AMSOIL

[RiverRat]

Question for the folks that know about the new AMSOIL 10W-40 (MCF) motorcycle oil. I'm currently using Mobil 1 15W-50 gold cap in my Suzuki DL650 motorcycle. I have noticed that lately the shifting doesn't seem to be as good with the Mobil 1 gold cap as it was when I used Mobil 1 20W-50 V-Twin motorcycle oil.

However, I noticed on cool mornings when I used the 20W-50 the bike was noisy on startup and more difficult to start. This is why I switched to the 15W-50.

My question is this: does a thicker oil like 20W-50 give better shifting than a 10W-40? I would like to try the new reformulated AMSOIL (MCF) 10W-40 moto oil to see if it helps the bike shift better, but am I just wasting my time and money?

I guess if a heavier oil does improve shifting, I could put the AMSOIL 20W-50 (MCV) oil in there for the summer and then switch to the 10W-40 for the fall/winter/spring seasons. Is there any harm in using a the 20W-50 when Suzuki suggests a 10W-40? I know the 20W-50 is supposed to be okay down to like 32 degrees, but my experience with this bike tells me otherwise.

 

[Mackelroy]

((My question is this: does a thicker oil like 20W-50 give better shifting than a 10W-40?))

That's been my experience, the heavy weights shift better and hold up longer, but startup they don't flow as quick like a 5/10w40.

 

[RiverRat]

From reading the information here:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

It sounds like I should avoid 10W-40 oils altogether. I've said it before but this oil stuff makes my head hurt.

 

[TooSlick]

The new Amsoil MC oil will improve your shifting and allow you to double your service intervals (using an Amsoil MC oil filter).

For this bike and this climate, run the 10w-40 year round....talk to Pablo (a site sponsor) about getting the oil delivered to you.

Tooslick
Dixie Synthetics

 

[Pablo]

What does Suzuki call for in this bike?

In general I say follow the manual…...this followed by; in hot running a 20W-50 will give a bit better gear protection.

A 10W-40 will shear as will a 20W-50, (even a synthetic) used in a gearbox/engine combo. It's the nature of the beast.

I say use the MCV, MCV 20W-50 if you need it for shifting - just don't start her when it's really cold!

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by TooSlick:
The new Amsoil MC oil will improve your shifting and allow you to double your service intervals (using an Amsoil MC oil filter).

For this bike and this climate, run the 10w-40 year round....talk to Pablo (a site sponsor) about getting the oil delivered to you.

Tooslick
Dixie Synthetics

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Will the 10W-40 shear down too quickly though? I want to run the correct viscosity that Suzuki has listed in the owners manual, but I also want an oil that won't shear down and makes the bike shift the very best. I hate having to switch oils based on the temps and would like to have one oil that does it all.

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:
What does Suzuki call for in this bike?

In general I say follow the manual…...this followed by; in hot running a 20W-50 will give a bit better gear protection.

A 10W-40 will shear as will a 20W-50, (even a synthetic) used in a gearbox/engine combo. It's the nature of the beast.

I say use the MCV, MCV 20W-50 if you need it for shifting - just don't start her when it's really cold!

---

Suzuki calls for a 10W-40. I understand that both a 10W-40 and a 20W-50 will shear down as the miles rack up, but won't a 10W-40 shear down much faster than a 20W-50? Maybe my best bet is to use the 20W-50 during the hot months (it was 105 here today) and then switch to 10W-40 as the temps start to drop.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by RiverRat:
Suzuki calls for a 10W-40. I understand that both a 10W-40 and a 20W-50 will shear down as the miles rack up, but won't a 10W-40 shear down much faster than a 20W-50? Maybe my best bet is to use the 20W-50 during the hot months (it was 105 here today) and then switch to 10W-40 as the temps start to drop.

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15W-40 oils tend to have good shear resistance and sane people don't ride bikes in weather too cold for 15w40. It's an ideal oil for most motorcycles.

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by XS650:

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15W-40 oils tend to have good shear resistance and sane people don't ride bikes in weather too cold for 15w40. It's an ideal oil for most motorcycles.

Does AMSOIL make a 15w40 motorcycle oil? If not, who makes a good 15w40 snythetic motorcycle oil?

[ July 13, 2005, 06:22 PM: Message edited by: RiverRat ]

 

[RiverRat]

Okay so now I'm thinking I might just try Shell Rotella T 5W-40 synthetic and see if that improves my shifting and cold starts. It's really cheap so I guess I have nothing to lose.

Can one of you AMSOIL guys tell me what the new AMSOIL synthetic motorcycle oils offer that I won't find in the Rotella T? I'm not trying to be smart.....I'm a nOOb to this oil stuff and I really want to get the best.

