View Full Version : Warnings About Oils With Moly
jeffmiller
10-24-2005, 03:55 PM
This could be urban legend being spread by my mechanic (who also wanted to charge me 2 hours labor to do a Helibars install) but he said that when changing oil avoid ones with "moly" as he has found that they tend to cause the clutch to slip.
Any word from the street on this one? My oil change is coming up this Friday...being done by myself for the first time.
Let me know...
Jeff
mbrewer566
10-24-2005, 04:40 PM
Jeff, if you do a search on oil, you'll find a million opinions. However, one thing is close to universal, use an oil formulated for motorcycles. Do not use anything marked "energy saving" like most automobile oils. They will cause clutch slippage.
Many are happy with Shell Rotella, which is designed for diesel truck engines, but also does not have the moly or other additives that cause slippage.
I use synthetic (Amsoil), but with 5000 mile change interval, and Mobil 1 M1-110 filter. Cost a little more, but worth it to me. Again, you'll see all kinds of opinions.
Go for it on your own maintenance, nothing to fear. Check the search for oil change instructions, it works best if you follow the one to put the bike on the side stand after main oil drained (easier to get filter off and drained). I'm not sure where the thread is located.
Mike
NormanPCN
10-24-2005, 05:25 PM
A lot of us use the current M1 15-50 EP (Gold cap) and it has a small amount of moly in it. No problems reported. In fact one report had it fixing a clutch slipage if my memory is correct. The current 15-50 gold cap is the successor to the 15-50 red cap which has an excellent record in wet clutch bikes.
A lot of us use the current M1 15-50 EP (Gold cap) and it has a small amount of moly in it. No problems reported. In fact one report had it fixing a clutch slipage if my memory is correct. The current 15-50 gold cap is the successor to the 15-50 red cap which has an excellent record in wet clutch bikes.
Using M1 15-50 EP. No problems at all.
crazykz
10-24-2005, 05:33 PM
In fact one report had it fixing a clutch slipage if my memory is correct. The current 15-50 gold cap is the successor to the 15-50 red cap which has an excellent record in wet clutch bikes.
That was me and although it didn't solve it 100% it still improved it to the point where it isn't an issue anymore. The Honda oils didn't fix it and neither did Rotella.
Mobil 1, Gold Cap, 15w50 all the way for me.
Curt
Honda sells a synthetic without Moly which I put in my ST. I believe its the Gold bottle.
Don-STOC237
10-24-2005, 07:20 PM
Two things;
1. The ST1100 owners manual specifically excludes engine oils with moly additives. I've never checked the ST1300 owners manual, but you may want to. I always found this interesting because the old formulation of Honda HP4 semi-synthetic oil has moly additives.
2. I quit using Mobil1 red cap oil years ago because it caused excessive clutch slippage in my ST1100's, and it provided no discernible performance improvement in shifting over regular motor oils after about 2000 miles. I switched over to Amsoil 10w40 motorcycle-specific oil and run it at minimum the recommended 8000 miles and often longer with no discernable decrease in shifting performance. If you are going to change your oil every 3-5K miles anyway, you might as well use any standard 10W40 dino, or a Rotella diesel synthetic, which is also quite cheap.
IMO, YMMV...
Go to your local WalMart and buy a gallon of Rotella Synthetic for about $13.00. I run this in mine, ride the bike like a rented mule, and have yet to have any issues with the clutch or otherwise. :eek:
the_suspector
10-25-2005, 02:11 AM
Go to your local WalMart and buy a gallon of Rotella Synthetic for about $13.00. I run this in mine, ride the bike like a rented mule, and have yet to have any issues with the clutch or otherwise. :eek:
Same here!
tdeboeser
10-25-2005, 06:56 AM
I was using Rotella, worked great in my last bike (SuperHawk). Wally World was out one day, but had Gold Cap.
I haven't switched back, Gold Cap shifts better.
