Mobil 1

[harley-v]

I have a question for all the oil geniuses here. Will the Mobil 1 15w50 for autos stand up to the heat of an air cooled V-twin bike? I have a "98" Low Rider Harley, and I was thinking of going to the silver or gold cap 15w50 for half the price of the V-twin oil. I have a dry clutch & belt primary, so the slippage is not a concern.
Thanks; Vic

 

[G-MAN]

Lot's of people have used Mobil 1 15w50 in Harleys with no problems. I would use the new silver cap 15w50 rather than the gold cap, however. It has a heftier anti-wear additive package.

I personally use Rotella T 15w40 in my Harley.

 

[Jaybird]

I think you will find that the Extended Performance (gold cap) has the more fortified add pack.

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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I think you will find that the Extended Performance (gold cap) has the more fortified add pack.

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And I think you would be wrong. From the Mobil 1 web site:

Back by popular demand, Mobil 1® 15W-50's high viscosity provides outstanding performance in high-revving, high-temperature conditions. Mobil 1 15W-50 exceeds warranty requirements for gasoline engines where an API certified oil is specified. It meets:

* API SM/SL
* Requirements for Diesel Powered Vehicles where an API CF or API CD is recommended
* Provides extra anti-wear additive for older vehicles

Mobil 1 15W-50 is formulated with SuperSyn, an extra-high viscosity synthetic fluid, plus extra anti-wear additive to provide extra protection for severe service applications such as towing, hauling and racing. Mobil 1 15W-50 is recommended for high performance vehicles including turbocharged and supercharged engines where a thicker oil film is desired.

Mobil 1 15W-50 is also recommended for older valve train designs that may benefit from a higher level of anti-wear normally not required for newer generation vehicles. Mobil 1 15W-50 will also provide better anti-wear protection for higher valve spring tensions in certain racing engines.

 

[Johnny]

harley-v, here is my thoughts on this. Is you low rider worth $$$$$$ or is it only worth 1/2 $$$. Personally I would spend the extra and stick with the V-Twin oil, it's a very good product and you know it works.

 

[Fatboymoe]

When I had my 98 FLHT, I used Mobil 1 15-50(red cap) for over 50k miles. The only problem I had was a little oil seepage at the cylinder base gaskets, which went away after about 10k. It was not uncommon for the EVO style engine cases to leak there anyway.

If I were to choose an oil for your ride now, I would use either Redline 20-50 or Mobil 1 20-50, what ever is easier to get. The price is about the same for both.

 

[Johnny]

Well, GeorgeCLS use to be a site sponsor so I will post this. If it should not be here the mods can delete it.

***LINK REMOVED***

This is where I get mine.

 

[Titan]

I didn't use Mobil 1 in my Harleys, but, that was in the 90's. I tried Mobil 1 in a couple of other V-twins this century, but, it didn't hold grade more than about 2000 miles. I haven't run this particular formulation (assuming it is different), but, the best oil at holding viscosity that I've found in big V-twins is Amsoil. The Delo and Rotella oils I tried held viscosity about as well as the Mobil 1, but, at a fraction of the price. I'd run Delo/Rotella and change it frequently before spending the money on Mobil 1. Just my opinion...backed up with some science from UOA's, but, viscosity isn't the whole story....

 

[resslera]

The EP gold cap is the more robust oil. They reintroduced the 15w50 viscosity in the "regular" Mobil-1 synthetic line. This is more what the previous "red cap" was.

 

[PT1]

Mobil1 Vtwin is definitely worth the extra $10.

 

[Jaybird]

Quote:

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And I think you would be wrong.

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Also from the Mobil website:

What is the difference between Mobil 1® Extended Performance and Mobil 1?

Mobil 1 Extended Performance formulas are designed specifically for today's longer service intervals and are guaranteed to protect for up to 15,000 miles or one year.

