Motorcycle Oil: Worth It or a Waste? (Lab Results)

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you so much for watching! I really appreciate the suggestions for future videos in these comments. I'm taking notes!

[@Stacy_Smith]

YES!!! Thank you!

[@garyganser2451]

Are there oils that clean ring lands, carbon as well as Valvoline Restore and Protect without high calcium or other things that may cause Stochastic Preignition? Another KZbin channel who is an Amsoil dealer, was told by Amsoil that they have products that do.

[@philjerome9795]

Can you do something on 4-stroke outboard oil?

[@GiancarloBenzina]

Please go a step deeper into the aspects: i.e. - shear, - how the oil wears power vs. Normal use on, - how fast it ages and actually drops below a manufacturer standard, - while the manufacturers start claiming bigger and bigger cycles - why bike manufacturers alter their demands suddenly without engine change, switching from 20W40 to 10W60 recomendations for the one that originally should have had only exclusively 20W40. What drives those actions? - how can longer and shorter cycles than recommended affect the oil and residuals? does it actually matter, isn‘t oil not already below spec after 800miles? - test1: one-case full synthetic motorcycle oil manufacturer castrol/motorex/motul/Amsoil/bel-ray/rowe/fuchs/liqui-moly/lucas vs resale brand: ipon/rockoil/revtech/yamalube/indian/bmw/kawasaki/harley/honda vs. big oil brands shell/mobile/exxon/elf/repsol - test2: split-case and one-case big twin oils from manufacturer HD/Indian vs. big oil brand mobile shell/elf/pennzoil/valvoline/rockoil vs. motorcycle specialists oils: castrol/motul/putoline/bel-ray/ - test3: Chain-test: Wyold motor-oil vs. new chain-oil for the chain

[@BrianVance-hn4fo]

Have you ever looked at aviation oils. They are air cooled so similar to motorcycles in that regard. They have a lot of cylinder problems compared to auto and motorcycle engines and I often wonder if that is due to lack of oil developments. Also they use relatively high viscosity..

[@gk7588]

Dude you’re literally the first person w/credibility talk about motorcycle oils and I want to thank you for that. Please give us more, specifically testing popular brands. Motul, Mobil 1, liqui Moly, Walmart brands (Supertech & SHELL T6 5/10w40), etc. please for the love of god…do what the others can’t!

[@Darkcruzer23]

I'd love to see comparisons as well but until then I go by project farms passenger oil testing and amsoil was the easy champion of that

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks! There is more on the way!

[@Rifraph48]

Could you also cover the chemical, functionality, and application differences between MA, MA1, MA2, and MB? Thank you for what you do. I really appreciate the details and comments. Often, the comments make me think you are reading my mind!

[@yaboileeroy3038]

One more addition: Schaeffer’s V-Twin 20W50 parasynthetic. I ran it in my old Sportster and it’s all most of my buddies run, would love to hear what’s in that stuff.

[@kauko8124]

@@themotoroilgeek Great videos! Thank you!I would love to see also Royal Purple in a test against popular brands.

[@josephdignam123]

More motorcycle stuff please Lake!

[@Agentdude]

Yes, please!

[@dukecraig2402]

Since this is about motorcycles it should be noted that Malcolm Smith, star of the 1972 documentary On Any Sunday and probably the greatest off road motorcycle racer of all time, passed away this past week. RIP Malcolm, gone but will never be forgotten.

[@johnjubie7144]

I didn't know that. Thank you for sharing. RIP.

[@jabomiles6947]

@@johnjubie7144 Sorry to hear Malcolm is gone.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

@@dukecraig2402 Oh dear. So sad. I actually raced against him twice. In Lesotho. Late 1970s. Met him early 1980s. Real decent man. RIP brother. Thanks for sharing.

[@dukecraig2402]

@@ebutuoyebutouy I actually found out he died Nov 26th after I posted that, I guess like some deaths the family doesn't announce things right away, I figured since the news was released this past week that's when he'd died but it was back in November. I'm a member of the AMA so I'll bet this next monthly magazine will have a tribute to him, as soon as I heard the news today I watched On Any Sunday which I managed to record on my DVR this past year, ever since the first time I saw that as a kid in the 70's as soon as I hear that music at the beginning I snap right back to the 70's and start remembering things I haven't thought about in years. Sad news for us children of the 70's who grew up wanting motorcycles from watching that movie so bad it made our teeth hurt, he was a lifelong icon to many of us.

[@carl2591]

I remember him.. never saw in person but what a great bike guy.. RIP dude see later..

[@dustindutcher6898]

Glad to see some motorcycle content!

[@billboring3925]

I’ve been a motorcyclist many decades the first guys come along credibility about oils so anything about motorcycle oil would be highly appreciated because you’re the expert. Thank you again.👍🏍️

[@jimheywood5895]

50 yrs of owning bikes, never heard such a great discussion of oil/clutch performance, 👍

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you!

[@mikeg9450]

A lot of Shell Rotella fans within the V twin folks. I hope they see this vid.

[@Allosaurus-B]

actually it's conversation ;)

[@allanmoger1838]

Voting for more motorcycle content too.

[@LTVoyager]

I’ve never been a huge AMSOIL fan, mainly because of some of their marketing tactics and lack of availability while on the road, but I am impressed with their testing approach.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

Same here. And the price. But it's a superior product. Period. For my car that gets semi frequent oil changes (no extended stuff here) I can't justify it but absolutely necessity for my lawnmowers engine and hydrostatic transmission, generators, weed wackers, chainsaws, etc. Also superior for my stick transmission.

[@LA_Commander]

Amsoil doesn't even make their own base oil. Or additives. Or filters.

[@3030zippi]

@@LA_Commanderyou need to watch the video where TMOG made his own oil with different additives, same base = very different results

[@frankharley1000]

​@ebutuoyebutouy are you a preferred customer? If so, then AMSOIL's prices are quite reasonable and competitive.

[@amazoidal]

The same as many companies like Warren.

