Rotella T6

[OldMcClelland]

I took Larry's advice and used the Valvoline Blue heavy duty 15w-40 and everything works well, although I only have about 1,000 on the new oil.
Rob

 

[rjs987]

Due to supply issues I've gone to just using the SuperTech Full Synthetic 4 stroke motorcycle specific 10w-40 oil from Walmart. Cost just a little less than T6 and most other oils, especially those made for bikes with a wet clutch. It is specifically certified for JASO MA2. I don't buy into paying more for a label anyway since many brands of oils are made at the same source facilities (relatively few facilities make many brands of oils). My bike calls for full Synthetic 10w-40 anyway for the temp ranges I ride in.

 

[Art Franz]

Been using RotellaT 15-40 diesel in the dinosaur flavour ever since I got it at 12k miles. Now have over 115k on it and no troubles of any kind. It’s worked well in my diesel engines, what it was designed for, and it hasn’t caused me any grief in my bike either. And I think that’s what Larry recommended and put into my bike when he serviced it a few years ago.

 

[dduelin]

Little confused on your statement of 'don't use the new formula'. How can you tell the difference between the new formula and the old stuff?

Not trying to be a jerk about it, I'm coming up on an oil change and have used traditional 10w-30 for the longest time. If there's something better out there that's cheaper, I'm all for it. Just very confused as to what to get. TIA!

This is a legitimate question. Many people fixate on JASO MA wet clutch certification alone but Honda lists three standards for engine oil use in the ST1300. API rating SG or higher, viscosity 10w30 prior to 2007 and 10w40 2007 and later, JASO T 903 MA. Rotella hasn't carried certification for gas engine use in 5 years.

This 5 year old thread post #23 sums up how to tell old formula from new formula. The new formula will not have any reference to an API grade starting with S. The good stuff that used to be in Rotella 15w40 and 5w40 is gone.

 

[ASPC]

Thread posted June 7th 2023. Started by me.

@W0QNX has almost 400K miles on his ST1300 using Rotella T6. 15w40 and 5w40. The oil I and many thousands of other motorcycle riders use. Yes four hundred thousand miles. 400K.
To suggest this oil is not good enough for the ST1300 is not rational given the extensive evidence provided by so many people. W0QNX in particular.

 

[Igofar]

Yes, good results with the OLD formula.
Does that mean the new, watered down formula will still be as good?
Flip a coin, take your chances.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

viscosity 10w30 prior to 2007 and 10w40 2007 and later,

That should be the reverse, 10W40 prior to 2007, 10W30 2007 and later.
Subsequently it was changed to 10W30 being the recommended viscosity for all model years.
10W40 remains listed as an acceptable alternate for when average temperatures warrant it.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

To suggest this oil is not good enough for the ST1300 is not rational

You may or may not be proven to be correct, time will tell. However, past performance is only a good indicator if nothing has changed.
To ignore the changes in chemistry that have been occurring in automotive engine oils, including this oil, and to not re-evaluate based on the impact those changes may have is equally irrational.

 

[ASPC]

You may or may not be proven to be correct, time will tell. However, past performance is only a good indicator if nothing has changed.
To ignore the changes in chemistry that have been occurring in automotive engine oils, including this oil, and to not re-evaluate based on the impact those changes may have is equally irrational.

The oil exceeds the requirements of JASO T-903. Perhaps there is a conspiracy to defraud the end user. Thank god for internet forums full of people who know more about oil than the oil manufacturers do. Whereby we may all be saved.

 

[SupraSabre]

Oh my gosh, I've been using the T4 15w40 now for a number of years. I guess I better worry that the sky is going to fall on me and all four of my ST1300s will disintegrate all at the same time!



As little mileage that most of you have on your bikes, other than the issue of your clutch slipping (and yes I have replaced a slipping clutch on my 2010

I really don't think it matters what oil is going to prolong your bikes to go 500,000 miles!

 

[Igofar]

The oil exceeds the requirements of JASO T-903. Perhaps there is a conspiracy to defraud the end user. Thank god for internet forums full of people who know more about oil than the oil manufacturers do. Whereby we may all be saved.

So they claim, but still no certification number.
You should really research shells history with their claims, advertising, and lawsuits about whether they were ever certified or not.
Or just keep believing their marketing.

 

[Al st1100]

 

[DannoXYZ]

Note that MA/MA2 only deals with static & dynamic friction values for wet-clutch. On top of minimum API ratings. Nothing to do with lubrication properties of oil itself, which is handled by API specs. So don't doom & gloom about oil not having JASO destroying engine, it won't.

As mentioned earlier, I've noticed more wear with oils that lose vicosity with heat and stress compared to those that don't. On my ZX10R race-bike, just about every single oil I tried would lose pressure and trigger light exactly 12-minutes into race (on last lap when I'm winning! ). Finally after lots of trial & error, only oil that worked on that bike was Motorex Power Synt 4T 10w50.

POWER SYNT 4T SAE 10W/50 MA2

Fully synthetic high-performance 4-stroke engine oil, specially developed for demanding use in hypersport motorcycles with powerful engines. These lubrications provide engines, gearboxes and clutches with optimum protection over the entire range of applications. JASO MA2 approval guarantees the...

motorex.com

 

[ASPC]

JASO MA and JASO MB classifications - oilspecifications.org

www.oilspecifications.org

 

[Oldbikefixr]

Just wondering, quietly here....can't be too loud typing..... about which changes in oil additives/manufacturing has the EPA filtered down into all oils without any associated notices.

 

[Larry Fine]

JASO MA and JASO MB classifications - oilspecifications.org

www.oilspecifications.org

So, with all that in mind, what specific oil do you recommend?

 

[SupraSabre]

So, with all that in mind, what specific oil do you recommend?

Something that lubes, but doesn't cause clutch slippage!

 

[Daboo]

Rotella T6

No reason to change. My bike doesn't use oil between changes and has 105,000 miles on it so far. Clutch works fine.

So if you have an oil you've used in the past...why change to an unknown?

 

[Andrew Shadow]

The oil exceeds the requirements of JASO T-903.

According to who- Shell through self verification. Generally not considered the best industry practice.
As for the JASO certification standard that you posted, there are no Shell Rotella oils that are JASO MA certified.

Perhaps there is a conspiracy to defraud the end user. Thank god for internet forums full of people who know more about oil than the oil manufacturers do. Whereby we may all be saved.

Having been the one to make this remark does not provide you with exclusion from it, unless you are an oil manufacturer of course.

I'm not sure what point of mine that you are challenging anyway. If you wish to use this oil go ahead and knock yourself out. I did not try to dissuade you from doing so. I did not state that Shell Rotella was a bad choice, nor did I state that it would harm a wet clutch. I also did not state that it wouldn't. I expressed no opinion on that matter whatsoever. I simply pointed out that not re-evaluating a product that has changed and is no longer the same product that has been used successfully in the past is just as irrational as what you have accused others of. This point has nothing to do with Rotella per se, it applies to any product that may be under discussion and that has changed. Maybe the changes made to Rotella have no effect on wet clutch operation, maybe they do. I expressed no opinion either way because I don't care either way.

 

[Dale_I]

...As for the JASO certification standard that you posted, there are no Shell Rotella oils that are JASO MA certified...

I'm not sure that is true. This is from the bottle of the T6 15w-40, no API label on cap, specification listed on back.


Nothing like a good oil thread... huh guys?