What Oil?

[Papa Zook]

What synthetic oil is everyone using? I use the Honda HP4 but I'm thinking of switching to the AmSoil because my cousin is a 15 year dealer and swears by the stuff.

[Ozarkryder]

Don't know what kind of ride you have, but on our Goldwing I now use Shell Rotella T in the blue jug. It is about $15.00 per gallon at Wally World. I used to run Amsoil, even got the membership at the Davis Rally for the discount price. The stuff is good, but mighty spendy. For giggles, I sent in an oil sample for analysis, and again after i had done a few changes with the Rotella. At the same mileage both were up to spec. The Rotella seemd to shift smoother for some reason. I check the feel, smell and color of the oil to deterine when to change oil. Even with the Amsoil I have never gone beyond 6000 miles. About the same with the Rotella.

I think the oil holds up, it is the contaminates like combustion gasses, metal wear and such from the engine that are bad.

If I remember, the Amsoil is a pure synthetic, and the Rotella starts with dino oil base stocks. Can't see where it makes much of a defference.

[katfish16]

LIKE OZARKRYDER, I use the Shell Rotella T, never had any problems with it and I can get it at Wally World. No Honda dealers close by, but not sure I would use them any way. Will be sticking to the Shell.

[WilsonBoud]

With the '01 Yellow Wing we used Honda HP4 (Honda filter) exclusively changing the oil every five thousand miles for easy tracking.

We have 8 extended tours, among others, from April '01 to Dec '04 We rolled a total of 103,500 miles. In those many touring miles we have 3 tours that rolled more that seven thousand miles in twenty four days, one tour we rolled nine thousand miles on the same oil change. I never change the oil on the road, I just wait until we get home. No issues.

(The present owner of that yellow Wing is still using the same program, and has added some twenty thousand miles to the oddometer)

With the '05 Wing , we started using Shell Rotella-T (blue bottle as mentioned above) at one thousand miles. Same program, oil change every five thousand miles for easy tracking (Honda filter). 49,000 miles on the '05 and still no issues.

I feel that todays synthetic oils afford one the luxury of an occasional extended ride without the concern for an oil change.

[Papa Zook]

Is the Rotella a true synthetic, dino or a blend?

[WilsonBoud]

Shell ROTELLA® T Synthetic 5W-40

A fully synthetic heavy-duty diesel and gasoline engine oil that meets the requirements of North American driving.

- ROTELLA Products

[W7AX]

Since my racing days, I have used nothing but Golden Spectro oil. It is a semi synthetic but they do have a full synthetic available. They make their oil exclusively for motorcycles and Rv type machines. The bike shifts very well and I don't hear the usual cam chain noise on this engine that I do on other bikes that use different brands. Goldwings have a pretty clunky gear change noise anyway and this oil makes a pronounced difference. Nope, I don't work for them

[Trikerjim]

Amsoil for the same reasons, used it in the racecars...

[Hawkeye]

We have three Harley trikes in our garage. Run Redline products in all three. ShockProof Heavy (looks like Pepto-Bismal) in the trannys, MTL in the primaries and 20-50 in the motors.

Been real happy with all of them.

[cjmitch]

Mobil1 - mxt4 now Mt4 racing
I like it.. seems to ride smoother.

[Trikerjim]

Ok kat, I changed mine and put in Rotella syn. If it blows up you owe me a doughnut....

[kj5ix]

Moble 1: 5W-50 Extended, avalable any Wally World and Wally World filter St-7317 (I think that is the number , the long one)

[Southern Man]

Like Hawkeye said, the shockproof heavy redline gearoil is the ticket for a Harley Trans.

I run Amsoil 20/50 in the engine and primary.

As for the wing I am just getting ready to do my first oil change and thought I would use Amsoil 10/40 MC but after reading this thread I am considering the blue jug rotella as well. I was also thinking of the 5,000 miles program to keep the numbers simple.

I use Mobil Delvac 15/40 in all the personal vehicals, tractors, big trucks, and bulldozer.

[Boscoporp]

I use the Shell iRotells n the blue jug and I also get it at Wally World. It is just under $20.00 a jug and I like how it works.

[Southern Man]

Did the first oil change this week to get ready for the upcomming road trip.

Switched to the blue jug Shell and I could feel a difference in the smoothness of the trans. as soon as I took it for the leak check ride.

For all the real tech guru's, what will I be giving up to move from 10/40 to 5/40 here in south Georgia.

[eagle1]

red line makes a syn 20x60HD MOTORCYCLE OIL, AND SYN HEAVY SHOCKPROOF GEAR OIL . i order it fron JEGS no shipping chg, but 13.00 for handeling. not bad for in middle of nowhere northern indiana.

[Cycleguy]

Did the first oil change this week to get ready for the upcomming road trip.

Switched to the blue jug Shell and I could feel a difference in the smoothness of the trans. as soon as I took it for the leak check ride.

For all the real tech guru's, what will I be giving up to move from 10/40 to 5/40 here in south Georgia.

Very little. IF you run it no longer than the manufacturers recommendation.

The only difference is that the 5W-40 is thinner when cold than the 10W-40, which is a good thing. The drawback is that to manufacture it, they use more "viscosity index improver" which can break down over time, and that makes the 5W-40 more like 5W-30. So extending the change interval becomes even more of a bad idea.

[Cycleguy]

red line makes a syn 20x60HD MOTORCYCLE OIL, AND SYN HEAVY SHOCKPROOF GEAR OIL . i order it fron JEGS no shipping chg, but 13.00 for handeling. not bad for in middle of nowhere northern indiana.

If you really meant 60, that oil is too thick for most any vehicle. The manufacturer designed the oil system to flow a certain amount, you're reducing that flow. That can cause all kinds of issues. Among other things, circulating oil removes a large amount of waste heat.

It's easily possible to get too clever with the oil thing. Deviating from the manufacturers recommendations is more likely to do harm than good.