[@stephenalbright6961]

Love the science not speculation, keep up the great work

[@leegmc1985]

30 years ago I used Castrol. Last 16 years I have used Shell Rotella T6 5w-40 in my old School Kawasaki's. Gpz and a zr550. Clutches and the plates last forever. When doing valve adjustments the engines are unbelievably clean, absolutely no varnish whatsoever. Clutch engagement is great, even in HOT 🔥 Phoenix Arizona. I do have good oil coolers on them of course. I have also used T4 as well. But usually on ATVs. Great HDEO.😊

[@dennisyoung4631]

Would this T6 oil work well in hard-worked lawn-care type engines? Air cooled, changed regularly…

[@jimstenlund6017]

@@dennisyoung4631Don’t those take SAE30?

[@dennisyoung4631]

@@jimstenlund6017 they can, though I’ve seen multi grade oils specc’d as well, e.g. EHO-35 (Robin Subaru) wants 10-40, if memory serves, with a wider spec being equally acceptable, e.g. Mobil-1 0w-40 Euro-Spec will do well. Chief issue with these smaller engines, at least to my thinking, is that you want to stay right on top of the oil levels and change the oil *frequently.*

[@Sunnbobb]

Lee, I've used the same in my GL 1000, GL1100 and GL1500 for years. Not a single issue and one engine went 185K before i sold it.

[@MadAlhazred]

I put 100k on my '97 VFR with rotella t6, it has 130k on it with the original clutch.

[@John5ive]

This was about motorcycle oil, but in effect it was also about Amsoil. They amount of research they put onto their oils. It makes it sting a little less, paying more for their oil.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Tear your engine apart at 200k miles if its ran Amsoil its whole life. Thats what really makes it sting less. I could have ate from the inside of my valve covers on my Talon TSi that had 215k miles on it. Anything that takes oil, that I really care about, gets nothing but Amsoil.

[@swat1229]

As someone who uses Rotella T6 in his street bikes. I'd love to hear more on this subject.

[@ChrisLoew]

same

[@jaredkish8716]

I’ve been using t4 on my Harley

[@__Max-oe6zm]

It would be interesting to see this topic explored and get some actual data

[@jdksynthetics]

How long have you been doing so?

[@MarissaTheMuse]

How often do you replace your clutch? She’s it slip

[@vartikcsaba]

Would like to watch a video on 2 cycle oils, differencies between trimmer and motorcross 2 cycle oil, etc

[@carllinden533]

I would especially like this because I drive a 2-stroke car, very demanding on the oil and somewhat expensive

[@gungadingo]

@@carllinden533 Curious about your 2 stroke car.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

@@carllinden533 What's your 2 stroke car? Dkw? Saab?

[@GT-mn3bx]

@@ebutuoyebutouy He probably means a 2 stroke shifter kart.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

@@GT-mn3bx ok. Was wondering.

[@HerseySyntheticOil]

Good stuff, glad you made it to the factory. It's impressive, I was there July 2023 for the 50th anniversary. All the staff at Amsoil Corp are very helpful to us dealers in the field. Thank you both for this video.

[@johnkling3537]

Nice -great to see an explanation about JASO rating and MA vs MA2 🥇

[@briankalagher6687]

My 99 Yamaha R1 is what dragged me into learning about motor oil. Loved the bike so much I just wanted to get the best stuff for it. It's been 20 years and I'm still learning! Thanks for the help Lake. Still have the bike and its got 57K miles on the original clutch and transmission.

[@adampatterson707]

Yamaha started manufacturing Yamalube in 1968. Yamaha makes Exhalent oils.

[@rokuplayz464]

@@adampatterson707I also put t6 in my 87 virago and will put something other than yamalube in my YZ, way to expensive and I don’t care to learn the weights by part number for my gear case

[@jeffreyyeater1780]

I ran Yamalube in my fz 1 . Canged every 3000. No problems .

[@briankalagher6687]

@@rokuplayz464 mine seems to like Rotella T4 15w 40 the best. The T6 15w 40 does not feel as good to me. I want it to feel better with the synthetic but I noticed a little clutch slip and the gear changes were more notchy. Ran 5w 40 one time back in the day and the bike hated it, way too thin.

[@rokuplayz464]

@ I’m pretty sure the difference between t4 and t6 is that t4 is 15-40 and t6 is 5-40, I winter ride so I use the 5-40

[@MassimoTava]

Thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts have relied on “Shell Rotella T6 synthetic heavy diesel oil” since it meets JASO MA2 specs. Is it possible to gain insights into its formulation and compare it to top-tier bike oils such as Motul 7100, Motul 300V, AMSOIL SYNTHETIC METRIC MOTORCYCLE, and OEM-branded oils?

[@TEAMWRIGHTEOUS]

Or even the regular brands as well... I've seen 500 HP Busa's run that stuff and live for years on it.

[@jameshogan2619]

215k on my’08 gold wing using Rotella T6 with no problems and the valves are still in spec

[@TEAMWRIGHTEOUS]

@@jameshogan2619 yep.... I don't think anyone has ever had any real issues with it as long they took care of their bike.

[@Onewheelordeal]

Rotella is the Frank's Red Hot of my life

[@kannermw]

You will never see an Amsoil guy do this test with Rotella T6 because the outcome would steer everyone to the Rotella.

[@CedroCron]

Been using Amsoil for decades in all my equipment right down to my lawnmower and snow blower... Nothing but fantastic results. It's because of their hardcore testing and re-testing and constantly re-tweaking their formulas after real-world constant re-testing is why they always come out ahead of others in everything I've used it in. I've built and rebuilt many engines both for every day drivers and for amateur performance and those that use Amsoil always have clean almost wear free engines and transmissions using the Amsoil line of products. I'm not a dealer, just an enthusiast and a customer that has been using their products for decades. Shelf products are "Good Enough" but Amsoil products are next level.

[@richardmoerke9329]

I have to agree. Been using them for years. The only problem is the rest of the car goes to hell but the motor and stuff is still good like new and still doesn’t use any oil. Put this in my son’s motorcycle (it was used) and drive it down the road you could feel the motor freeing up! I know it sounds like bull but was just crazy.

