OIL (change) War = Rotella Vs Motul

[newbiker]

Hey guys,

I don't wanna start the oil war, but do want to share my experience. I bought my bike last year. Haven't ridden it much, maybe 500 miles or so since I bought. Bike barely had 3200 miles when I bought.

Anyhow, I did an oil change - with Hi-flow filter & Rotella mineral oil (White jug). I was told to not use synthetic oil, until after 5000 or so. I used to use Rotella T6 (Blue can, Synthetic) in my old CBR. So, I like the Rotella oils. However, I noticed my shifting was NOT smooth at all. Downshifts were getting stuck unless the bike was moving, even then, not smoothly. And from 4th, it didn't wanna go to 1st on a light, if the bike was not moving. I ran it for a couple of hundred miles.

Today, finally got sick of this and went to the dealer, changed to Motul 3000 mineral oil. Bike is acting as if its different bike, acting new, smooth shifting, etc, and confidence inspiring. I still have a new Rotella T6 in garage that I was gonna use (when I decided to go Synthetic), but now I'm not sure....

My 2 cents... :ride

 

[afm199]

Walmart 50 weight non detergent!

 

[Maddevill]

I tried Motul 300V , the bike shifted like a dream...for a while. It seems that the Motul wears out really, really fast. I switched to Rotella T6 and am very happy with it. And Motul is something like $12 a liter. Rotella is $23 a gallon.

Mad

 

[clutchslip]

Interesting. I had a similar shifting problem. I turned the clutch cable adjustment 3/4 of a turn and it went away. I didn't change the oil. I got some Castrol synthetic really cheap. It seems to work as well as the AMS I was using. Sometimes I live dangerously and put the same synthetic in my cars and bikes. I am a heretic - I know.

 

[NorCal_SV650S]

So you went from a cheap oil that is formulated for diesel trucks and semis, to one formulated for motorcycles with wet clutches and the appropriate labeling and saw a dramatic improvement in ride-ability... Who saw that happening?
Now if you have a semi truck, you can use the last of your Walmart motor oil...

 

[cheez]

Mix 'em and you can have Rotul.

100k miles on Honda VTX bikes on Rotella T6 without an issue. (And lots of other high-mileage bikes too.)

Keep in mind that new oil is going to have a different feel in the transmission than old oil.

 

[ctwo]

So you went from a cheap oil that is formulated for diesel trucks and semis, to one formulated for motorcycles with wet clutches and the appropriate labeling and saw a dramatic improvement in ride-ability... Who saw that happening?
Now if you have a semi truck, you can use the last of your Walmart motor oil...

Doesn't the new formulation sport the jasco ratings?

 

[Johndicezx9]

Haven't had a good oil thread in a while.... :laughing

 

[Blankpage]

Why bother buying anything but what the manual recommends.

 

[squidworth]

 

[orbframe]

“No synthetic for xxx miles” is a stupid myth unless you’re rebuilding your Chevy 350 and breaking in a new cam...

 

[Caddywumpus]

Even then it's dumb. Syn oil is superior in every way to dino oils

 

[Honey Badger]

Personally I like the results of the Motul, how my bike and transmission seem to like it, and I like a number of their other products over similar-type products.

Plenty of others have happy stories with what they choose to use. I've used other oils in other bikes and had them last a long, healthy life, but have never been one to go "cheap" on oil or put off changes too long, either.

And oil threads are always amusing to read through, been awhile since my last one LOL

 

[newbiker]

Even then it's dumb. Syn oil is superior in every way to dino oils

Syn ARE superior. I got my oil changed at the dealership - the tech and his son both own ZX6R bikes, and recommended Mineral oil until first 5K miles. Syn just lasts longer...but if you change frequently, it doesn't matter which of the oils you use.

Mix 'em and you can have Rotul. 100k miles on Honda VTX bikes on Rotella T6 without an issue. (And lots of other high-mileage bikes too.)

Keep in mind that new oil is going to have a different feel in the transmission than old oil.

Like I said, my Honda CBR operated just fine with T6. Then again, it had 30K+ miles on it. My new Kawi may learn to like it after it puts on some miles. OR it may never like the Rotella. I'll give the T6 a shot, when I'm ready to use the Syn oil.
Please realize that my T4 (white can Rotella) was also new, barely had 200-300 miles on it. But I was having shifting issues, to where I wasn't enjoying my new bike.

I tried Motul 300V , the bike shifted like a dream...for a while. It seems that the Motul wears out really, really fast. I switched to Rotella T6 and am very happy with it. And Motul is something like $12 a liter. Rotella is $23 a gallon.
Mad

I'm planning for a ride this weekend, will report back my experience. The ride from the dealer to home, was smooth though... :ride

 

[Eric B]

 

[Maddevill]

So you went from a cheap oil that is formulated for diesel trucks and semis, to one formulated for motorcycles with wet clutches and the appropriate labeling and saw a dramatic improvement in ride-ability... Who saw that happening?
Now if you have a semi truck, you can use the last of your Walmart motor oil...

Go look around. There are LOTS of people who report very good results with Rotella. So far I've had it in 2 bikes, it works good.

Mad

 

[ejv]

My old sv like mineral or semi synthetic. Tried full synth once and the gear box turned to shit. My Tuono has only had ENI and Rotella T6 and is happy with both. When Aprilia started their relationship with Castrol I figured I would end mine with ENI and get started with Rotella. The highest mileage 2016 V4 Tuono owner I know has used it since the first oil change with no issues. He has 4-5x the miles on his bike compared to me.

 

[BIG186]

Motul 300V is amazing but doesn't have the additives (Detergents) recommended for high mileage street use.

Rotella T6 has the Jaso MA/MA2 ratings. A lubricant for a turbo that spins up way faster than a I4 600 with proper additives is fine for a moto.

That being said oil is oil is oil. Change it, change it often *Wilford Brimley voice*

 

[stangmx13]

Syn ARE superior. I got my oil changed at the dealership - the tech and his son both own ZX6R bikes, and recommended Mineral oil until first 5K miles. Syn just lasts longer...but if you change frequently, it doesn't matter which of the oils you use.

no, not really. the base oil is different and will produce a diff amount of friction. diff oils also have very different additives, some of which are friction modifiers. so you cant categorically say that.

google 'Bob The Oil Guy' and start reading.

my race engine builder gives me feedback on how my oil is working. he recommends synthetic from day 1 in a modern motorcycle engine. and he says that the Amsoil im using is working great.

 

[89fj]

my favorite oil is clean oil