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Old 10-19-2017, 05:32 AM   #1
mike07nad   mike07nad is offline
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Castrol ActEvo

Greetings - I hate to ask this - But.

Has anyone tried the Castrol ActEvo Semi-Synthetic 10W-40 Oil.

In my never ending search for the oil I'm gonna use in my 2014 Voyager (45,000 Miles). I change the oil 4 times a year so I'm trying to find something in that Rotella T6 price range.

I had used Rotella T6 before they changed the formula now I want to try something else.
I'm not 100% satisfied with the new Rotella T6. My engine has developed a knock in the upper end which seems to be louder right after an Oil Change. It's happened twice now with the new T6 so I'm gonna switch it up and see if another oil will quiet it down.

Thoughts?



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Old 10-19-2017, 11:58 PM   #2
mbarr10   mbarr10 is offline
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Your so hooked on the Rotella ( smiley face and all that stuff), But I must admit I had a loud Knocking for the first time Tuesday in 4800 miles. it scared the crap out of me. I recorded it. Only parked the bike for one day. Rain, and it happened. It went away about half way to work. Only drove it to see if it went away like I have read. I have heard the stories about the lifters and such.( ain't warrantees great)
I always make fun of the oil types and what to run. ( Guilty !!) Now I may have a change of mind. ?? Doing an oil change this week, so I will see. Currently running Kawi oil, got a deal when I bought the bike. Always used Castrol motorcycle oil. But have used others and , shit it's oil, change it often and what ever.

OMG I can not believe I am in this conversation, Damn it, mike07nad for getting me started. One of the most well versed people on this forum and I got sucked in. ( yup, that would be another Smiley face again)
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Old 10-20-2017, 05:47 AM   #3
mike07nad   mike07nad is offline
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<Your so hooked on the Rotella>
No but I was Hooked on Phonics once!

<I had a loud Knocking for the first time Tuesday in 4800 miles.>
The only time I've ever had the "Knocking Lifter" was when I drove my 2013 out of the dealer with (0) miles on it. After 3 bikes and nearly 100,000 miles (somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 oil changes) Rotella has treated me well in my Voyagers.

I chose Rotella T6 mostly for consistency and availability, Then price. I could get Locally (Walmart, Autozone, Advanced Auto) all within 5 miles of my house. When I had my 900 and 1600 Vulcans, I tried other Oils, but everytime I chose one the next time I needed some they said "oh - we don't carry that anymore - but we can order it for you" - So Rotella for me, Happy for years, Until now.

The noise I'm hearing is more RPM dependent, It didn't do it with my old 6,000 + dirty oil, It did it when the oil was new out of the bottle, both this change and last. Maybe my bike just likes dirty oil. I can say, the new Rotella is thinner (non-scientific observation) than the Old version. Also, when I dumped the last oil change, the Oil was the dirtiest and thickest that I've ever seen any of my Voyager Oils.

So my search continues - I just have a hard time coughing up $13-15 per quart. Maybe it's time I switched to Mobil 1, Motul (I can get them at CycleGear (20 Miles).

Sorry you got sucked into my oil thread - (I've always wanted to start one, Now I can cross it off my bucket list) (Note - Over on the Delphi Kawasaki Vulcan Riders Forum - I probably would have banned myself for starting this thread - Oh the joys of being a moderator)
 
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Old 10-20-2017, 07:57 AM   #4
plumber63   plumber63 is offline
 
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Have you tried Lucas? I just got some to put in my 1600. I went to 20-50 full syn. to see if it helps with the oil usage on long trips. Was using T6. At $10 qt it better be good.
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Old 10-20-2017, 08:30 AM   #5
gv550   gv550 is offline
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Damn you, Mike. There needs to be a special place to lock people who start oil threads. And you sucked me in too......
I will present 4 facts and no opinions.

I've used Kawasaki S4 full synthetic 10w40 for 1,076,000 kms and have never heard a knock.
I change oil every 10k.
Kawasaki oil (in Canada) is formulated by NOCO from Mobil 1 base.
The owners manual for my new Yamaha clearly states NOT to use any oil with a C rating (Diesel engines).
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Old 10-21-2017, 06:32 AM   #6
mike07nad   mike07nad is offline
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Thanks for your reply

Quote:
Originally Posted by plumber63 View Post
Have you tried Lucas? I just got some to put in my 1600. I went to 20-50 full syn. to see if it helps with the oil usage on long trips. Was using T6. At $10 qt it better be good.
Just an personal observation - The only way I ever got my 1600 from using oil was to trade it for a 1700 Voyager. All 3 of my Voyagers - I could change the oil, set it at the upper level initially and it would still be within the Hi/low range when I would change it 5-6,000 miles later.
 