[@CedroCron]

@@richardmoerke9329 I live in the rust belt here in Canada and we have shops that will spray your vehicle annually with an oil undercoating that has a high zinc content and that will creep into metal folds and seems and where there are welds to keep rust from happening. I also spray all the rubber and plastic components with a 100% silicone spray, this greatly extends the life of the rest of the vehicle so it stays on the road. The longest vehicle I had on the road was for 22 years and 535K. When it went to the scrap yard it was because of an electrical fire with the harness under the hood and the vehicle went up into flames. The Compressor for the A/C hydro-locked and cooked the thick wire all the way back to through the harness. Not sure why the fuse didn't pop but it melted a ton of wires beside it and well then fire mixed with fuel under the hood and there I was watching it go up in flames. I got my money out of it. But the body had 0 rust at that time. So I can say the Krown product I use annually works great.

[@CedroCron]

@AnonbinArymouse Reach out to their support email, they are really good explaining the differences and making the recommendations based on what you are trying to achieve

[@IronMike-f8i]

They do not always come out ahead of others. All the top tier oils give More than adequate protection, and at less than half the price of amsoil.. WE switched from amsoil,, and have great results,, plus ➕️ we save big 💰 money

[@CedroCron]

@@IronMike-f8i 🙄 Sure

[@MVPisME383]

This guy loves what he does, he's not just out for the money, he could've got some money out of me but rather told me what my engine was doing was normal just to keep running it thank you for what you do for the sport, hobby and the fans, and thank you Mr Ams oil guy I used to ride a Honda crf250 in motocross so naturally I used amsoil in it

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@timkis64]

the oil shearing is real.on my metric cruiser you can feel the trans is less smooth by 3k miles.new oil & its smooth as butter again.even when the oil dont look very dark when drained.i can definately feel the difference.what blows me away is the OEM calls for 8k mile oil change intervals.i change at 3k.

[@jagenau6334]

I've noticed that too with my Suzuki VL1500. By 8000km , tranny starts shifting a bit klunkier.

[@larryt.atcycleitalia5786]

We saw that at the moto shop I worked at the in early 1980's. They used cheap multi-vs motor oil. When we switched to Spectro with a better, more expensive polymer the results were dramatic, only exceeded by their Golden Spectro oil, with a much better (and more expensive) polymer. THAT stuff (at the time anyway) was the best!

[@billbonu1639]

If your oil is broken down to the point the transmission doesn't want to work at 3,000 miles you definitely need to run a different oil in it!I recommend t4 or t6.my FJR's shift fine when I change it at 3500 miles with t4.all 3 of them.

[@astrostrotch]

It's great to see you covering motorcycle lube. Thanks Lake.

[@marymindaenriquez2108]

She’ll Rotella T6 is fully synthetic and not only surpasses all motorcycle requirements, it also surpasses Allison transmission requirements which are even more stringent than the motorcycle requirements. It is half the price of Motorcycle specific oils.

[@xnihilo64]

Yep. Run it in my KLR and ran it in my V-Stroms before I sold them. Great stuff.

[@slalomking]

T4 as good as T6 ?

[@doctorwhodj]

@@slalomkingt6 is synthetic. I dont think t4 is...

[@ahbalone]

​@@slalomkinguse T4 during the break-in period. If you keep using it just change it a little more often then the T6

[@ahbalone]

You can't beat Amsoil but you can't find it either.😂

[@jagjr6772]

Great video. Thanks for from this VTwin rider. Please keep this trend. Harley-Davidson has always been secretive about their synthetic Syn3. I think all of us HD owners would love to see a comparison. I am really impressed by Amsoil’s R&D. This guy is sharp.

[@frankharley1000]

Fellow V-Twin Rider here as well. 1985 Super Glide with EVO motor, bought it new in 85 and still enjoying it. Amsoil 20 W 50 since break in, currently 151 k with a few engine mods, but no rebuild. And that's spending its life in southwest Arizona where the summers are brutal on an air-cooled V-Twin.

[@jasonrose6562]

Rat540oilblog. Syn3 good stuff. Reg HD oil not so.

[@ErnestoBoots]

I use 10W40 Amsoil Metric with Amsoil filter in my 2024 Yamaha R1 (Raven). Absolutely love it, flawless shifting.

[@enewkirk1]

Good to know. I currently use the Suzuki branded Ecstar R9000 10w40 in my GSXR 600 and was looking for a better alternative. Not that there is anything wrong with the Ecstar but I'm always looking to improve.

[@ErnestoBoots]

@enewkirk1 Absolutely, most of the motorcycle oils are good for regular street riding, but the top 3ish(in no particular order) are Redline, Amsoil, and Motul 300v. They all have great additive packs, great shear resistance, low noak, high flash point, etc. Most Sport/Super bikes are wet clutch(shared sump), so a good shear resistant oil is paramount, along with a full synthetic oil filter. I change my oil at 4k, don't do track days, but if I did, I would probably change every 2 track days...seems to be fairly universal.

[@GTP786]

I have a GSXR750 and normally run the R9000 I have also ran the Amsoil Metric both good oils didn't really notice a difference. I normally change my oil every 3k, I know I could go longer per the manual but I like to keep it fresh. ​@enewkirk1

[@jdksynthetics]

@@enewkirk1 You can find a dealer and sign up as a preferred customer.

[@1FastKawboy]

Thank you for doing this video! I am retired now, but I worked in both new car dealer shops and motor sports dealer shops working on all kinds of bikes, 4 wheelers, side by side, and jet skis. I have always had to explain to customers about care and failure. This realy puts these differences in to prospective. All in one place!

[@themotoroilgeek]

That is awesome!

[@redlywaxer]

Lake , we love the tons of real info you share on your videos and have learned so much, helping us to make good decisions for our machines. We have used some Amsoil over the years in our most demanding applications.

[@grominwithrob1339]

I own 6 bikes ranging from a 1970's Honda trail 70 to a custom made bobber build. Every bike gets Amsoil. I built a Honda sport bike with a zero mile new bike as the starting point. I did runs after adding and changing or eliminating components. I had fresh Mobile One and would have clutch failures. Swapped over to Amsoil and zero problems with wet clutch slippage. The Mobile One could not handle the RPMs at all. Amsoil Signature oil handles the RPMs without a problem at all. It was night and day diffrence between the two oils. The Mobile One seemed to expirence a lot of oil shearing. Amsoil hasn't won me over yet in my truck and cars yet, but i am currently still testing and evaluating it, but in motorcycles, it is number one based on my experiences.