 

[Don Stefanik]

The new AMSOIL MCF 10W40 & MCV 20w50 offer a lot of features other oils don't.
Take a quick lookies here and read about them.
Scrowl down to...."Get ready for Motorcycle season"

http://www.soslube.com

 

[Pablo]

Dollars to doughnuts the Rotella will shear quite fast. I thought you were worried about shearing in a 10W-40?

I honestly think you should use the Amsoil MCV 20W-50.

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by Pablo:

I honestly think you should use the Amsoil MCV 20W-50.

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Yes I went to that web site and it looks like the HTHS of all the 10W-40s sucks compared to the 20W-50.

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by msparks:
Come, you don't need to use a 20w50 in that bike.

I am currently sponsoring a road racer that rides a SV650(the exact same engine as yours)

After switching to Amsoil MCF his shifting improved tremendously, over the stock suzuki stuff.

As far as protection, he has a this thing wound out all the way, He's running over 140 mph in the straights at 10,000+ RPM's

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Yes, but how often does he change the oil?

The 10W-40 will shear down more quickly than a 20W-50. Yes, they will both shear down but the 20W-50 will stay in grade longer. Also, the 20W-50 will improve shifting even more than a 10W-40. Any synthetic oil is going to make the bike shift better than the stock Suzuki 10W-40.

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by RiverRat:
Yes, but how often does he change the oil?

The 10W-40 will shear down more quickly than a 20W-50. Yes, they will both shear down but the 20W-50 will stay in grade longer. Also, the 20W-50 will improve shifting even more than a 10W-40. Any synthetic oil is going to make the bike shift better than the stock Suzuki 10W-40.

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I'm really not understanding what you are looking for?

Are you trying to put a 20w50 in hopes that it will shear to a 10w40?

I run the 10w40 in my Triumph Sprint ST. 6,000 miles or one year. What more can you ask for?

I ran the 10w40 in the BMW for almost 10,000. I really don't understand this concern with shearing?

Heck I would almost venture to say that the Amsoil 5w30 HHD would be even better in a Water/Oil Cooled bike. More power, less friction, longer life. But alas, the HDD is not made for Motorcycles, so I'm not going to try to reinvent the wheel.

If you want the ultimate in shear proof protection, Run a Straight weight SAE 30. No shearing there!!!!

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by msparks:


Are you trying to put a 20w50 in hopes that it will shear to a 10w40?

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I think if you read my posts then you might see what I'm looking for.

 

[msparks]

Come, you don't need to use a 20w50 in that bike.

I am currently sponsoring a road racer that rides a SV650(the exact same engine as yours)

After switching to Amsoil MCF his shifting improved tremendously, over the stock suzuki stuff.

As far as protection, he has a this thing wound out all the way, He's running over 140 mph in the straights at 10,000+ RPM's

 

[msparks]

quote:

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Originally posted by RiverRat:

quote:

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Originally posted by msparks:


Are you trying to put a 20w50 in hopes that it will shear to a 10w40?

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I think if you read my posts then you might see what I'm looking for.

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Sorry don't mean to sound nasty.

As far as finding the best oil for your bike, I guess you will have to try several brands. I really can't comment on the new Amsoil Motorcycle MCF. I'm running the old 10w40 right now. ****ing was fine even after 6000 miles on it last year. I only have about 2500 on the oil now.

This fall I will be putting in the MCF, then will be able to comment further.

As far as thicker oil affecting shifting, that would make sense cause a 20w50 would protect the gears better. Hence what this new Amsoil motorcycle oil is also designed to do. So maybe you would have improved gear protection out of the 10w40 and you will have good shifting.

I can tell you this that when I ran Delo 400, the shifting deteriorated in about 1500 miles. I ran this oil at the 500 mile change until 2000 on the bike, as sort of a breaking rinse. Then I went with the Amsoil 15w40 Blend for another 4,000 miles. So at 6,000 I then switched to full synthetic. Even at 4,000 on the oil with the 15w40 blend shifting stayed nice, unlike the Delo.


Good luck on your quest.

 

[TooSlick]

The new Amsoil 10w-40/20w-50 motorcycle oils are essentially 100% shear stable. If you look at the data sheet, you'll see they were subjected to 120 cycles in the Bosch injector "Kurt Orbahn" bench test with NO viscosity loss.

The 10w-40 is the stuff to use here - even if you lived in Death Valley. In fact this new 10w-40 is so robust and shear stable (HT/HS > 4.5 Cp), you can use it to replace 15w-50 or 20w-50 racing oils.

TS

 

[RiverRat]

quote:

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Originally posted by msparks:


Good luck on your quest.

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Thanks! As I said before, this oil stuff is really confusing for me so that's why I'm kind of hard to understand. I think I might give the 10W-40 a try and then send a sample to Blackstone Labs to see if it's staying in grade and all is well. I appreciate everyone's comments and I'll post my results from BL when I get them.