Delo LE 5/40 Syn For My 2001 Honda Valkyrie

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Good AFternoon To All, I've been running Rotella 5/40 syn and was at Costco today and they had the Delo syn for $19.92 per gallon, so I picked one up to try --- I am thinking I should be fine, any opinions? RevRider
 
Some people have had issue with Delo and clutch slippage, other had none. I say if you use it, pay close attention. Otherwise stick with what works well for you.
 
I know more than one rider who experienced clutch slip with delo. Stick with rotella. And in your climate the conventional 15w-40 would work great. The t-6 is also a good bet and my yamaha friends swear by it.
 
I really like those bones on paper but I never got a chance to ride one. It must have great power but how does it handle,what about balance. Great bike though.
 
i am using delo 400 multigrade 15w40 for the last 3 oil change. it should have 90ppm of moly. so far so good. i think it should work just fine.
 
Originally Posted By: Robenstein
Some people have had issue with Delo and clutch slippage, other had none. I say if you use it, pay close attention. Otherwise stick with what works well for you.
The delo 5w40 voa looks very similar to the T6. The 15w40 has more moly. I would not hesitate to use the delo 5w40. Costco is cheaper than walmarts T6.
 
Originally Posted By: RevRider
Good AFternoon To All, I've been running Rotella 5/40 syn and was at Costco today and they had the Delo syn for $19.92 per gallon, so I picked one up to try --- I am thinking I should be fine, any opinions? RevRider
Thanks for the price check.
 
Thank you to all who responded. I like the 5/40 because I think it will circulate faster than a 10 or 15 weight at start up, which is where most wear occurs, at least that's what I've heard. The Valk is a wonderful bike, it does everything well, easy to handle at slow speeds, comfortable, good power and has been extremely dependable - plus, I love 6 cyl bikes. The specs on the Delo and the Rotella, both 5/40 are virtually identical and I've had no clutch problems (that I am aware of) with the Rotella that I've used. In fact the Delo 5/40 syn has less moly than the Rotella - so I don't see how it would cause a slipping issue. My Valk (2001) just calls for an SG rated oil, says nothing about JASO ratings. Why did I buy the Delo? Well, I know Shell is a Royal Dutch company, and Delo (Chevron) is an American Company -- I try to support American made products whenever possible. I am not an expert on what a clutch would feel like if it slipped, would it be obvious? RevRider
 
Originally Posted By: RevRider
Thank you to all who responded. Why did I buy the Delo? Well, I know Shell is a Royal Dutch company, and Delo (Chevron) is an American Company -- I try to support American made products whenever possible. I am not an expert on what a clutch would feel like if it slipped, would it be obvious? RevRider
Yes you would notice under hard accellerations and when going up hills if it was slipping. The nice thing about the Rotella is that it did get the JASO MA rating which is nice. All shared sump motors (your honda is one) should have an oil rated JASO MA or MA2. Rotella has been used forever by Goldwing riders so its more proven than the Delo which atleast in its 15w40 flavor has mixed reviews on clutch slippage. I quoted that segment of your status is that it totally reminded me of Armageddon when the Cosmonaut says "American components, Russian components...ALL MADE IN TAIWAN" Cause the American debate is "American oil, Dutch Oil....ALL FROM SAUDI ARABIA"
 
Thanks for the info on the slippage. Gee, now I am wondering if I should take the Delo back? I've used the Rotella before with no issues. Another reason for trying the Delo is the Valk, the only complanint, is the shifting is not the smoothest, and I thought maybe the Delo might help in this. RevRider
 
A shared sump motor does not necessarily mean that it has a wet clutch though. RevRider, just because the oil is not sporting a JASO MA sticker does not guarantee clutch slippage. You have it, give it a whirl.
 
Hi KernelK, I did some more research comparing the Delo 5/40 syn VOA with Honda's Motorcycle Specific HP4: 1. The moly content of the Delo is less than the Honda. 2. The Phosph/Zinc content of the Delo is about the same. 3. The Delo TBN is higher. 4. The Delo is full syn, the Honda is syn/blend. 5. The Delo is less expensive by 1/2 the cost. 6. I don't do extended drains, once per year or 3,000, which occurs first. 7. I've used the Rotella 5/40 syn very successfully, had lower wear numbers than with M1 Motorcycle specific oil, it was close to Rotella, but Rotella was slightly lower. My Valk redline is only 6500 rpm, which is not high, and I've never redlined it in 10+ years of riding it. In re-thinking about it, I think the Delo will work fine. JASO? I wonder if it has been a cash cow to sell motorcycle oil???? RevRider
 
I have been doing alot of reading on oils and wet clutches. From what I am learning it's not whether or not there is moly in the oil,it's the type of moly because from what I have read the type of moly that's in pyb seems to be safe in wet clutches yet the lubro-moly or liqui-moly brand seems to be the stuff that causes slippage. Guys I know who ride crotch rockets say the vr-1 oil is great in their bikes,with no slippage. Yet it has a high moly count. These are the same guys telling me the delo caused slip. I am going to venture a guess and perhaps riding style has much to do with it.
 
Well some makes have better clutch designs and materials as well. And some bikes have more torque and some more HP. What runs fine in a 650 v twin may not work in a 1100 rocket and vise versa. Try it out and see what happens.
 
Originally Posted By: KernelK
A shared sump motor does not necessarily mean that it has a wet clutch though. RevRider, just because the oil is not sporting a JASO MA sticker does not guarantee clutch slippage. You have it, give it a whirl.
True but in the overwhelming majority of cases it is a wet multiplate clutch. And true on the JASO MA rating. Many people have had good luck with Rotella before it was JASO rated and other have had great luck with Mobil Delvac as well and it is not JASO rated. Almost every major HDEO I have not heard complaints on clutch slippage, only on Delo, and like I said it was the 15w40 flavor of it. Usually if an oil carries the Allison C4 rating you are also good to go for a wet clutch.
 
Delo is a stronger clutch oil than many MC oils, the old delo of several years ago had 220ppm of moly, the newer stuff is less than 100 ppm. I have a a 100,0000 mile clutch running Delo 15w40 and its been running it for 30,000 mile atleast, clutch performance is outstanding. I agree though, Rotella is the strongest clutch oil Ive ran, the 15w40 I ran one time, and dumped it back out, cause of excessively notchy shifting. I couldnt stand it.
 
I will Full power shift a clutch at 12,0000 rpm at times, so if slippage is a concern that should create the right enviornment. You make a good point, there are mc oils with 500 to 700 ppm of moly, which I have had slippage issues with, in some bikes. Im not aware if there are different grades of moly being used in motor oil, that will have different frictional issues in clutches. Two mc oils with extreme moly 600 to 700 ppm, are Motul 300v and Redline, Redline does not meet the MA frictional gate, and I have had issue with it, the Motul does meet MA gate even though about the same moly, but I never had any issues with slippage. THere may bee a difference in moly used, I dont know
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I have been doing alot of reading on oils and wet clutches. From what I am learning it's not whether or not there is moly in the oil,it's the type of moly because from what I have read the type of moly that's in pyb seems to be safe in wet clutches yet the lubro-moly or liqui-moly brand seems to be the stuff that causes slippage. Guys I know who ride crotch rockets say the vr-1 oil is great in their bikes,with no slippage. Yet it has a high moly count. These are the same guys telling me the delo caused slip. I am going to venture a guess and perhaps riding style has much to do with it.
 
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