Tom de
sherob
10-25-2005, 07:52 AM
M1G 15/50... smooth as butter... days are always sunny, birds are always singing, 100mpg ;)
YMMV :D
ajaugust
10-25-2005, 09:15 AM
That was me and although it didn't solve it 100% it still improved it to the point where it isn't an issue anymore. The Honda oils didn't fix it and neither did Rotella.
Mobil 1, Gold Cap, 15w50 all the way for me.
Curt
Mobile 1, Gold Cap, 15W50, Mobil 1 110 oil filter. I switched to this synthetic oil and filter at 2500 miles. At 9000 miles, the bike runs great with no shifting problems. Very smooth....
ErnieCopp
11-25-2005, 11:56 AM
Where does one get the Mobil 1 110 Oil Filter?
Ernie
ajaugust
11-25-2005, 12:44 PM
Where does one get the Mobil 1 110 Oil Filter?
Ernie
Living in the Chicagoland area. I've been getting my filters from Autozone and oil from Walmart.
George Radominski
11-25-2005, 03:57 PM
I use Mobil1 MX4T 10W-40 fully synthetic motorcycle oil. Honda calls for 10W-40 SG and JASO MA oil for ST1300; MOBIL1 MX4T meets these requirements. It is twice as much as other options ($8/quart) but it gives me peace of mind. This oil was design by Mobil1 engineers for power-trains sharing transmission, clutch and engine oil.
George.
STeve1300
11-25-2005, 04:28 PM
I use Mobil1 MX4T 10W-40 motorcycle oil. Honda calls for 10W-40 SG and JASO MA oil for ST1300; MOBIL1 MX4T meets these requirements. It is twice as much as other options ($8/quart) but it gives me peace of mind.
I also probably spend too much but order the exact (synthetic blend) brand Honda recommends, right from Honda Direct Line (http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/stores/byProduct.asp?prd=Oil+%26+Chemicals&str=10&ID=866658663), where I also get the filters and any other fluids or OEM parts I need. $79.95 case of 12, no tax or shipping fees.
JReviere
11-28-2005, 05:01 PM
Myths abound. The manuals for the ST1300 say NO MOLY. Yet, minute amounts of moly are found in a number of the oils which do meet the criteria established in the "books." Will it make a clutch slip? Maybe Yes, maybe No... Will TFE make a clutch slip? Maybe Yes, maybe No. Will energy conserving oils make a clutch slip? Maybe Yes, maybe No. The "books" recommend NO additives. For the most part oil additives are like old time "snake oil"... they do good for the seller and no one else. The books say if an oil meets a certain viscosity index (10-40 for ST1300) and meets or exceeds specific API service recommendations, it's just fine to use. Everything bottled or canned in the 10-40 viscosity index these days meets the API service requirements of the ST engine. Most of the "benefits" by which people swear and become such ardent evangelists are "seat of the pants" feelings with an odd test report here or there thrown in. either that or they have "bought" some seller's marketing hype. Some oils do perform better than others, but it takes sophisticated testing to determine which performs better than others. So, use what ever suits you fancy so long as it meets the specs you find in your owner's manual. If you find something you are led to believe is better, then it's your engine, and it's your money. Feel free to use it and even be an evalgelist for it if you like. Personally, my first GoldWing (a 1977 GL1000 finally died of frame failure at 250,000 miles... the engine went in another bike and was ridden away... it had been serviced with Castrol GTX 20-50 every 2000 miles... that is a lot of oil too... even for dino juice.... At 140K, I tore it down micrometered the ring end gaps, the bearings, and shaft end play... etc. etc. etc... everything was still within factory NEW specs... frequent oil changes with a filter change every time... that's the key, I believe. Not what the soup sellers print on the containers......
JR
STOC 394
03ST1300A
I have nothing to add, except, I am always fascinated by this topic/discussion.
Ok...now...back to the show....:)
--Bryan
04ST1300A
STOC# 5197
:04biker:
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