Author |
Message |
Whodom
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 02:58 pm: |
|
I've been a long-time user of Mobil-1 synthetic oil in most of my vehicles. After I got my Buell, I researched oil pretty heavily and convinced myself I wanted to use Mobil-1 V-twin. One of the main things I wanted to make sure of was that I could find it pretty easily. As of ~6 months ago, Autozone stocked it in all their stores. Today, I'm getting ready to do my second oil change, drop in at my local Autozone and find no Mobil-1 V-twin on the shelf. "Nope, we don't have any." Went to Autozone.com; it's now listed as a "your dealer can special-order this for you" part. Mobil-1's website still says all Autozone's stock it, and that all my local WalMarts stock it, but I've never seen it in a WalMart around here and they didn't have it today. I called one other Autozone and stopped in at a third one, and they definitely don't have it. Reluctantly, I went to the H-D/Buell dealer and bought Syn 3. I figure it'll be a lot easier to find Syn 3 when I'm out of town than it will be to find Mobil-1 V-twin. Just thought I'd pass this along as a heads-up to those of you that run it. One cool note- I used a Purolator PL10241 oil filter (correct for a tube frame Buell); the blue color of the Purolator filter is almost a dead match for my Nuclear Blue frame. |
Newfie_buell
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 03:58 pm: |
|
I hate to say this but go to the evil empire!!!! WALMART Or if your in Canada any Canadian Tire Store. |
Wyckedflesh
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 04:35 pm: |
|
My local Autozone still stocks it, but then they also have guys buying it by the case every time they get it in stock. I think this is an instance of supply and demand, there isn't a big enough demand at your location like there is at mine. |
Whodom
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 05:46 pm: |
|
Newfie- See above, my local Walmarts don't carry the motorcycle oil despite what Mobil-1's website says. Wycked- I would imagine some Autozones will still stock it, but the national Autozone webpage implies it will no longer be routinely stocked in stores. There are places I could order it off the 'net, but I want to be able to walk in a store when I'm ~300 miles out of town and buy a quart if I need to; hence my change to "Synthetic is EVIL, EVIL, EVIL, er, no, wait. Ahem, 'Syn 3 is great!'" HD oil. |
Richieg150
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 05:52 pm: |
|
I went to their website,and the local places they said carried Mobile 1 V twin,carried all other Mobile 1 oils BUT V twin.They told me they could get it for me,but I would have to buy like 4 cases or something ridiculous like that,since they didnt carry it in stock so............HD SYNTHETIC. |
Djkaplan
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 05:54 pm: |
|
15w50 Mobil 1, dude. They always have it, and contrary to popular belief, it won't cause your bike to blow up. |
Rubberdown
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 06:34 pm: |
|
15-50 Mobile 1 red cap here. Always available. |
Whodom
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 07:31 pm: |
|
I may go Mobil-1 redcap next change. Speaking of which, I noticed my local WalMart no longer had any of that on the shelf!!! |
Rubberdown
| Posted on Sunday, March 06, 2005 - 09:40 pm: |
|
O.k., here's my nutshell rant: Walmart blows! (on many levels). |
Brucelee
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:45 am: |
|
Wal Mart is making the transition to Mobil 1s new long mileage synthetics. They are likely not stocking the old red cap, waiting for the new. |
Cowtown
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 10:51 am: |
|
Last weekend I went by Autozone, where I normally get Mobil 1 V-Twin, and they didn't have it. Went to O'Reilly and they had it behind the counter. |
P0p0k0pf
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 11:07 am: |
|
I just went through this a few weeks ago. I tried a few walmarts in town with no luck, then a few Autozones. Speaking from my experience working there a few years ago, I am willing to bet a lot of those stores are supposed to carry it, but have an incorrect stock level or don't have the space to put it. This is a common occurrence with low-volume products in Autozone. I'd speak with the manager of the store. You may be bringing a stocking problem to his/her attention, or you may just get a confirmation from him that it is not stocked. If autozone.com says it is stocked in that store, let the manager know that as well. There's even a good chance that it is mistakenly stocked in with regular Mobil1, different cap and all. |
Bob_thompson
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 12:36 pm: |
|
Can anyone, accurately, describe if there is any or any significant differences between Mobil 1 regular 15-50 and their v-twin type. Just curious as I run the regular and find very good performance from it. Thanks much, Bob |
Buelliedan
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 12:41 pm: |
|
I run the valvoline full synthetic 20w/50. Very high quality and $3 a quart cheaper than the Mobil 1 V-twin oil. |
Charlieboy6649
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 01:15 pm: |
|
One suggestion, I talked to the auto department at Wally world, and like most anything else, you need only ask that they stock it. I inquired and the stocker said he'd be glad to stock it. They won't if no one was buying. But will if asked. I find it's always on the shelf now that I asked, and people are buying. Ask and you shall receive... By the way, I'm talking red cap here... People buy it but don't think the V-twin is in high demand. Red cap works great for me... |
Whodom
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 01:25 pm: |
|
Bob, From what I understand, there are significant differences in the 15W-50 "redcap" and the V-twin motorcycle oil. All Mobil's auto synthetic oils were reformulated a few years back (i.e.- made cheaper to make) and are now made from highly refined petroleum stocks. The motorcycle oil is supposed to still be made from chemical esters, which are evidently more resistant to breakdown at high temperatures. If you search for info on the Mobil vs. Castrol "Syntec" lawsuit on the net, you'll find gobs of info on the subject. Mobil sued Castrol saying that Syntec wasn't "true" synthetic oil; they lost. The court said there was no universally accepted definition of what is a synthetic oil. Mobil figured "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em". That said, Mobil-1 redcap is extremely good oil. Mobil-1 motorcycle oil is better (more resistant to thermal breakdown, higher levels of some additives). Is it worth twice the price? I kind of doubt it, but I bought it anyway. By the way, I had forgotten, but Mobil is evidently changing their auto synthetic oils again, so the old standard "redcap" may be getting replaced. If you want to REALLY dig into the whole oil issue, this is a really good site: http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=forum;f=9 |
Rubberdown
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 01:41 pm: |
|
The main reason I use 15-50 is because I ride year round and worry less cranking the engine at 20 degrees with 15w in it. Might switch for summer. |
Whodom
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 02:06 pm: |
|
Mike- you are hard-core, dude. I just checked Mobil-1.com: looks like "regular" Mobil-1 15W-50 will no longer be available. You can get 15W-50 in the new "extended mileage" version which is supposed to have even more additives than the previous "regular" version. I guess that makes it even closer to the motorcycle oil. I'm sure it will cost more. |
Impulse_101
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 02:12 pm: |
|
Redline. Expensive, a pain to get but it lasts and made the bike run much smoother. JT |
|