The debate is over. Rotella T wins!

[wolfc70]

Originally Posted by rvbiker

It is important to use oil designed specifically for motorcycles especially when the bike has a wet clutch. Motorcycle oil has friction modifiers to prevent clutch slippage.
Motorcycle Oil FAQs

I think you have it backwards. Wet clutches do not like friction modifiers. As soon as you get out of the x-20, x-30 range of automotive oils, friction modifiers are absent. Any oil that says "energy conserving" on the API label has friction modifiers. Diesel engine oil is designed for severe use and has a robust additive package to deal with high temp/high shear situations. HDEO oils do not have to meet fuel economy requirements so friction modifiers are not needed. Rotell T 15w-40 has met the JASO MA specification for wet clutches. The Rotella T synthetic 5w-40 does not meet the requirement due to a higher ash content. Rotella T syn is a awsome oil and has proven to be an exceptional motorcycle oil. Shell will never market the Rotella as a motorcycle oil as it already has an excellent HDEO following.

Friction modifiers have long alkyl chains for consistent viscosity, and are polar compunds for adhering to metal surfaces and reduce surface friction.

[OhSixFZ6]

I live in a part of the world that regularly sees highs in the upper 90's and even 100's (farenheit). What weight of rotella should i use? I was gonna use 20w-40 like the manual say (if they even make it in that weight).

[OneTrack]

Originally Posted by wolfc70

Rotella T 15w-40 has met the JASO MA specification for wet clutches. The Rotella T synthetic 5w-40 does not meet the requirement due to a higher ash content.

Are you saying that I shouldn't be using Rotella T synthetic 5w40 in my FZ6, but should be using 15w40?

[rvbiker]

Brad81987: You are correct, I misstated my point. Sorry for your confusion. Friction modifiers are NOT found in Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oil as the first link states. The second link has numerous other good links and goes in depth about the subject. The point to my post is that using a motor oil not meant for motorcycles can create problems with a wet clutch because of the additives present in automobile oils. I added the links so everyone could read for themselves the differences of each type of oil.

Thanks for making me aware of this, I don’t want to mislead or confuse anyone.

[dimitre977]

Originally Posted by wolfc70

Rotell T 15w-40 has met the JASO MA specification for wet clutches. The Rotella T synthetic 5w-40 does not meet the requirement due to a higher ash content. .

Not trying to say you are wrong wolfc70 just trying to add some more info. I was looking at the Shell website and I do not see anything about Rotella T 15w-40 meeting JASO MA specs, but at the bottom of this page it shows that Rotella T 5w-40 synthetic acutally has a lower ash count 1.3% compared to 1.5% for the 15w-40. JASO is the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization(I didn't know this until 15 min. ago), maybe Shell felt this particular oil did not need that certification.

[mglowe]

Originally Posted by dimitre977

...I was looking at the Shell website and I do not see anything about Rotella T 15w-40 meeting JASO MA specs...

Your not going too, however, I posted awhile back on this:

#23 (Dealers can be so closed minded!)

[hot4teach]

Does anybody just use the Yamalube Synthetic?

[Nelly]

Originally Posted by OneTrack

I had my 1st service performed at the selling dealership, and they installed Motul mineral oil. This caused some issues, particularly a "screech" that would come from the clutch on occasion when engaging it. When I got to about 2000 km's, I decided to install some synthetic oil. Amsoil was on sale at our local Canadian Tire store, so I put in Amsoil 10w40 and replaced the oil filter.
Fast forward to this morning, and just over 3000 km's later. I did an oil change on my 06 FZ6 in preparation for putting it in storage (medical issues ) and installed Shell Rotella T 5w40 synthetic, along with a PureOne oil filter. I took the bike for a spin this afternoon and WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!
Now, just so you know, I am a fully licensed auto mechanic even though I don't work on the bench anymore, so am not subject to sales hype or imaginary improvements.
If I hadn't experienced the difference myself, I wouldn't have believed it. My bike vibrates less....MUCH less, has more power and the clutch and transmission work like a dream. The engine even sounds different...and I'm not kidding. It also runs cooler by a full bar on the dash display. Wow.
That does it for me. Rotella 1, Amsoil 0. End of story.

