| Author | Message | ||
     Az_rider |
I just posted an updated UOA in the Knowledge Vault. It shows the results of using Rotella oil for the last 15,000 miles, changing it every 2500 miles. There is not much traffic in the KV, so i wanted to post the link. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/261348.html?1192754326 | ||
| Treadmarks |
Nice write up. Glad you posted the link, as I am searching for the perfect oil. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Az_rider, Is that a synthetic oil or dino? What kind of mpg do you get? | ||
| Az_rider |
It is a dino oil. I average 48 mpg, which is a mixture of commuting and sport riding. On longer trips traveling @ 75 mph, I get 50-52 mpg. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Az_rider, thanks for posting those. You've proven Rotella conventional is good stuff and works well in a Buell. Jmhinkle has been running Rotella-T synthetic 5W-40 in his Uly for at least most of this year and he notes significantly reduced fan operation with this lube. I don't think he's gotten around to doing a UOA yet. I'd really like to see how that oil works out in a Buell. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Yeah, That went out the window when I got a new swingarm last month and they refilled it with HD dino. I realized when the fan was running at 45 degrees outside after 5 minutes of riding that I had forgot to give them my oil to refill with. I just changed it again and am back to all Rotella Syn. I even put it in the tranny for the winter too. My bike runs so much better on it that I offered to put it in local riders bikes at my cost because I'm not a high mileage rider and wanted to get you guys results faster. No one would take me up on it. Looks like it will be spring before I have a UOA for you guys. I only commute on the bike and work is 5 miles away. Joy rides are few and far between with 3 small ones and an impending divorce from the wicked witch of the Southwest. At least building the ECMSpy cables as a hobby for you guys has kept me sane. | ||
| Iugradmark |
Joel, Does your bike burn more oil using the 5w? What do you typically run in the tranny during the summer? | ||
| Bertotti |
Is the Rotella syn a oil that is easily found. I don't remember ever seeing it. | ||
| Gotj |
I haven't found it either. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Just about every Walmart I've been in carries it. Comes in one-gallon blue jugs. ~$14/gallon last time I bought it (I run it in my Honda Ascot). CONSIDERABLY less expensive than most synthetics. | ||
| Chas1969 |
16$ and change yesterday at wallyworld. IMHO 'good stuff'! 5W ... fine by me because where does most wear come at, cold start. The whole air-cooled and bearing arguments that thick-as-tar weights of oil(HD promotes it w/shite recommendations) are totally whack in the head when you see 40 weights doing so well on UOA's. Good Job! Chas | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
I am currently running the 5W40 Rotella Syn in my XB12R, and I plan on filling my Uly with it tomorrow. I am still using Formula+ in the tranny. | ||
| Jont |
I've been running the Rotella T Synthetic for over 32000 miles now engine and trans. No problems so far. Uses around 4 ounces on 500 mile days in high temps(95f+) but none when cooler. Hadn't planned on doing an analysis but might be persuaded. Change it every 3000 miles which has been working out to once a month or so. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Iugradmark, After trial and error on all weights, I figured out my bike doesn't burn oil, it blows it out when overfilled. If I fill it to just where the X's start on the stick it will stay there no problem. If I fill it above that it blows it into the airbox. If I don't fill it enough, it lets me know with an unpleasant sound once warm. I think a lot of folks think their bike is using oil when it is possible blowing it out the breather. As far as the tranny, I tried Formula+, Syn 3 and Amsoil MCV. Found the tranny much smoother on the MCV, but figured for winter I didn't need it that thick either so I'm trying the Rotella in there as well. Blue bottle from Walmart about $16 this past time. One of our Walmart's does not carry it anymore. Hope that isn't a sign because I use it in a lot of toys. | ||
| Gotj |
There are references to Rotella T and Rotella Syn. I can find Rotella T all over the place but it is dino. I haven't been able to find the synthetic at any of the usual places. It has to say Rotella T "Synthetic" on the container to be synthetic. Guess I'll check a truck stop. Below is a link to the Shell web site. http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=rotella -en&FC2=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/leftnavs/zzz_lhn2_0 _0.html&FC3=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/products/dir_pr oducts.html | ||
