T4 vs T5 vs T6 Rotella

[mrbmoran2]

Hi everyone,
I've tried to read a lot of the post about oil, but some are quite old and the oil mentioned may have changed. The PO had put in Valvoline 10w40. I've put almost 1000 miles on it since buying it, and I've been having the shift issues I've been reading about. So I know, the 3qt & 22oz, and I know the Shell Rotella, and 15w40.

Where I'm confused is I went to Walmart last night, they were out of T6, which I've read is synthetic, and T5 is blend, and T4 is conventional.

Is everyone using T6? I've seen some post not to use synthetic, but again they may be old post.

Sorry to bring up an old beat to death subject but I'm a newby to this bike and the shifting has me concerned.

Thanks for your help!

[cranky]

... IIRC, last change I finally gave up the oil "discussion" and worrying
about price, as often as I change it, who cares what it costs????!!!!!

I got Mobil 1 full synthetic motorcycle oil, end of story. I look into oils back
in the 80s, synthetics are so much better that dyne oils, it just silly.

Go buy some good synthetic motorcycle oil and be done with it...
JM2C I AM a fan of Mobil 1....

[drtechnology]

I'm with synthetic - I like Amsoil, but at a local Cycle Gear the guy swore by Motul is it? Looks like an European brand sold in liters (3.5 liters per the service manual, same as 3 qt 22 oz) and the only thing was it was like $20 a liter for their top syn bottle. WOW!

Anyone have any knowledge of these other specialty "just for motorcycle" brands???

[drtechnology]

Add to my last post I also love Royal Purple - I know this one (RP) has detergents in it to help keep the oil area squeaky clean, tho most newer ones do, but they are well known for it.

[cushman eagle]

Hi everyone,
I've tried to read a lot of the post about oil, but some are quite old and the oil mentioned may have changed. The PO had put in Valvoline 10w40. I've put almost 1000 miles on it since buying it, and I've been having the shift issues I've been reading about. So I know, the 3qt & 22oz, and I know the Shell Rotella, and 15w40.

Where I'm confused is I went to Walmart last night, they were out of T6, which I've read is synthetic, and T5 is blend, and T4 is conventional.

Is everyone using T6? I've seen some post not to use synthetic, but again they may be old post.

Sorry to bring up an old beat to death subject but I'm a newby to this bike and the shifting has me concerned.

Thanks for your help!

I have been using T6 since I bought my VXII 10+ years and almost 66,000 miles ago with no issues. I went to T6 with my Suzuki GS1100GK to try to keep the oil from breaking down from excessive heat Conventional oil could not take the heat of the 1100 ,and I never went away from the T6.

[SgtSlag]

Late to the party... Viscosity is the critical thing, in my experience: manual specifies 10W-40, so be certain whichever oil you use, is in the 10-40 Weight range!

I ran Shell Rotella T6 5W-40, for about a year. I began having shifting issues (false neutrals in every position!), so on a hunch, I went back to the 15W-40 Rotella dino oil, and the super-majority of false neutral's disappeared (they occur very infrequently, since I switched back).

Synthetic oils are superior to dino-based oils, without question. Oil is cheap, compared to rebuilding/replacing an engine... Bottom line is: whatever oil you use, make certain it is within the proper viscosity range: 10-40!

I run Mobil 1 Full Synthetic in my four-wheel vehicles. In my bike, I run the Rotella dino-based oil, due to price, and viscosity being 15W-40, which virtually eliminated my false neutral shifting issues. I may switch to Mobil 1, if I can find it in the 10W-40 range. Cheers!

PS:

Don't forget to change out the fork oil! You can run with fork-specific oils, if you like. I run Dexron VI Full Synthetic Transmission Fluid: cheap(!), has a viscosity of 8, which I like the feel of, and it is super easy to find... I need to change mine, soon.

[Molalla+Voyager]

To me, the bigger question is not so much viscosity, but how slippery it is and will the wet clutch like it.
Dino oils have less slipperiness and being diesel engine oil (15/40) the additives are good for that clutch.
BTW you shouldn't add any STP, Motor honey, or other slippery oil modifiers for the sake of the clutch.