Mobil 1 Extended Performance has a unique formulation with a boosted level of protection and performance. Mobil 1 Extended Performance, with the Advanced SuperSyn System, contains 50 percent more SuperSyn than Mobil 1. (Updated March 2006)

 

[Mr Nice]

G-Man,

Is the new silver cap 15w50 Mobil 1 the same exact formula as the old GF-3 SL red cap Mobil 1 ??

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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G-Man,

Is the new silver cap 15w50 Mobil 1 the same exact formula as the old GF-3 SL red cap Mobil 1 ??

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That's the inference I draw based on Mobil's "back by popular demand" language. But the old 15w50 wasn't GF-3, it was only SL.

 

[Jaybird]

I think that the viscosity alone of the 15w50's disqualify them for GF-x service catagories.

Since we've started referencing Mobil's site...

Why are you reintroducing Mobil 1 15W-50? Have there been any changes to the formulation, or is it identical to the previous product?

Mobil 1 15W-50 is being reintroduced based on popular demand. Mobil 1 15W-50 provides higher viscosity, designed to provide extra protection for performance vehicles and vehicles that operate in severe service, such as towing, hauling and racing. Additionally, Mobil 1 15W-50 contains higher levels of anti-wear (ZDDP or Zinc DialkylDithioPhosphate) that may be required for certain racing applications and camshaft designs. This is a new Mobil 1 15W-50 formulation and is not the same as the product that was marketed a few years ago.

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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I think that the viscosity alone of the 15w50's disqualify them for GF-x service catagories.

Since we've started referencing Mobil's site...

Why are you reintroducing Mobil 1 15W-50? Have there been any changes to the formulation, or is it identical to the previous product?

Mobil 1 15W-50 is being reintroduced based on popular demand. Mobil 1 15W-50 provides higher viscosity, designed to provide extra protection for performance vehicles and vehicles that operate in severe service, such as towing, hauling and racing. Additionally, Mobil 1 15W-50 contains higher levels of anti-wear (ZDDP or Zinc DialkylDithioPhosphate) that may be required for certain racing applications and camshaft designs. This is a new Mobil 1 15W-50 formulation and is not the same as the product that was marketed a few years ago.

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How do you "reintroduce" something that was never "introduced" before?

Someone at Mobil needs to go back to English 101.

 

[Jaybird]

Mobil1 15w-50, which had the familiar red cap, was discontinued.
Mobil1 15w-50 was reintroduced to the market with a new formulation. It now has a silver cap.

Mobil1 EP 15w-50 (gold cap) is the same oil with 50% more of the propriatary "super-syn" package than the regular Mobil1 15w-50.

Seems pretty straight forward and simple.
(unless of course you are trying to prove someone wrong)

 

[dwendt44]

Except that the regular M-1 15W-50, with 1/3 less 'super syn', was introduced long after the EP version.

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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Mobil1 15w-50, which had the familiar red cap, was discontinued.
Mobil1 15w-50 was reintroduced to the market with a new formulation. It now has a silver cap.

Mobil1 EP 15w-50 (gold cap) is the same oil with 50% more of the propriatary "super-syn" package than the regular Mobil1 15w-50.

Seems pretty straight forward and simple.
(unless of course you are trying to prove someone wrong)

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What is pretty straight forward to me is that an oil that has never been sold before (new formulation) can't be "back by popular demand" and can't be "reintroduced." It's here for the first time, so it's being "introduced."

 

[Jaybird]

Could it be that they have re-introduced that particular viscosity, in the Mobil1 lineup?

I don't see where they claimed to be re-introducing any formulas, of any sort.

But back to the original point...
Does it not make logical sense that the EP formulation is more heavily fortified than the silver cap formula?
Especially in light of the fact they the mfg tells us it is... As well as providing guarantees over and above what is extended to the users of the silver cap Mobil 1?

 

[harley-v]

Sorry; I did not mean to start a fight. I was just wondering if the 15w50 would stand up to the high temps of the engine? Where I ride it is around 35 deg in the morning and the oil seams a little thick.
Thanks for all the info. Vic