Say no to Synthetic oil!

roadhawg · 01-16-2018, 12:40 PM

To all you guys running Rotella T6 synthetic

Losing/using oil, clogged breather hose, bad bevel bearing, clutch failure due to low oil, all can be attributed to using Rotella T6

Retired. 30 year HD technician , “don’t use synthetic in a motorcycle”

Went back to regular oil, and no more losing oil on long trips, take this for what it’s worth, I have had 3 nomads, with over 300 k miles, Sturgis twice, Dragon many times. Florida to California and back.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

recumbentbob · 01-16-2018, 01:31 PM

Oh boy......another oil thread

thebierguy · 01-16-2018, 02:12 PM

Oh boy is right. Tell us how you really feel. Are those symptoms you express common among synthetic oil users?

Jllm02199 · 01-16-2018, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadhawg

To all you guys running Rotella T6 synthetic

Losing/using oil, clogged breather hose, bad bevel bearing, clutch failure due to low oil, all can be attributed to using Rotella T6

Retired. 30 year HD technician , “don’t use synthetic in a motorcycle”

Went back to regular oil, and no more losing oil on long trips, take this for what it’s worth, I have had 3 nomads, with over 300 k miles, Sturgis twice, Dragon many times. Florida to California and back.

That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it!

Dont show your ignorance.

Use real synthetic either Mobil One or Amsoil.

thebierguy · 01-16-2018, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jllm02199

Dont show your ignorance.

Use real synthetic either Mobil One or Amsoil.

I'm glad you posted. I was going to include a similar comment. I remember similar conversations about T6 on the Ford Powerstroke forums, where T6 barely meets the requirements as a "Full Synthetic." I used to run it in my F350 now go Delo. Amsoil in my Nomad

**Top Cat** · 01-16-2018, 06:14 PM

Ran T-6 in my 2007 for 88,000 miles and my 2008 for 50,000 miles, no problems.
Running it in my 2011 Victory now, I will continue to use it.

degreaser · 01-16-2018, 06:40 PM

Shell Rotella 5w40 T6 is not, i repeat not, synthetic oil

degreaser · 01-16-2018, 06:48 PM

true synthetic is made from base group IV oil and T6 is highly refined group III dino

degreaser · 01-16-2018, 06:52 PM

in a trade panel ruling they made a judgement that the word 'synthetic' on a jug does not refer to a chemical manufacturing process, but rather refers to a marketing term of reference only

degreaser · 01-16-2018, 07:34 PM

no wait, it's group II base dino, synthetic is group IV

DragonLady58 · 01-16-2018, 09:04 PM

Oooooookkkk......

ldhthept · 01-16-2018, 11:17 PM

Do they make tires? Maybe we can combine a cpl of threads, really stir the puddin! :-)

**MAS Tequila** · 01-17-2018, 05:08 AM

All that I know is that I've had bikes leak with synth and a 302 that leaked like a sieve with synth, but stopped after putting dyno back in.

The way it was explained to me is that if the engine is new or low mileage synth will not leak.

But if you have a good number of miles synth can leak because it doesn't have some property that keeps the gaskets healthy, and will cause leaks due to gasket shrinkage.

The biggest issue with v-twins is that the tolerances aren't near as tight as auto engines and your oil becomes carbon fouled from blow by contamination long before the mileage that synth is supposed to be able to go.

No matter what oil you put in your bike you should religiously follow the engine manufacturers oil change intervals NOT the oil marketers claimed mileage.

It just isn't worth taking the gamble that the thin oil film all of your engine internals ride on will be adequate after longer oil change intervals just to save the hassle of a 15 minute oil change.

And items like the cams in our bikes don't use bearings, they rely on this thin oil film to keep the cam journal off the aluminum head.

It's more important to make sure the viscosity is correct for your temp range.

Personally, I say run any good quality oil in the correct viscosity and change it at around 3000 miles to be safe.

