Is there a difference between a Mobil 1 5w 40 Truck/SUV and a Mobil 1 10w 40 motorcycle oil? Can I use the 5w 40 in my outlander. Wether it has a picture of a truck or an ATV are they any different. Thanks.

 

Most automotive oils have 'friction modifiers' which make the oil slicker (in theory this increases fuel economy in an automobile) and these friction modifiers will ruin your ATVs transmission components. It is better to stick with ATV oils. Although a good Heavy Duty Diesel truck oil is a good alternative.

Go to this site and read up on oils:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

Also, the difference between the first number and the second in a 5/40 oil means the oil is going to have twice as many Viscosity Index Improvers (VIIs) so that the oil is really going to be all chemical and no protection. The fewer VIIs your oil has the better. If you read the article you'll fully understand the science & reasoning.

 

Amsoil makes a great oil for your atv. 0W - 40 four stroke, a fully synthetic oil unlike Mobil 1. For more info and a free product catalog go to:
Amsoil Website

 

Oh, that brings up a good point, most oils labeled as "Synthetic" are not synthetic, they are just higher grade dino oils, perhaps with some synthetic mixed in. There was a court case where the court decided that Synthetic was not a specification but more of an advertisment label or statement, thus, to be called synthetic, oils no longer had to be synthetic just superior to 'normal' oils.

I don't know exactly where Amsoil falls into this category as I've never looked into it. It is possible they produce a true synthetic, though if you read the article, I'd like my oil to have very few VIIs so that would be what I look for.

 

BlackHawk, I believe you're talking about Mobil 1 taking Valvoline to court after they found out Valvoline was using a blend of high quality dino oil and synthetic in their so called "synthetic oils". Mobil lost the case and subsiquently changed their full synthetic oil to a dino/synthetic blend, the price of their oil to the customer never reflected their savings by changing their formulation. Amsoil 0W-40 is 100% synthetic oil made from the finest basestocks available. I use Amsoil in everything I own from chainsaws, lawn equipment, ATV's, and my trucks. This oil is top notch and superior protection and insurance.

Amsoil Website

 

Sounds like you are quite impressed with Amsoil. Since you use so much, do you buy it in quantity? I bought a 5 gallon drum of Maxima Super M that I'm slowly running out of. I think I paid $75 or so for it, I'd like to eventually replace it with more bulk oil. I'm considering running the Shell Rotella Synthetic, though I think I'll re-read the articvle as well as get some opinions from other people when I look to buy new oil.

 

I wasn't Valvoline it was Castrol and the questionable product was the Syntec Line.

 

Air, my bad it was Castrol not Valvoline. Just trying to make a point that when you buy these name brand oils such as Mobil 1, Castrol, or Valvoline and you think you're getting 100% pure synthetic oil you'd better think again! Amsoil also makes oils that are synthetic blends and this is stated in their literature such as the XL 7500 motor oil and the Amsoil Bar and Chain oil. At least they're up front telling you what you're getting. So I guess everyone has their preference to what kind of oil they are going to use, I choose Amsoil, superior quality and no misleading BS!