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Old 10-21-2017, 06:34 AM   #7
mike07nad   mike07nad is offline
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Thanks you for sharing your wisdom

Quote:
Originally Posted by gv550 View Post
Damn you, Mike. There needs to be a special place to lock people who start oil threads. And you sucked me in too......
I will present 4 facts and no opinions.

I've used Kawasaki S4 full synthetic 10w40 for 1,076,000 kms and have never heard a knock.
I change oil every 10k.
Kawasaki oil (in Canada) is formulated by NOCO from Mobil 1 base.
The owners manual for my new Yamaha clearly states NOT to use any oil with a C rating (Diesel engines).
Hey at least I didn't ask what kind of car tire I should use in the reverse direction on my front tire.
 
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Old 10-21-2017, 11:50 AM   #8
mbarr10   mbarr10 is offline
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Quote:
No but I was Hooked on Phonics once!


Now that was funny. And No more comments from me about the golden liquid.
This is the last comment from this peanut gallery.
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Old 10-21-2017, 02:28 PM   #9
Kopperhed   Kopperhed is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mike07nad View Post
<Your so hooked on the Rotella>
No but I was Hooked on Phonics once!

<I had a loud Knocking for the first time Tuesday in 4800 miles.>
The only time I've ever had the "Knocking Lifter" was when I drove my 2013 out of the dealer with (0) miles on it. After 3 bikes and nearly 100,000 miles (somewhere in the neighborhood of 20 oil changes) Rotella has treated me well in my Voyagers.

I chose Rotella T6 mostly for consistency and availability, Then price. I could get Locally (Walmart, Autozone, Advanced Auto) all within 5 miles of my house. When I had my 900 and 1600 Vulcans, I tried other Oils, but everytime I chose one the next time I needed some they said "oh - we don't carry that anymore - but we can order it for you" - So Rotella for me, Happy for years, Until now.

The noise I'm hearing is more RPM dependent, It didn't do it with my old 6,000 + dirty oil, It did it when the oil was new out of the bottle, both this change and last. Maybe my bike just likes dirty oil. I can say, the new Rotella is thinner (non-scientific observation) than the Old version. Also, when I dumped the last oil change, the Oil was the dirtiest and thickest that I've ever seen any of my Voyager Oils.

So my search continues - I just have a hard time coughing up $13-15 per quart. Maybe it's time I switched to Mobil 1, Motul (I can get them at CycleGear (20 Miles).

Sorry you got sucked into my oil thread - (I've always wanted to start one, Now I can cross it off my bucket list) (Note - Over on the Delphi Kawasaki Vulcan Riders Forum - I probably would have banned myself for starting this thread - Oh the joys of being a moderator)

After seeing the 100,000 mile original cams come out of my Vmax looking like new, I'm a Motul 3000 customer for life.
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Old 10-22-2017, 07:40 AM   #10
houndawg   houndawg is offline
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I use the Castrol ActEvo have no problem and no load noises.
 
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Old 10-22-2017, 01:08 PM   #11
mike07nad   mike07nad is offline
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Thanks

Quote:
Originally Posted by houndawg View Post
I use the Castrol ActEvo have no problem and no load noises.
I will more than likely give it a try next spring - I'm gonna go with the Synth-Blend.
 
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Old 11-02-2017, 10:37 AM   #12
UNCLE WILLIE   UNCLE WILLIE is offline
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i have used it in 2 bikes before --- not worth the cost to me --- just another oil
 
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Old 11-03-2017, 06:57 PM   #13
MAS Tequila   MAS Tequila is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by plumber63 View Post
Have you tried Lucas? I just got some to put in my 1600. I went to 20-50 full syn. to see if it helps with the oil usage on long trips. Was using T6. At $10 qt it better be good.
The problem isn't the oil.



The problem is that MaKaw used short piston skirts that allow the piston to rock ever so little.

So after x number of miles and wear it allows oil past the oil rings, and the top end has it's issues also.

Be glad they redesigned them after the 'A' models.

Those would start using oil after 10-15000 miles.

The fix was to put Classic or Nomad pistons in them.

All of the 1500/1600s I've ever had would use no or next to no oil around town, but high speed and highway runs would result in oil loss.

But with over 140000 miles on the engine in my 03 Nomad I can't complain that it uses a bit of oil, it has a valve seal or two that don't live up to their name anymore.
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