Scootergptx · 01-17-2018, 10:15 AM

Oil and tires. Who needs 'em?

degreaser · 01-17-2018, 05:27 PM

If you do want to use Rotella 5w40, don't leave it in too long, because the additive package that keeps it a 40 weight when hot breaks down quickly churning in the transmission rendering it quickly to a 5 weight oil

01-16-2018, 12:40 PM	#1
roadhawg Advanced Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Starke Florida Posts: 856	Say no to Synthetic oil! To all you guys running Rotella T6 synthetic Losing/using oil, clogged breather hose, bad bevel bearing, clutch failure due to low oil, all can be attributed to using Rotella T6 Retired. 30 year HD technician , “don’t use synthetic in a motorcycle” Went back to regular oil, and no more losing oil on long trips, take this for what it’s worth, I have had 3 nomads, with over 300 k miles, Sturgis twice, Dragon many times. Florida to California and back. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! __________________ "Ride it like you stole it"! 2008 1600 Nomad 56K miles "BlueBelle" 2004 1500 Nomad 102 K miles "Black Beauty" ABATE Black Creek Chapter Amvet Rider Post 86 http://www.facebook.com/AmvetPost86 Weston A. Price Foundation member. Vegetarian...... An old Indian word meaning "Bad Hunter" Legalize Freedom! Question Authority! "Im in love with the waitress, and I dont even know her name" "Boys" Gone Wild" ! Mainstreet Station 2012 Daytona Bikeweek Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-16-2018, 01:31 PM	#2
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	Oh boy......another oil thread __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
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01-16-2018, 02:12 PM	#3
thebierguy Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Hazelhurst, WI Posts: 101	Oh boy is right. Tell us how you really feel. Are those symptoms you express common among synthetic oil users? __________________ 2008 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 1600 Batwing Fairing Russell Day Long Seat w/ drivers back rest Rest is stock (Currently)
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01-16-2018, 06:14 PM	#6
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Ran T-6 in my 2007 for 88,000 miles and my 2008 for 50,000 miles, no problems. Running it in my 2011 Victory now, I will continue to use it. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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01-16-2018, 06:40 PM	#7
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	Shell Rotella 5w40 T6 is not, i repeat not, synthetic oil __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
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01-16-2018, 06:48 PM	#8
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	true synthetic is made from base group IV oil and T6 is highly refined group III dino __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
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01-16-2018, 06:52 PM	#9
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	in a trade panel ruling they made a judgement that the word 'synthetic' on a jug does not refer to a chemical manufacturing process, but rather refers to a marketing term of reference only __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
	0

01-16-2018, 07:34 PM	#10
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	no wait, it's group II base dino, synthetic is group IV __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
	0

01-16-2018, 09:04 PM	#11
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,351	Oooooookkkk...... __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride! Last edited by DragonLady58; 01-16-2018 at 09:10 PM.
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01-16-2018, 11:17 PM	#12
ldhthept Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 1,031	Do they make tires? Maybe we can combine a cpl of threads, really stir the puddin! :-)
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01-17-2018, 05:08 AM	#13
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	All that I know is that I've had bikes leak with synth and a 302 that leaked like a sieve with synth, but stopped after putting dyno back in. The way it was explained to me is that if the engine is new or low mileage synth will not leak. But if you have a good number of miles synth can leak because it doesn't have some property that keeps the gaskets healthy, and will cause leaks due to gasket shrinkage. The biggest issue with v-twins is that the tolerances aren't near as tight as auto engines and your oil becomes carbon fouled from blow by contamination long before the mileage that synth is supposed to be able to go. No matter what oil you put in your bike you should religiously follow the engine manufacturers oil change intervals NOT the oil marketers claimed mileage. It just isn't worth taking the gamble that the thin oil film all of your engine internals ride on will be adequate after longer oil change intervals just to save the hassle of a 15 minute oil change. And items like the cams in our bikes don't use bearings, they rely on this thin oil film to keep the cam journal off the aluminum head. It's more important to make sure the viscosity is correct for your temp range. Personally, I say run any good quality oil in the correct viscosity and change it at around 3000 miles to be safe. __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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01-17-2018, 10:15 AM	#14
Scootergptx Advanced Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Grand Prairie, TX Posts: 654	Oil and tires. Who needs 'em? __________________ 2011 Vaquero V&H slip ons Roaring Toyz intake PCV (removed) Ivan's ECU flash
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01-17-2018, 05:27 PM	#15
degreaser Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 614	If you do want to use Rotella 5w40, don't leave it in too long, because the additive package that keeps it a 40 weight when hot breaks down quickly churning in the transmission rendering it quickly to a 5 weight oil __________________ 04 1500 sold, got an 800 now Atlantic Canada
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