every 2 thousand miles. thats insane.

first off MOBIL 1 is not 3 dollars a quart, more like almost 6. if your payin 12 bucks for a quart of semi synth you are gettin ripped off. i pay less than that for motul 300v dbl ester 10w40, which is what i use in my bike. use whatever oil u think is best if you want to put oil in your bike that was never ment to be put through a clutch or a tranny. go ahead. its ur bike. paying that much per oil change isnt insane. good stuff costs good money. if ur so worried about payin the money buy super tech i hear its real good.

[RickyNo]

ok so im getting a lot of critisizm everyone sais auto oil will burn up my clutch and trans.

[Jgennaro]

Oh crap.........the oil issue!

Synthetic oil provides better protection than dinosaur oil. Enough said!

[miked636]

I have talked to plenty of people about this topic on the Kawi forum and there are a couple of them that have raced in the past and use full synthetic automobile oil in there bikes with no ill affects. So you have to make the desicion on your own. I was thinking of getting the Mobil 1 for my next oil changee.

[liquid_iq]

ok so im getting a lot of critisizm everyone sais auto oil will burn up my clutch and trans.

not 15w-50 i use 5w-30 Mobil 1 in the track bike and my car. as far as burning up the clutch, it was used when i got it (probably stock) and i've got about 8 race days worth of drag-launches on it and it is still going strong.

[Unlimited]

just ink up for bill and put your mind at ease. amsoil, motul, motorex, repsol, suzuki, mobil 1 are all good oils pick which one u like and go for it. i vote motul 300v

[bobbyrocks]

first off MOBIL 1 is not 3 dollars a quart, more like almost 6. if your payin 12 bucks for a quart of semi synth you are gettin ripped off. i pay less than that for motul 300v dbl ester 10w40, which is what i use in my bike. use whatever oil u think is best if you want to put oil in your bike that was never ment to be put through a clutch or a tranny. go ahead. its ur bike. paying that much per oil change isnt insane. good stuff costs good money. if ur so worried about payin the money buy super tech i hear its real good.
The article is from 1994 which is in part why I wanted to post it. The oil debate has been going on for years. The prices reflect 1994.