I was curious if anyone has used an oil that isnt trashed ( i.e. dark colored or making your 14 shift like a Mack truck) in 2k miles or less? I'm currently using Mobil 1 full syn. 1040 and it needs changed at 1800 mi. I dont mind the extra $ for synthetic but I'd like to get a few more miles out of it.

Amsoil

I have had good luck with Rotella, especially when everything heats up, it seems to maintain very well.......Plus, get lots of miles out of it. I have noticed the same thing you are with Mobil 1. I'm not saying it's a bad oil, I just personally haven't had great luck with oil longevity when using Mobil 1.......

* Last updated by: jbihm on 5/3/2013 @ 9:59 AM *

I was going to use Mobil 1, just to try it but after reading, I'll just pass. I'm on my second round of Motul 300V Double Ester. Just a little more expensive than Amsoil but cheaper than Mobil 1. I ran it to 5000 miles last time but lost a lot of it. I was riding at high RPM 80% of the time though. This time, I have added some Petron Additive (Brock's Website) and plan to run it to 3000 miles max. Usually, shifting gets crappy around 2500 miles but you result may vary.

*Amsoil is great too but I have had better luck with Motul 300.

I tend to get around 3500-4000 miles from the Mobil-1 Racing 4T 10W-40. The characteristics such as viscosity index (161) and zinc/phosphorus quantities (1600-1700 PPM) stomp Amsoil (VI of 152 and ZN/P between 1200-1300ppm) all over the lab floor. This is just a fact. It has a impressive detergent package which might tend to make the oil look dirty prematurely but keeping dirt in suspension is what it's designed to do. This aids in carrying impurities to the filter where it can be removed. I'd like to see a bit higher kinematic viscosity closer toward the 14 cSt range but at 13.2 it's average.

I presently have 1,000 miles on my current sump filled with Castrol Act-Evo X-tra 4T. The shifting after 1,000 miles is not as smooth as with the Mobil-1 product but it's acceptable. I will try Castrol's Power RS Racing 4t this summer also.

One other product I intend to try is a semi-synthetic Mobil product that is sold through Triumph. It's a 10W-40 viscosity and priced at $20 a gallon. I have absolutely no data on this stuff so it will be a blind sampling. It might be a great product at a good price but who knows.

I'd love to hear other's experience with Klotz, Castrol RS, Motul, etc. So many oils and not enough engines... :)

I was curious if anyone has used an oil that isnt trashed ( i.e. dark colored or making your 14 shift like a Mack truck) in 2k miles or less? I'm currently using Mobil 1 full syn. 1040 and it needs changed at 1800 mi. I dont mind the extra $ for synthetic but I'd like to get a few more miles out of it.

Had the same experience with Repsol 4T full synthetic Race Oil. Shifted so smooth and even the CLUNK into 1st became a smart SNAP!. Cam Chain tensioner was quiet. Then it was just like normal oil. I used it up to 2500 miles but for the $80 it cost me, not worth it. I believe the use of that oils also coincided with my head cover gasket leak. I went back to conventional. I use Rotella synthetic now. Seems to last longer than conventional and cheap enough to change as often. The Race oil was some very slick stuff but only for a short time. Someone suggested that that was because oil is normally changed after each event when racing. It's not meant to last thousands of miles.

^^^ makes sense, $80? $60 bucks max for me and I have to take it a little pass 2500 miles. I'm addicted to that smooth shifting, too bad it doesn't last long.

Rotella

I use the Rotella 15W-40 and change every 2000 miles just cause oil is cheap compared to metal bits. The oil does get dark but that's because the detergent holds soot and carbon in suspension so your motor doesn't sludge up. It's doing it's job, you could probably eat off the internal parts.

Shifts like buttah even after 2000 miles.

The Rotella is about $15 a gallon at WalMart, $22 or so for the 5W-40 full synthetic.

How was it "trashed" after 1800 miles? Did it fail to maintain viscosity? Tests have shown Mobil 1 4T to be among the top three motorcycle oils in maintaining viscosity index. Perhaps your motor had accumulated some sludge from the use of different lubricants and the Mobil 1 cut it loose from the insides of the cases? I run 5000 miles between changes and the drain oil is clear, if slightly darkened as compared to new.

P.S. Will be in your 'hood in 2 weeks if you'd like to look at mine and check the service record for how long it's been in there (over 3000 miles so far IIRC) Shifts like butter.

* Last updated by: Danno on 5/3/2013 @ 7:05 PM *

Ok I'm going to try Mobil 1 next LOL

Motul 7100. Full Synthetic. Runs and shifts very smooth. I change it at 3K miles religiously. Looks the same coming out as it does going in. I'm sure it can go more, but I'm old school with my oil changes. Next change I'm sending a sample in for analysis to see how things are keeping up.

im using amsoil at the moment but i did run mobil 1 even had it tested through blackstone and the #'s on it were very good, id have no problem using it again in the future. if you have any doubts about the oil your using or the condition of the internals of your engine then id recommend having you oil tested $25 or so is cheap for peace of mind lol

blackstone

I will reiterate that I think M1 is a fine oil.....I just haven't had as much luck with it. For me, especially with my ZZR1200, Rotella shifted smoother for longer. There really is no science to what I am saying as I never had my oil tested. For me, it was just how my bike reacted. Also, it was never a motor thing with me, it was a tranny thing. The motor always sounded fine and, to be honest, the M1 always came out fairly clear. It was just a shifting thing for me......especially when the bike got to operating temperature with 1500 or so miles on the oil change. It just felt like the bike shifted smoother for longer with the T6......Of course, it could all be in my head :)

I ran one case of Amsoil 10W-40 4T through my ZZR 1200. Had to set the idle up slightly, fuel mileage dropped slightly, and shifting required slightly more effort. Went back to the Mobil 1 4T 10W-40, it went back to the way it was; Set the idle back down, fuel mileage went back up a mile or two per gallon and shifting smoothed out. At a rally in Montana, one of the Canadian guys commented on how quiet the motor ran, with very little valve or camchain rattle. (He had one of the same year and similar mileage) Always went 6,000 miles between changes with no issue of oil clarity. It would use less than 1/2 a quart between changes, mostly during the last 1,000 miles of the 6.

Now going 5,000 between changes on the ZX-14 and have experienced zero level drop between changes. The first couple of changes, the drain oil was a little cloudy, but that has cleared up, which is why I postulated that dirty-looking drain oil could be sludge from a previous fill of a different oil.

I've never sent an oil sample to a lab because I just don't feel it's necessary. Every motor is different, everyone ride a little different and I believe it's entirely possible someone may experience different results using the same oil as someone else.

Always paid $8-9 pe quart for Amsoil and Mobil 1 4T. The Mobil 1 semi-syn mentioned earlier as marketed by Triumph must be pretty good stuff, because their 4T full syn used to be the Triumph-recommended and labeled oil of choice.

Hmmm...this is turning into another oil thread...