Anyone using Shell Rotella T6 15W40?

jtascone · 07-03-2021, 02:50 PM

I've read a lot about people using T6 5W40, but not 15W40. I normally use the Rotella 15W40 dino oil. Should I stick with 5W40 if I go to synthetic?

**Sabre-t** · 07-03-2021, 03:24 PM

You shouldn't use 5W anything unless you live and ride in very cold weather. The viscosity is too low for enough to cling to vertical surfaces to provide adequate protection when cranking cold. A lot of wear occurs during cold cranking.

Stick with the 15W40, or find another synthetic that is 10W40 (or even up to 20W50 if you are riding in very high temps and rarely ride in temps of less than 40-45 degrees F).

andyvh1959 · 07-03-2021, 07:08 PM

Agreed, there is no gain in a motorcycle engine to use any lighter oil than as recommended in the owners manual for the type of riding and you do and the ambient conditions where you like to ride.

Not to get into another oil thread, but you also have to chose an oil with the SAE rating to match that for your bike and again, as stated in the owners manual. Most motorcycle engines require an oil in the SAE range of SG to SJ. The SAE codes relate to specifics in oils for motorcycle engines (like Zinc and other anti-wear additives not common in many car or truck motor oils). Rotating elements in motorcycle engines may spin much faster than those in car or truck engines, and also be subjected to higher shear loads, like those in the gears of the transmission. No car or truck on the road uses the engine oil to lubricate the transmission, but many motorcycle engines/transmissions do just that, which can wear out the wrong oil quickly.

jtascone · 07-03-2021, 07:40 PM

Thanks! So is Rotella dino and T6 in the correct SAE range for the Nomad 1600?

**vulcanscott** · 07-04-2021, 06:41 AM

I ran T-6 15w40 in My 1700 and My 1500 Nomad and both Bikes Ran Great . Also no lifter noise or bleed down on the 1700 which is common . Running 10w40 Lucas motorcycle oil right now do to a killer deal on a case . will be returning to t-6 afterwards . Just My Experience

**plumber63** · 07-04-2021, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtascone

Thanks! So is Rotella dino and T6 in the correct SAE range for the Nomad 1600?

T4 is their dino
T5 is in-between.
T6 is their synthetic. But some will challenge that it is fully synthetic.

There is different formulas. Just make sure its rated jaso/ma.

Zarticus · 07-05-2021, 12:00 AM

I'm running T6 5w40 in my Vaquero, They don't make T6 in 10w40 so on my next oil change I'm thinking about buying a gallon of 5w40 & 15w40 and mixing them together. That should make it an overall 10w40 & be enough for a couple oil changes. Any opinions ?

mick56 · 07-05-2021, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zarticus

I'm running T6 5w40 in my Vaquero, They don't make T6 in 10w40 so on my next oil change I'm thinking about buying a gallon of 5w40 & 15w40 and mixing them together. That should make it an overall 10w40 & be enough for a couple oil changes. Any opinions ?

I think you will find it's a bit more complicated than that mate. Why not just buy the right oil, as recommended in the manual.

andyvh1959 · 07-05-2021, 10:04 AM

Blending two quarts of 5W40 and two quarts of 15W40 does NOT make a gallon of 10W40. The viscosity ratings of oil are not simply numeric codes.

I understand the desire to use a Rotella or other oil product, but only within the ratings required by the engine manufacturer. Why try to out guess the engineers who develop the engines and oil? More though, why ANY interest in trying to apply a WINTER weight rated oil? There is no gain in that. The 5W, 10W or 15W rating portion of an multi-viscosity oil is the rating for how the oil performs in cold weather. Also, many low winter viscosity oils have friction modifiers which are unsuitable for motorcycle wet clutches.

The SAE and API rating for any oil is listed on the back of the oil bottle label:
http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm

blowndodge · 07-05-2021, 11:30 AM

I run T6 15-40 with a couple of teaspoons of chicken lard for good measure!

andyvh1959 · 07-05-2021, 01:42 PM

Whoa, tough crowd.

The old joke was that 98% of all Harleys are still on the road today. The other 2% made it back home. But really, Harley's since the AMF days are hardly any less reliable than most other brands. Really comes down to the owner/rider and the amount of care/maintenance put into the bike.

mick56 · 07-05-2021, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blowndodge

I run T6 15-40 with a couple of teaspoons of chicken lard for good measure!

