is it okay for me to run shell Rotella T 15W-40 in my 2003 honda rancher 350? its a tough oil, i use it in my old truck, and its CHEAP. im about 30 min. away from any dealer to get honda gn4.

 

Start out with these great reads on motorcycle oils:

http://www.thumperfaq.com/oil.htm


http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0308_oil/index.html


Your engine and transmission share the same oil, and that makes your quad way different from any car or truck! Plus, your transmission has a wet clutch, that will slip if your oil contains friction modifiers.

I say play it safe, and don't try to second guess the engineers that designed your engine! You can't go wrong running a motorcycle specific oil that is rated API SG/JASO MA. The API SG rating insures that it contains additives that will protect you transmission, and the JASO MA insures that it does not contain friction modifiers that will make your clutch slip.

Beyond that, the synthetics are way better than old school petroleum oils, and the group V ester synthetics are better than the other two types of synthetics (Rotella is a group III synthetic, and Mobil 1 or Amsoil are PAO's):

http://www.maximausa.com/techn...enews/LubeNews2002.pdf

Lots of guys have run the old pre cat converter formulation of Rotella (which had a descent additive package), but all bets are off on any new formulation! The additives in motrocycle oil will poison the catalytic converters (now found on diesels!), and the new formulations have had significant downgrades.

Plus, 15W40 isn't a choice for winter weather. In most places, a 10W40 make a good summer oil, and a 5W30 makes a good winter oil.

 

I second that. Better safe than sorry so I'd say go with a oil that's approved for wet clutch as well. 30 minute drive is nothing compared to a broke down machine.

 

thanks

 

A good lower priced oil is Maxima Premium. Maxima has an absolutely monster additive package. If you can find it locally, I would pick it over GN4.

 

Reconranger, I admire your persistence in telling these people over and over again about the oil and other issues. It would be nice if the administrators of this site would do something to make it easier for newcomers to find these topics which have been hashed over so many times.

To their credit the search function provided does allow one to find these topics with persistence, but it could be so much easier. Anyone listening? How about an FAQ link denoting topics in descending order of relevancy to query? An SQL script would do it, but is this compatible with Cold Fusion(this site is cfm)? ... just a suggestion.

 

Here is a different take on this subject.

Talk about oil
Talk about Rotella
Rotella in motorcycles
I have more...............but I don't want to be redundant. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif[/img]

 

Doctorturbo, your links are invalid. The problem appears to be a redundant typo, where each link is preceded by " https://http://www... " Reset them as " http://www... " and they should work. I'm interested in seeing the information.

 

Docturbo offers food for thought

I have been to the honda Bike sites and "www.BOBistheoilguy.com" . The Used Oil Analysis for HDEO diesel oils in bikes, (especially Shell Rotella synthetic), are outstanding. Better than Bike oil?????maybe not better, but solid.

If you want to use Bike oil for a couple bucks difference and peace of mind, I say go for it. However, I have used Rotella synthetic it in motorcycles and ATV's, and had no wet clutch problems. I have used it for the convenience as I can use it multiple engine applications. It does weep from old gaskets to a greater degree than any dino did. All this is not science only my ancedotal observations. (I am also considering Amsoil 10w-30/30 small engine oil for some older bikes calling for a 30 wt)

Here is some science in the form of a UAO I copied fom the site. It is from Blackstone Labs on Rotella oil with 5K on the oil:

Blackstone 7/20/2007

2005 Honda GL1800
Rotella T 5w-40
Miles on oil sample 5242
Miles on bike 15282
Sample date 7/20/07

First number is mine, second is unit average, third is universal average

Aluminum 5-6-7
Chromium 1-1-1
Iron 18-21-20
Copper 14-16-20
Lead 1-1-1
Molybdenum 8-20-43
Nickel 0-0-0
Manganese 1-1-1
Silver 0-0-0
Titanium 0-0-0
Potasium 2-2-1
Boron 4-8-63
Silicon 8-9-9
Sodium 5-5-3
Calcium 2974-2944-2686
Magnesium 12-20-114
Phosphorus 1015-1126-1079
Zinc 1346-1402-1318
Barium 1-1-0

SUS Viscosity at 210 F 65.6 should be 65 to 65-78
Flash point 370 F should be 375 F
Fuel (trace) should be <2%
Anti freeze 0
Water 0
Insolubles 0.2 should be <0.6

Blackstone comments:
We found only improvements in wear in the latest sample from your Honda. All wear
improved and reads below universal averages and in the proper balance. This oil was run the same
mileage upon which universal averages are based so your engine wears better than most! The trace
of fuel is a common find in motorcycle engines and isn't a problem. No other harmful contaminants
were found and the air and oil filters (silicon and insolubles) are working well, too. At 15,282 miles we have no problems to report. Nice engine!

 

Remember that you need to distinguish the old formulations of these "diesel" oils from the new ones, that now have a downgraded additive package!!! I know guys who swear by Rotella, but they have all stocked up on a lifetime supply of the old formulation, because they saw the writing on the wall back when.......

Rotella is not a "bad" oil...it just isn't the "best" oil out there. I don't know about you all, but when I buy a set of tires or a muffler for my quad, I buy the best one that I can find. Same goes with my choice of oil. I don't understand how someone can spend thousands on a quad, then spend even more on mods,but then go cheap $hit when it comes to oil.......