[@LA_Commander]

Try Motul that's been the best performing oil in my bikes and cheaper than Amsoil.

[@diyeveryday67]

Thanks for teaming with Amsoil for this video. I have been using Amsoil for 30 years. Two years ago I bought my first motorcycle 2 years ago and was disappointed to find out Amsoil did not have a 5w/40 motorcycle oil. Amsoil has since launched a motorcycle 5w/40 motorcycle oil and it is now the only oil I will run!!

[@Jim_Berry]

Lake, would love to see more info on oils for Harley-Davidson. Maybe Mobil 1 V-Twin vs H-D Syn 3.

[@gregmannos]

What he said 👍

[@jeffreygoldberg7351]

Amsoil Harley oil too.

[@richardmoerke9329]

Would love to see a fit on this. I have a metric has a wet clutch 1500 cc . What is good for that? You guys do rock. I hope you make this happen.

[@jacobmoll2878]

Add amsoil and Valvoline also please, even a review of the standards you see from oil testing.

[@cliff5021]

Yeah, Oil is important because of how much you are continually adding.

[@FLYINRYAN71]

Lake, really enjoy watching your channel. I didn’t know you were also involved with the JGR supercross/motocross team. I spent some time at JGR in 2014 when I was on a Yamaha sx and Mx race team. Their facility was amazing to work out of and their test track up the road from the shop was great. 😎👍🏻

[@themotoroilgeek]

Yep, My office was upstairs near the engine build room. Dean and the guys there were awesome. We shared the dyno downstairs as well.

[@FLYINRYAN71]

@@themotoroilgeekyes sir! Dean, J bone, Bundy, Lee and the other guys. I remember checking out the dyno room they used for the dirt bike engines. We had some great times! Small world! Their NASCAR shops were amazing to see!

[@themotoroilgeek]

@@FLYINRYAN71 Very small world with some really great guys!

[@univisiontech1]

Hey this is awesome content, thank you for posting something about motorcycles! I've been using Rotella T4 15w-40 in my Yamahas for close to two decades, love the stuff. Curious how it compares to the proper motorcycle oils, the price is just so cheap I don't think twice when it comes to 2000mi oil change intervals

[@chriscannie1091]

Sounds like bottom line is diesel oil should be fine for water cooled relatively low revving street engines. Change it twice as often for less money and keep more dirt out of the engine.

[@RB-po4ce]

Motorcyclist here and I've been waiting for you to address motorcycle oils. Great video. I would really like to see some analysis on police motors. If you have a department with both Harley and BMWs, that would be awesome! Also, for years Rotella T6 has an MA rating, however, my latest Yamaha warns about not using diesel oils. Keep up the great work!

[@univisiontech1]

Oh for real? I've been using T4 on '81 XJ550 and '93 Tdm850 for years. Mind sharing which bike says no to diesel oil? I'm planning to buy a newer model in the next year

[@dannygonxalez9011]

been using T6 on my ninja 400. 9K miles so far

[@carl2591]

@@univisiontech1 .... Yeah that is odd no diesel oil.. seem a single or twin cylinder more has the sameish shock as a big diesel engine so a oil designed for diesels like the t-4 or t-6 etc would be prefect especially JASO compliant.

[@TylerN737s]

Love the motorcycle content. Thinking about oil circulation cycles on a bike in hard enduro. 3-6 hours of intense clutch abuse with little to no air flow across the radiators on 850-1000cc’s of oil circulating in the sump.

[@Jollibuuu]

Finally. A motorcycle oil content. Thank you blake !

[@deankruse4491]

Lake.

[@herbieschwartz9246]

I began using Shell Rotella (diesel spec oil) over 40 years ago in both my street bikes and dirt bikes. When Shell started producing synthetic oils, I switched to T-6 and never had any issues with clutch performance and engine wear is reduced significantly. I spend a fraction of what "motorcycle specific" oils cost with no downside that I can determine and observable wear to gears, bearings, and top end components indicates good protection. Just saying.

[@roadkingrider6532]

I’ve always used Amsoil on my Harley. Kevin Baxter I know swears by it. I highly value his opinion with anything motorcycle related!

[@davidmurray1630]

I really love your Amsoil videos... always learn so much from them. This one was especially informative for the harsh environment that air cooled motorcycles run in. Thanks again!!

[@dewholdingsllc1050]

Nice. About time. Cant say how many arguments I have with bike rider people regarding friction modifier oils and non.

[@hardywheeless7318]

Cool video. I love your videos involving oil companies' lab/testing facilities.

[@linksep1]

Mount Rushmore of Best KZbin channels right here. Can you investigate if Valvoline Restore & Protect does anything to slow or reverse intake valve deposits on GDI engines? You're the GOAT!

[@john0270]

Yeah would be interesting. Keep the rings cleaner and sealing better it would reduce blowby and less vaporized oil being injested. But would r&p remove deposits.... i wouldn't expect it

[@linksep1]

@@john0270 but if liquid VRP dissolves deposits, doesn't it seem that VRP vapor might do the same thing?

[@henrikselberg1901]

Nice. One question. Is there any difference at all exept the cluth additives in a motorcykle oil? In a scooter for example many manuals still say to use ma2 oils!!! But why

[@jagjr6772]

He just did one

[@zed9160]

The only way to help with GDI intake valve deposits is to remove the oil mist from the PCV / Intake recirculation. The deposits come from the oil mist getting clamped between a hot metal surface (valve). If you can keep up with it, get a quality catch can or Air-Oil-Seperator system installed. For reference I installed a BMS Catch Can on my 2019 VW Golf Alltrack which the TSI Motors are well known for carbon issues causing issues by 60k miles. I installed the catch can at 30k miles after running the can of Seafoam GDI Intake valve cleaner and have not had an issues. The BMS setup is a cheaper option. There are many better versions that replace the PCV system itself but run about $600. Overall, you get what you pay for, and the I don't there is any way to cheat the physics of how oil mist meeting hot metal and getting clamped will create deposits other than removing the mist altogether. For reference I use LiquiMoly Molygen 5w-40 since new, car has a 102k miles on it, and I live in the PNW with freezing temps in the winter.