Zarticus · 07-05-2021, 08:40 PM

It was just an idea, I'll stay with the T6 5w40 then. Been running it in my Concours 1400 for almost 60,000 miles & it looks like new whenever I change it !.

07-03-2021, 02:50 PM	#1
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Anyone using Shell Rotella T6 15W40? I've read a lot about people using T6 5W40, but not 15W40. I normally use the Rotella 15W40 dino oil. Should I stick with 5W40 if I go to synthetic? Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-03-2021, 07:08 PM	#3
andyvh1959 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 759	Agreed, there is no gain in a motorcycle engine to use any lighter oil than as recommended in the owners manual for the type of riding and you do and the ambient conditions where you like to ride. Not to get into another oil thread, but you also have to chose an oil with the SAE rating to match that for your bike and again, as stated in the owners manual. Most motorcycle engines require an oil in the SAE range of SG to SJ. The SAE codes relate to specifics in oils for motorcycle engines (like Zinc and other anti-wear additives not common in many car or truck motor oils). Rotating elements in motorcycle engines may spin much faster than those in car or truck engines, and also be subjected to higher shear loads, like those in the gears of the transmission. No car or truck on the road uses the engine oil to lubricate the transmission, but many motorcycle engines/transmissions do just that, which can wear out the wrong oil quickly. __________________ My $1200 Vulcan, to start from.
	0

07-04-2021, 06:41 AM	#5
vulcanscott Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: chandler okla Posts: 854	I ran T-6 15w40 in My 1700 and My 1500 Nomad and both Bikes Ran Great . Also no lifter noise or bleed down on the 1700 which is common . Running 10w40 Lucas motorcycle oil right now do to a killer deal on a case . will be returning to t-6 afterwards . Just My Experience Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-05-2021, 10:04 AM	#9
andyvh1959 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 759	Blending two quarts of 5W40 and two quarts of 15W40 does NOT make a gallon of 10W40. The viscosity ratings of oil are not simply numeric codes. I understand the desire to use a Rotella or other oil product, but only within the ratings required by the engine manufacturer. Why try to out guess the engineers who develop the engines and oil? More though, why ANY interest in trying to apply a WINTER weight rated oil? There is no gain in that. The 5W, 10W or 15W rating portion of an multi-viscosity oil is the rating for how the oil performs in cold weather. Also, many low winter viscosity oils have friction modifiers which are unsuitable for motorcycle wet clutches. The SAE and API rating for any oil is listed on the back of the oil bottle label: http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm __________________ My $1200 Vulcan, to start from.
	0

07-05-2021, 11:30 AM	#10
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	I run T6 15-40 with a couple of teaspoons of chicken lard for good measure! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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07-03-2021, 03:24 PM	#2
Sabre-t Join Date: May 2015 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 838	You shouldn't use 5W anything unless you live and ride in very cold weather. The viscosity is too low for enough to cling to vertical surfaces to provide adequate protection when cranking cold. A lot of wear occurs during cold cranking. Stick with the 15W40, or find another synthetic that is 10W40 (or even up to 20W50 if you are riding in very high temps and rarely ride in temps of less than 40-45 degrees F).
	0

07-03-2021, 07:40 PM	#4
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Thanks! So is Rotella dino and T6 in the correct SAE range for the Nomad 1600?
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07-05-2021, 12:00 AM	#7
Zarticus Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 29	I'm running T6 5w40 in my Vaquero, They don't make T6 in 10w40 so on my next oil change I'm thinking about buying a gallon of 5w40 & 15w40 and mixing them together. That should make it an overall 10w40 & be enough for a couple oil changes. Any opinions ?
	0

07-05-2021, 01:42 PM	#11
andyvh1959 Advanced Member Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Green Bay WI Posts: 759	Whoa, tough crowd. The old joke was that 98% of all Harleys are still on the road today. The other 2% made it back home. But really, Harley's since the AMF days are hardly any less reliable than most other brands. Really comes down to the owner/rider and the amount of care/maintenance put into the bike. __________________ My $1200 Vulcan, to start from.
	0

07-05-2021, 08:40 PM	#13
Zarticus Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Florida Posts: 29	It was just an idea, I'll stay with the T6 5w40 then. Been running it in my Concours 1400 for almost 60,000 miles & it looks like new whenever I change it !.
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