HP4M - will it cause a problem?

STeveMcD

STeveMcD

Joined
Sep 25, 2020
Messages
89
Age
64
Location
Norwell, MA
Bike
2004 ST1300
I’m loathe to start another oil thread, but my question os very specific.

Honda dealer was out of HP4S and I picked up 4 quarts of HP4M, confusing t with the regular semi-synthetic.

the “M” is for Moly and I read it could cause clutch slippage and that the oil is intended for high rpm, high heat, sever use, the opposite of my ST1300

Should I

a. return it Monday
b. Mix it with some non moly oil I have
c. Just use it.
 
Honda has an asterisk next to the HP4M oil that states;

1629645700059.png

They also state the below;
The negative part about moly is that it can build up on clutch plates and accelerate clutch slipping on a clutch that is already starting to wear. It takes several thousand kilometers for the moly to accumulate enough to cause this slippage.
STeveMcD said:
a. return it Monday
Click to expand...
 
Is it really that difficult to make a decision? Its your bike, your oil, your time. What are the advantages to keeping the stuff for use? What are the disadvantages? What is the probability of it causing a problem? Do you live 400 miles from your dealer, i.e. is returning it an onerous task?

I'll answer a question with a question. With all the approved oils out there, why would you even contemplate using an unapproved one?
 
Return it on Monday.

It was developed for Honda dirt bikes that have a separate transmission from the engine sump. It is not recommended to be used in a Honda motorcycle with a transmission that is all-of-a-piece and shares a common lubrication oil. It will ruin the clutch in your bike.
 
SMSW said:
Is it really that difficult to make a decision? Its your bike, your oil, your time. What are the advantages to keeping the stuff for use? What are the disadvantages? What is the probability of it causing a problem? Do you live 400 miles from your dealer, i.e. is returning it an onerous task?

I'll answer a question with a question. With all the approved oils out there, why would you even contemplate using an unapproved one?
Click to expand...

Wow
 
Just for the fun of it, since this is an oil thread, I thought that I would throw in what Honda lists for viscosity ratings based on the year of the motorcycle. This is what Dave (@dduelin) has been writing for quite a while, that Honda changed their recommended oil viscosity from 10W40 to 10W30 in 2007.

1629663328846.png
 
I found the no moly in the service manual. Yesterday I was running from by son’s house where we had to disassemble his gazebo ahead of the storm, to his fiancee’s shower in RI, to the dealer, to my nephew’s birthday party. I was on the ST and it was hot.

I rushed the oil purchase and when I realized the “M” might be a problem, I asked here.

I left it alone and picked up Mobil 10-40 synthetic motorcycle Oil at the local O’Reilly’s.

The filter put up a helluva fight because last time I flowed the manual and torque it to 20 ft/lb, which seemed more than normal.

Eventually I got frustrated, my son and I tipped her over on the passenger side, I drilled a hole in the cap wrench and then into the filter and sunk a serious self tapping bolt in. It still took a mighty tug on the wrench and I could see the cap wrench trying to slip but the bolt stopped that nnonsense.

The final drive oil was its normal 1 minute job, thankfully.

All good now.
 
rogo said:
6B9957E7-943C-42AE-B31F-3A41443E9F5A.jpeg
I find this stuff has approval.
Click to expand...
The owners manual has three requirements. API service classification, JASO service classification, viscosity. This oil only meets two.

Your 2005 owners manual probably has a page similar to this from the 2003-2006 St1300 Service Manual:

IMG_1303.jpg
 
Last edited:
dduelin said:
The owners manual has three requirements. API service classification, JASO service classification, viscosity. This oil only meets two.

Your 2005 owners manual probably has a page similar to this from the 2003-2006 St1300 Service Manual:

IMG_1303.jpg
Click to expand...
My coldest ride this year was 25 degrees. Thanks.
 
STeveMcD said:
I rushed the oil purchase and when I realized the “M” might be a problem, I asked here.
Click to expand...
Interesting that you thought we would know more than Honda's manual. It's been said by a number of guys in many posts in those links I sent in the last thread called "Oil" that most guys here echo what @dduelin said in post 14 above "Go by the Manual". Or, my phrasing, when all else fails, read the instructions.
 
Paul said:
Isn’t it ironic that oil threads cause more friction?
Click to expand...
Can't put out a fire with gasoline, evidently cannot solve friction problems with more oil. (Ya know, for a while years ago, the hot set up was to add a few ounces of a molly additive to the oil in the final drive. Maybe that would reduce friction here too? :biggrin:
 
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