[@Peoplearesheeple]

I researched oil myself for a long time Not like you, but I know motorcycle oil is different than all oils but I can tell you I’ve rode motorcycle for the last 30 years and I’ve used Shell Rotella and I have never had a problem with the clutch in any of my bikes not saying that’s right, but I’ve done it for years

[@briankalagher6687]

I agree. My 99 R1 has run on diesel oil since I bought it 20 years ago with 2k miles. Been using T4 rotella 15w 40 most of that time. 57K miles now on original clutch.

[@KaLeB_]

Me too, i use since about 2005 with zero issues.....

[@TheXAGuy]

You’re right. The additive package in moto oils is often just the same package as DEOs. Most of the difference in the product comes down to the base oil and polymers used. Often more synthetic and thicker vis grades, as it mitigates heat. That’s mostly what they are talking about here. A high quality DEO is usually just as good as a specific moto oil for most people.

[@motov8-garage832]

This is what I've been thinking about for some years. I've been running amsoil 10/40 ("metric") religiously in my last 2 Kawasaki 636's, even my drz400. For my ninja it always cost around 48-50$ and that's with a 11$ oem kawi filter. But starting about 2 years ago when I went to get my usual 4quart bottle of oil and the filter it cost me around 90$!!!. I'm meticulous about my oils but if I can save money and do my oil changes for half that with rotella I think I'll switch over.. Is there a 10/40? I havnt looked super hard but I only see a 5w-40 or 15w-40.. I honestly dont feel good about changing the weight either up or down.

[@TheXAGuy]

@@motov8-garage832 that’s the winter grade. As long as the second number is “40” it is good. The lower the “W” number, the colder the temps the oil is designed for. So 5W-40 is “better” than 15W-40. But most people don’t ride their bikes in the winter so it’s not a huge deal lol.

[@GiancarloBenzina]

great intro to motorcycle oils

[@Cameron-y8j]

I love these video's, keep them coming......................................Being there is no OEM or global motorcycle oil spec, it's nice to see what manufactures and oil companies are doing to keep our toys alive for decades to come.

[@shrek_428]

I run strictly Shell Rotella T6 5W40 in my bike, the price is ok, and it's Jaso MA/MA2 rated for wet clutches

[@papaal7014]

Right. If you don't slow walk you Harley at Stugis, you'll be fine.

[@shrek_428]

@@papaal7014 No fear, liquid cooled (Honda Shadow)

[@jameshampton3969]

I totally LOVE your channel. You're a geek like me. Science is the undisputed king. I've been a gearhead all my life; my dad was a gearhead, so I grew up in the life. I'm now an ASE certified mechanic and I absolutely love your science based channel. It's all about the engine; they truly "talk" to you and tell you things. Thank you for your channel, your knowledge and your science proven results; did I mention your knowledge and experience? THANK YOU!

[@yzrippin]

Delving into forums decades old. Seems like the answer is rotella t6 15w40. At least the wr250r yxz100r and 6 lawn mowers love it

[@819jt]

Stoked on this video! Stuff I always wondered about since the 90's when I got into riding. Motocross is how I learned engines 🤘

[@Adam-nv9zo]

Thank you for your invaluable knowledge, Lake. Great video, as always.

[@IRLtrolls]

This is what I’ve been looking for over a decade. I wish more channels would talk about motorcycle oil

[@KCadbyRacing]

Coming from a lifetime (50+ years) bike rider and drag racer I greatly appreciate you making this video Lake 👍 and I have to admit that I've been telling my best friend for 20+ years that I think he's been wasting a ton of money buying Mobile One MX4T for his drag bikes. But in my defense, the main reasons I still say/think that is because we change the oil "often" (when compared to street bikes) and they never get (or stay) as hot as street bike do either = we never get/see any burnt, brown build up like seen in the AIR COOLED V-Twin street bikes. And adding that, we also change oil often mainly because of clutch wear which is unavoidable when launching with our minimum HP being 150+ (at 6,500 to 8,600 RPM) = 115+ Lb FT torq. on every launch (and ramping up to 300Hp, 160+ Torq ASAP)...

[@pachy44]

I have two milwaukee 8 engines, I blew one this summer, I always wanted to write you an email but never did.... thank God you did this video!

[@trevordoughty3157]

I've been using Amsoil in my Ducati bevel engine, and the change is phenomenal. She runs significantly cooler, according to my inner thighs, she's smoother, and the clutch and gearbox are a delight, even in town. I used to use Series 2000 20W50, but that's been superceded by Z-rod 20W50 m/c oil. I've found the effects are not so noticeable in Japanese bikes, but then they're properly designed! Also, I've found the same results in classic cars, especially transmissions, when using Amsoil products. They're expensive but so good, and if you don't believe me, I don't care! Finally, I declare that I have absolutely no commercial interests in Amsoils, whatsoever. Just ask endurance race teams.

[@stephenbarks2651]

Thanks. Love to see more on motorcycle oils. Specifically big bike oils for the Honda goldwing. Great information.

[@phillipball-reed8071]

Need more motorcycle oil talk!!!! Great video

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thank you!

[@billtancordo8761]

Great video on this subject Lake! I would definitely love to see more content on motorcycle oils. I’m glad AMSOIL is doing this kind of R & D on their motorcycle oils. Would like to see the other brands R & D on their motorcycle oils. 👍

[@s.b.4681]

I ran Rotella 15W-40 and later their 5W-40 oils in Honda touring bikes for ages . . . never had any issues.

[@hookzsettv4842]

This right here bud is the answer lol

[@shanepipkin4041]

honda duh

[@blakeberlin6295]

Those bikes don't put huge demands on oil.

[@douglasmontgomery6315]

Lake, so glad you finally did a video on Motorcycle oils vs Automotive. You may remember the video you and I did on the Can Am Spyder a few years ago. This video is gold and an added benefit. I shared it on all my can Am Spyder groups. So many "experts" post in the forums how just use Rotella, I've been using it for years in all my bikes...etc..etc...blah..blah...blah. I still don't see why someone would buy a $20,000 + bike or power sport and then cheap out on the oil and/or filter. Application dictates chemistry my friend !

