Truly conventional oils are not common nowadays. If you're buying a brand name oil, it is likely at least a syn blend. I don't see any language on the Rotella T4 label indicating either way, but I'm pretty sure it is not a true conventional oil. It will work fine in your ATV. I use T4 and T6 15w40 in both my bikes as well as Honda GN4 and Yamalube, whatever is a good deal when I need more oil. About 5w40 vs 15w40, If it's too cold to run a 15w oil, it's too cold for me to ride. So I use the "thicker" stuff.
ATV/wet clutch oil opinions
- Thread starter Frontier4000
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most semi-syns are a waste as there are NO rules governing the amount of syn, usually group III fake synthetic in the blend + for little more all group III syn is cost efficient. real group IV + V oils are best BUT $$$. the first # is the base oil + viscosity improvers make it reach the second #, so unless its a real synthetic + even then a they are not as stout + conventional oils THICKEN a lot when cold as the 5W rating is taken at 104F making your oil a lot thicker when its COLD!!!
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I use and have used Rotella T6 for years but recently in the last 2 or 3 years switched to Mobil 1 15W-50 and have not looked back.
The 10W-40 ATV oil in the blue bottle. The gearbox felt notchy and high effort. UPDATE: I have been using the Rotella semi-syn 15W-40 and the machine seems to like it. My clutch doesn't slip, the gearbox is butter smooth, and I don't have any blue puffs at start up. A guy I was talking to at the BBQ last night who is a professional engine builder cautioned that it may not be the best choice for these ATV's was stunned when I told him the forum discussion. So far I'm pleased with the Rotella and it seems to be holding up well. I beat the snot out of the machine yesterday at that BBQ....10 acres with huge elevation changes, bumps, whoopdie doos, wheelies, etc. Machine never skipped a beat.
T6 and
T6 is synthetic, T5 is a blend, and T4 is conventional. T6 and T4 are JASO MA/MA2 for wet clutches so don't worry about using them. T5 may or may not be, I haven't looked.
I use Castrol Actevo 10w40 synthetic blend in my 2022 Kawasaki Teryx S model. It’s JASO rated, and available through Walmart for around $30 per gallon. The Teryx has a cvt, but also has a wet clutch requiring motorcycle rated oil.
I’ve used this oil in several motorcycles and atv’s, and now in my UTV, with great results. Haven’t found anything better for the money, and the ratings are what Kawasaki requires for the Teryx.
I’ve used this oil in several motorcycles and atv’s, and now in my UTV, with great results. Haven’t found anything better for the money, and the ratings are what Kawasaki requires for the Teryx.
Moly in the oil is your enemy. If the clutch slipped before, the fibers have already soaked that in and will slip forever, until replaced. Replace the clutch now, before you get chunks of it into your main crank pin roller bearings and buy some Rotella 15-40 after that and don't worry about it again.
the base oil of 15w40 is thicker and requires less VII than the 5w40 does.
on wet clutches, the gears in the tranny cut the VII up and thus shearing the oil to a thinner fluid
the bigger the spread - 10w60 is HUGE!!! - the more VII
and please people dont be an idiot about the "w"...its for winter.
5w40 means...flows like sae5 in winter, sae40 in summer
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Where on earth did this tidbit of trivia come from? There is so much inaccuracy and fallacy being spread these days that at some point somebody is going to actually have to attend a school that teaches known fact.
We can't continue to be a society of YouTube educated professionals and expect to make any advancement in culture and science.
by no means am i saying they are good, but on the report that the blackstoners provide, the report clearly shows the susvis as 210F and the cSt tested at 100C
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JASO-MA Kawasaki 10-40
'18 Kawi
'18 Kawi