| Reepicheep |
Mine consumed a lot of oil when I ran Castrol 5w50 full synthetic in the summer. Like posted above, 4 oz on a 500 mile ride would not have been unlikely. It worked great aside from that, but means you really have to stay on top of it to keep it from getting low. I just use Castrol 20w50 full synthetic now... mainly because it is cheap and easy to find at my local wal mart. I have used Valvoline 20w50 full synthetic as well, it's sometimes cheaper. | ||
| Gotj |
I just got back from a visit to two big truck stops. No Rotella T Syn and got a blank look upon inquiring. What I DID find was Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel 5W-40 oil (gray container). I expect it is the equivalent to the Rotella Syn. However, it was about $30 a gallon. If you're paying $13 a gallon and the container doesn't say "synthetic", I doubt it's synthetic. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
GotJ, there are varying "grades" -for lack of a better term- of synthtetic, dependent on how the oil is produced. | ||
| Gotj |
Johnnylunchbox, Any thread with elaboration? I don't follow you except for those synthetic blend oils. | ||
| Hughlysses |
If you do a little Googling, you can find lots of threads on the subject; here's a good synopsis on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_oil The main point here is about what "group" the base stock for the oil is and what the true definition of "synthetic" oil is. Search for info on the Mobil-1 vs. Castrol law suit and you'll find lots of info. | ||
| Gotj |
Thanks for the link. The Wikipedia info didn't help much. It just verified that there are synthetic blends that are labeled as such. I guess I don't understand Johnnylunchbox's point. My point was that Rotella T is not a synthetic oil while Rotella T Synthetic is. The Mobil 1 line of oils is synthetic but there are non-synthetic Mobil oils. What I was asking about was "grades". If that refers to synthetics using different base stocks, OK, but they are still all synthetics. Rotella T Synthetic perhaps is a "grade" of synthetics if my guess is correct but Rotella T is not. It is a conventional oil. | ||
| Jmhinkle |
Rotella T synthetic is one of those Hydrocracked type III Syn oils. For those who claim those are not real synthetics, well, there you go. Problem is, hydrocracked or not, the stuff is a proven performer. White Rotella T non syn is about $10 a gallon and Blue Syn is $16. Does that help you GotJ? | ||
| Gotj |
Jmhinkle, Yeah, that's works for me. Thanks. Your profile has you in NM and I'm in TN. I wonder if there's a regional difference in the distribution of Rotella Syn. I can't find it anywhere locally and on the Shell web site, none of the area truck stops carry the Syn, just the standard T. Oh well, it's not that I have to change it that often. I just hate it when I can't find products that others have had success with. | ||
| Jont |
+1 on oil not being burned but blown out the breathers. I can tell when to check my oil by the level in the catch reservoir. | ||
| Bertotti |
Why syn over dino? What are the advantages on a bike? | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My next oil change I'm going to give Rotella syn a go. | ||
| M2nc |
I just did my first oil change on the Uly (Just out of warranty). After 4900 miles I inspected the drain plug magnet. No chunks of metal but a small amount of metallic colored paste was found on the magnet. I thought that was okay considering the mileage. Is this common? | ||
| Iugradmark |
I'm curious as to why folks choose an non-motorcycle oils like Shell Rotella for their bikes. Over on boards like "Bob is the oil guy" there are very few (I think only a couple) oil analysis for Buells so far so it would seem that those changing are doing so with very little technical analysis. I appreciate the cost per quart difference but Uly's use so little oil on a change that I doubt that is much of a factor so for those changing, what is the rationale? | ||
| Az_rider |
Shell has a forum for Rotella, and there is a motorcycle section. Rotella has been used by motorcyclists for a long time. Due to the additives, it is also argued that non-motorcyle oil like Rotella is better for motorcycles than motorcycle specific oils. | ||
| Mesa_cityx |
My God, you guys are polite! I remember in days of yore when just typing 'oil' would get you flamed bigtime...When did we become civilized? |