[@Chaplain161]

Thank you Lake for doing a video on motorcycle oil! Motorcycle oil is always a huge discussion on Harley-Davidson forums and facebook pages. All the keyboard warrior will tell you what is the best oil and what is the worse oil, with absolutely no data to back it up. Can you please do some test with the Harley-Davidson SYN3? A lot of people say it is bad oil. I don't think Harley-Davidson would sell a bad oil or put a bad oil into their new motorcycles, knowing they have to pay for any oil related warranty claims. I have used SYN3 for years and send samples to a private lab for testing. My results always come back positive, with lower than normal wear levels, even when I go a few thousand miles past the recommended oil change interval. Harley -Davidson does say that if necessary, in the engine you can use a diesel oil with a CH-4, CI-4, and CJ-4, but at your first opportunity to have your oil changed back to 100% H-D oil. Harley-Davidson never says to use diesel oil in the primary chain case where the clutch is housed or the transmission. Some aftermarket clutch manufactures do require the use of a specific oil with their clutches, which makes sense. They know what works best. Then there is the transmission. Harley-Davidson recommends their Formula+ Transmission and Primary Lubricant or their SYN3 20W 50. This is always a huge topic as well. A lot of people say 20W 50 is to low of a viscosity for a transmission. Several oli manufactures offer a 75W 140 for the Harley -Davidson transmissions. That is a huge leap in viscosity. I have talked with a few buddies that are H-D techs and the only issue they say they have seen is some wear on a bearing, due to the oil being to thick when cold to splash on the bearing. I need to ask them again, which bearing it is, because we had the discussion several years ago. I have stuck with the SYN3 20W 50 as recommended by the manufacture. Once again Lake, Thank You so much for taking a dive into the motorcycle oil side of things. I think most motorcyclist are a little more passionate about the lubricant's they chose for their bikes.

[@ibrahimqari9189]

Thank you Lake Speed Jr. for the video. I hope the next video will be about Amsoil Signature Series

[@thealien6900]

Hi, appreciate you doing a segment on motorcycle oils as I ride a Harley Davidson. I would love to see a comparison video between Amsoil, redline, mobile, one V twin, etc. Thanks for the video..

[@100pyatt]

The most in depth oil focused channel on KZbin, thank you #Lake for what you do !! ✌🏽✌🏽

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@marksparks59]

Good informative video Lake. More motorcycle stuff please, e.g. high revving multi-cylinder water cooled sports bikes would be interesting methinks.

[@VinceCannavaII]

I'm a huge Amsoil fan. I would love to see more behind the scenes about their products and testing.

[@MAsWorld1]

50 year mechanic, I learned something ! Thankyou

[@revvinkevin85]

You should consider doing a video on 2 stroke oils. And deep dive into dirtbike, snowmobile and PWC (jetski) oil formulations and how they are different for the applications. (Most people think they are all the same)

[@adampatterson707]

Been using Castrol mineral based 20W50 motorcycle oil for years. It's a great oil and doesn't cost $10 a quart.

[@rokuplayz464]

I have only ever ran amsoil dominator in my 2 strokes and I have never had a problem and love the performance of the bike, never had to rebuild it yet after years of really hard riding. Oil selection isn’t the only reason but it definitely helps

[@WeSRT4]

I always just ran Rotella when I had a motorcycle.

[@volvo09]

Same

[@KTMjs449]

Friends always ran it and I bought a 2014 kx250f brand new and always ran it. Wish I had an hour meter on that bike because it had well over 100 hours and never touched the valves. Did clutch twice, second time because I used cheap clutch kit

[@jamessharp9790]

I’m so old that I run two strokes. I’ve done well using tractor trans hydraulic fluid with 1/2 oz zinc additive to 2.5 gallons in the gearbox / clutch. I’ve investigated AMSoil products and would probably try Dominator Two stroke in the 90s and later water cooled engines, but I use a synthetic/ castor blend to protect the air cooled engines and it’s not too dirty on the power valve of the later ones.

[@KTMjs449]

@jamessharp9790 my friends mostly have modern 2 stroke KTMs, do a lot of enduros. They use rotella too. T6 even has a motorcycle on the jug now tho I find it too slick and Rekluse says not to use it because it's too slick.

[@kensnyder2340]

Rotella "T", 15W-40 works great in my wet clutch bikes. Reasonable price to.

[@Ifitwerks]

Good intro, hope there is more to follow on mineral v semi v fully synthetics and the requirements of the integral transmission used in bikes, look forward to more on these areas.

[@fredd410]

This video is exactly what I recently asked for in another video comment and I’m hoping to see with 4 stroke outboard motor oils.

[@russellsowers6069]

Great video. Pls do diesel oil.

[@justinfargas2367]

Awesome video. Hopefully Driven and Amsoil will have a larger presence in Australia one day. Another banger video. On 'ya Lake.!

[@themotoroilgeek]

Thanks!

[@jamesg8246]

If your engine and clutch/transmission share a common oil, there's not a question... no testing required. Yes, you need to run motorcycle and brand/friction modifier specific oil since they spec the oil based on the wet clutch.

[@Sunnbobb]

It was great to see a real discussion on motorcycle oils. I've said for years "Every time you start an oil discussion, a kitten dies".

[@stefanpuffer]

KLR650 rider here. Many of us use Shell Rotella.

[@slalomking]

T4 or T6 ?

[@papaal7014]

@@slalomking T6 is JASO approved for motos. T4/T5 not. But they work ok.

[@slalomking]

@@papaal7014 T6 it will be, thanks man !

[@ottopartz1]

I've been running Rotella and other diesel oils in my bikes since the 1990's. Never had any issues with slippery clutches or engine damage. The big plus is that I can buy it at any farm and barn type store cheap and change it often because it's cheap and most bikes take 10 minutes to change.

[@payson1]

My 2000 Yamaha RoadStar runs great with Mobil1 15W-50 car oil. 117,000 miles and no clutch slippage. Only time the OEM clutch slipped was with 10W-40 Amsoil motorcycle oil. Strange, eh? That 1600 CC engine is a beast and in 25 years it has never run better.