I agree with Botch, Good luck with your own repairs.
The debate is not close though as we can't Rotella here in the UK.

Good luck.

Nelly

[Kamloops]

I used Rotella 15W-40 CJ-4 OIL (non synthetic)
According to Shell - Rotella T with Triple Protection 15W-40 and our soon to be introduced Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4 do meet JASO MA
I noticed a big difference when I used this oil


[/i]Quote:

...

Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your inquiry, and thanks for using Shell products.

ROTELLA T SAE 15W-40 and ROTELLA T Synthetic SAE 5W-40 are universal oils, meeting needs of many 4-stroke gasoline as well as most diesel engines. They have performance credentials (API Service Categories SL and CI-4 & CI-4 PLUS) for lubricating both kinds of engines. Consequently, ROTELLA T can be a good choice for four-stroke motorcycle/ATV engines.

It's best to consult your owner's manual for recommended oil quality. If your engine manufacturer recommends oil meeting any of these API Service Categories; CF-4, CG-4, CH-4, CI-4 & CI-4 PLUS, and/or SH, SJ, and SL, or any earlier but obsolete category, then ROTELLA T may be a good choice.

ROTELLA T does not contain friction modifiers that are added to many passenger-car-only-oils, and it does not comply with all requirements of ILSAC GF-1, GF-2 and GF-3 (the ILSAC oil specifications are often recommended by many gasoline passenger car engine manufacturers). That can be good for motorcycle/ATV use. Friction modifiers can upset wet clutch operation. And the ILSAC requirements limit phosphorus content. Diesel engines and other engines with highly loaded valve trains, as well as transmissions, need extra (compared to passenger car engines)
extreme pressure wear protection, which is provided by an additive that contains phosphorus.

One negative might be where the engine manufacturer recommends oil meeting JASO requirements. Part of the JASO requirement limits ashcontent to 1.2%. Ash content of ROTELLA T exceeds this limit. Oil ash contributes to combustion chamber and spark plug deposits.


Best Regards,

Greg Raley=20
Tel: +1 281 544 8621=20
Email: Gregory.Raley@shell.com=20
Internet: The Shell global homepage - Global

End Quote

Also note from another email post:

Quote:

We recently ran the JASO MA friction test on Rotella T with Triple Protection 15W-40, Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 (CI-4) and our Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4.
All three oils passed the wet clutch friction test. Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 (CI-4) has more than 1.2% ash (JASO MA spec limit) so it can not be classified as JASO MA. However, Rotella T with Triple Protection 15W-40 and our soon to be introduced Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4 do meet JASO MA."

If you have any additional questions please call us at 800-231-6950.
Thank you for your interest in Shell products.


Richard Moore
Staff Engineer

Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.
Westhollow Technology Center
PO Box 4327
Houston, TX 77210
United States of America

End Quote

[wolfc70]

Originally Posted by dimitre977

Not trying to say you are wrong wolfc70 just trying to add some more info. I was looking at the Shell website and I do not see anything about Rotella T 15w-40 meeting JASO MA specs, but at the bottom of this page it shows that Rotella T 5w-40 synthetic acutally has a lower ash count 1.3% compared to 1.5% for the 15w-40. JASO is the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization(I didn't know this until 15 min. ago), maybe Shell felt this particular oil did not need that certification.

The new "Tripple Protection" 15w-40 meets the spec. Shell does not advertise this anywhere, but if you email them about it, they respond it meets the JASO MA requirement. The soon to be released synthetic Rotella will also meet the spec. Again I doubt Shell will advertise any of this. Those "in the know" will of course tell others, and more specualtion will circulate on forums the world over!