[@oneninerniner3427]

No the car oil messed it up. Same thing happened on my old RoadStar that I put AMSOIL motorcycle oil in initially. I had bought it well used and it didn't run good when I got it. But I suspect they had been running car oil in it. After getting it running properly the clutch started to slip some, so I replaced the clutch plates, which actually looked good, but I believe they were glazed. It was perfect from then on with AMSOIL.

[@payson1]

@@oneninerniner3427 Never had to replace the clutch plates. After the Amsoil slippage, I put in a Barnett and ran Mobil1 ever since 45,000 miles.

[@brianlekei8920]

Love this, excellent talk and info, thank you. When you got to the trimmer 2 stroke, it appeared as they were testing with no load on them. RPM change does not equate to load change and carb tuning especially 1/4 to full load makes fuel to air ratio critical AND the smaller the engine, the more precise it has to be. They must have load to do this.

[@SteveH98264]

I ride an "oil cooled" BMW. The transmission is separate from the engine and uses gear oil. I usually stay away from motorcycle specific oil as my bike has a dry clutch. It also uses a flat tappet cam. My current go to oil is Mobil One 15W50, cheap (sort of) and easy to find.

[@RandyHouk]

Same here with my two oil head BMWs: R1100RS and R1200RT, both with dry clutch. The M1 15W50 is a fine oil for these bikes, and available at Walmart for about $27 for a 5 qt jug!

[@SteveH98264]

@@RandyHouk Thanks for the heads up, that's a great price!

[@oneninerniner3427]

Yes, but they are still oil-AIR cooled engines. They have fins on the cylinders, correct?

[@rbfclaboratoryandstudio]

@@oneninerniner3427yeah, so? What is your point?

[@SteveH98264]

@@oneninerniner3427 Yes, calling it "oil cooled" separates it from the "Airhead" BMWs.

[@dg1234ify]

Dude, you gestures are as smooth as a well oiled machine.

[@davidjernigan8161]

I could see where specific friction modifiers are needed for the clutches, but there are concerns with wear and deposits in the engine due to additives for the clutches.

[@jacobcurtis6849]

You actually don't want friction modifiers in most motorcycle engines. Moly for instance, will cause slipping But Harley engines have separate clutch oils, so engine oil for them isn't as critical in that area.

[@supersportimpalass]

What if the clutch shells out? I would say that is more cause for concern than any friction modifiers for a clutch. That is the whole point of this video and why companies like Amsoil do lots of testing to make sure their products are well engineered.

[@fchanMSI]

The oil, unless specified by manufacturer, for dry clutch motorcycle like Ducati can use “car” motor oil. The majority of motorcycle motor oil don’t have friction modifiers, but again it depends on manufacturer.

[@Dear1970]

Your informative videos are awesome…… they are like no other thanks for doing such great work. Would love to see synthetic oil verse conventional small engine oil in zero turn mowers

[@dirkmcghee1604]

Shoutout to Amsoil! Hey Len!

[@ncsteeltoe]

I like to think this was my suggestion! Thank you!

[@aaabea]

We have been waiting for you to talk about motorcycle oil for a long time! We need more Facts! Especially Harley V-Twin oil. Riders argue about these oils with the same passion as college football.. A Harley uses oil in 3 different, separate places. Engine, primary w/wet clutch and the transmission. Most people use the same oil in all 3. Should we be doing this? What oil is the best for our super hot air cooled engines? Harley branded oil? Mobil1 V-twin, AMSOIL? I watch all your videos. Does the new ring technology apply to these super hot air cooled engines? Can we make our engines run cooler with better rings and oil? How hot is to hot for for V-twin oil? We have a zillion question and need your help!

[@jimn.9990]

I feel it is best to use the highest-quality "100% synthetic oil" you can find to protect your Harley (like AMSOIL 20W-50 100% SYNTHETIC V-TWIN MOTORCYCLE OIL, if it is designed for your particular model and year of your cycle). The vast number of automotive "Full Synthetic Oils" are mostly hydrocracked petroleum oil, which is "considered to be" a Class III Synthetic Oil, so I assume that most oil companies utilize the same oil base technology in their motorcycle oils. Amsoil produces their 100% Synthetic Oils to be a combination of PAOs and a Class V Synthetic (such as Esters or an equivalent), without any hydrocracked petroleum PLUS top-shelve additives from Lubrizol. The molecules of these Class IV & V Synthetics are of the same uniform shape allowing them to flow much more readily throughout the engines, transmissions and differentials, reducing damaging heat, creating more power and increasing fuel economy. Also, the backbone of Amsoil 100% Synthetic lubricants have a much lesser tendency to attract oxygen molecules (where damaging oxygen can form sludge). The difference between a Full Synthetic and a 100% Synthetic? Rafe Britton, a former Lubrication Engineer at Mobil and the creator of a number of highly educational KZbin Videos under the heading of “Lubrication Explained,” states in order for an oil company to call its oil product 100% synthetic, it must be composed of either a Class IV Synthetic (PAOs) AND/OR Class V Synthetic (such as Esters), while being completely devoid of refined petroleum. The beauty of using Amsoil Products is their fabulous Warranty, which is the widest in the lubrication industry. Their warranty applies to automotive or motorcycle parts coming into contact with their fluids, regardless of the mileage or age of the vehicle, as long as the vehicle was in reasonably good mechanical condition before you first began to use the Amsoil Products! Yes, you probably guessed I am an Independent Amsoil Dealer with my ID number 1420935 (also used as my Referral Code). All dealers of Amsoil are Independent Contractors, as opposed to actual employees of Amsoil). If consumers wish to buy the Amsoil products as a Preferred Customer (PC), they will get the oil at a 25% discount, plus free shipping when they spend $100 (plus receiving a $5 coupon for every $100 you spend). It only costs $10 for a 6 month PC membership (or $20 a year) and there is no requirement to purchase (as there is with so many companies offering a membership for a preferred customer program, where there is an automatic shipment involved). You can buy Amsoil Products for your cycle and vehicles, as well! Any company possessing a fleet of trucks, would potentially qualify as a Commercial Account and would receive a 30% discount without any membership fee, so if any companies are interested in becoming a Commercial Account, they should send me an email addressed to AutomotiveBuff at my gmail address (as well as any prospective Preferred Customers, in case anyone has any questions). If any viewers are tempted to try Amsoil, I invite you to visit the official website of Amsoil and apply to become my Preferred Customer, by kindly utilizing my Referral Number of 1420935 in the box where they ask “Have a Referral Number? Enter it below:” If you can write down my referral number, before you eventually decide to exit this webpage, it will be appreciated (so that it will be at your fingertips when you get on the official Amsoil website).

[@oneninerniner3427]

​@@jimn.9990 hey bud your presentation is spot on but, how do you get by with this? Every time I've tried on yooby tooby it gets taken down:(

[@billy-bo-dilly]

Thanks for covering some motorcycle needs regarding oil. I did not know the difference between MA and MA2. I have street and dirt bikes, but also supercharged Sea Doos. The clutch on the SD supercharger requires a MA certified oil as do the clutches on the motorcycles. I use a few different MC specific oils, but also like Rotella T6 in these applications as well. The Rotella T6 is MA certified.

[@mikeg9450]

Indian, Victory and Yamaha V Twins have a shared sump system. Engine and transmission share the same oil. A " one hole oil change ". My Indian takes 5.5 quarts of oil. I use 15w 60 Klotz oil. Its a group V oil. (Ester based)

[@jimandnancymcoil]

Mike, I'm the only guy from New England to do the Indian Century Ride in 2001, from Springfield, Ma., to Gilroy, Ca. & back to Springfield (original home) with the flathead Indians led by Mike Tomas of Kiwi Indian of Riverside, Ca. left on June 16, back on July 16, 2 weeks out & 2 weeks back. me & 13 factory riders, & a 2 tier 53' Tractor Trailer full of 80 spare Indians? I've been riding Harley's since 1967, that was my ride of a lifetime! I have riden the Gilroy, the Bottle cap, & the Polaris Indians, all Great Bikes! PS, Group V is a Diester with an open molecule that attracts water?? Merry Xmas to all Bikers!! Boston Jim, AMSOIL Dealer #1236148 for 25% off MSRP!!

[@henrychapman3798]

This is just awsome I love Amsoil- use in everything I own. Thank you so much for sharing your motor oil geek info with everyone.

[@jamesculbertson1746]

Could you please do a video about two stroke oils?

[@amsoiladam]

This is one of the reasons I absolutely love Amsoil. They spend so much more time, actually testing and improving their oils that they do on marketing their oils.

[@johnnydee6659]

I run Amsoil 15-60 V twin full synthetic for Victorys. It lasts, provides smooth shifting longer than any other oils I've used. I had it analyzed after 5000 miles that included a trip to Big Bend and the 3 Sisters, the report came back great.

[@MykolaMulenko]

Lake is the best as always! It's a pity I didn't have such a mentor. Excellent explanation and examples.

[@nq2847]

Can you do a video about marine engine oils too?

[@bt9653]

I use T6 in myroad Yamaha Road Star and my Polaris ranger 1000. Over 100,000 miles on the roadie and more than 40,000 on the two Rangers I’ve had. Not sure about the science, but I can say that I’ve never had a failure or any oil burning.

[@jensenwilliam5434]

Love that saber oil from amsoil 100 2 1 mix 2 stroke oil. Thanks 2 you AMSOIL!!!

[@brianmann986]

Same, switched from Stihl, which is real junk oil. Now my saws don't smoke or varnish any longer. I have 6 Stihl 1 stroke motors.

[@GT-mn3bx]

Of course there's no smoke. There's basically no oil, and your crank and top end will be shot twice as fast.

[@brianmann986]

@GT-mn3bx wtf you talking about? Instead of combusting and making smoke and deposits, it lubricates by NOT combusting nor forming deposits.

[@GT-mn3bx]

@brianmann986 Then why do they add a dispersant to facilitate a clean burn?. You have much to learn.

[@oneninerniner3427]

Nope you doo! ​@@GT-mn3bx It's been tested and used at over 200 to 1. It's a totally different oil, it works great.

[@garanincorp.5579]

Thank You so much. I have been waiting for this episode 🤝🏻

[@themotoroilgeek]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@mr.mr.3301]

I always thought for a Harley Davidson that didn’t share the oil with the transmission or clutch. It wasn’t necessary, but for pretty much everything else it is.

[@hotchihuahua1546]

BMW air heads and Moto Guzzi the same ! Still with an air cooled motor , if you’re not moving you’re not cooling effectively ! Harley in particular with the rear cylinder gets much hotter !

[@bobt897]

@@hotchihuahua1546 That's exactly why some states allow lane splitting.

[@bradboustead1682]

In a Harley, the crankcase, the primary and the transmission are separate. But, some people like the simplicity of one oil for all 3 holes, so Amsoil makes their crankcase oil suitable for all.

[@goaheadmakeourdayscooterpe9644]

Young and dumb back in 79 I drag raced a 1979 1100 Yamaha mildly modified every weekend and was using Castol 20- 50 car oil and the one time came back after a run and looked down at the oil level sight glass and it was nothing but foam showing. Changed it out to Kendall 20-50 still car oil but no foam at all and lucky or not never had a problem with the engine after two years straight every weekend racing and pounding that bike during the week. What a great engine.

[@kimmillard9445]

The manuals on my niece's bikes (she's been an avid rider for 20 years) specify that the motor oil MUST be certified for JASO MA2. You won't find on off-the-shelf automotive oil that meets that spec.

[@yzrippin]

Rotella t6 15w40 is jaso ma 2 and has been around for a long long time it's at every store

[@QuicKurtZX14R]

@@yzrippin T6 in 5w40 as well

[@yzrippin]

@QuicKurtZX14R yes but unless you're riding and a frozen environment the amount of viscosity Shear that happens due to a dog box transmission sharing the wet clutch would warrant sticking to the 15W-40

[@QuicKurtZX14R]

@yzrippin I have used both, and honestly, the 5w40 more. Neither of them for very much time/miles though. Usually

[@TassieLorenzo]

Penrite have quite a few car oils rated with JASO MA2. They specifically say "not friction modified" in the description, as in suitable for motorcycle wet clutches.

[@timhicks2154]

I have road-going motorcyles. So this is the answer to a question I’ve had for a long time. Thanks.