phosphorus question

[dharry]

Hello everybody, the question is simple: how comes that this oil http://www.mobil.co.uk/UK-English-LCW/carengineoils_products_mobil-super-2000-x1-10w40.aspx# that is claimed to contain 0,144% phosphorus, is rated API SL (max phosphorus content = 0,10%)? This means to me 44% more phosphorus than allowed. Is the datasheet wrong? Is the API SL spec somehow more flexible than I know? thanks, DH

 

[Shannow]

Being a 40, it doesn't have to comply to the limits that 30 and below have, due to the (generally accepted) lower consumption and volatility of 40 and above oils.

 

[dharry]

Got it, thank you. Do you think that 0,144% phosphorus is enough? How are generally seen Mobil products here? thanks, DH

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: dharry

Do you think that 0,144% phosphorus is enough?

Enough for what? What is your application (car/engine/year/modifications, etc.)? It is certainly enough for any modern engine.

 

[dharry]

To be honest, I use it in my motorcycle :-) I was asking this because last time I used an API SM semisinthetic 10w40 car oil, and the gear lever became suddenly hard to push (never used the SM before, and never had such a problem), so I changed back to an API SL (the Mobil 2000 x1), and everything went back all right. I thought it was because of the lower phosphorus content of the API SM, but now I think it must be something else... I'm planning to stick with the Mobil 2000, what do you think about this oil? thanks, DH

 

[Quattro Pete]

What motorcycle? Does it have a shared sump (wet cluch)? Some oils may have significant amounts of friction modifiers and that's something that you typically want to avoid in a wet clutch as it may cause slipping; however, I'm not sure how it would cause the gear lever to become hard to push. According to your bike's manufacturer, what specifications should the oil meet?

 

[dharry]

the bike is a 2007 suzuki bandit 650, the manual recommends 10w40, api sf-sg or sh-sj with jaso ma. It has a shared sump, but on my bikes I've always used ordinary car oil (both semisynth and full synth) with no problem, even at very high mileages. I was asking here because we're speaking of car oils :-) thanks, DH

 

[Quattro Pete]

I would probably stick to JASO MA rated oils then. Alternatively, people have had good luck running HDEO (heavy duty diesel oils) in their shared sump bikes. We have a motorcycle subforum where you can find many past threads on this subject. We don't have this particular Mobil oil available in the US, so I can't really comment. Judging by the somewhat low SA content, it looks like the additive pack is somewhat weak, but it does meet API SL and ACEA A3, so I think it would be fine. I guess the only one way to find out for sure is to try it.

 

[MolaKule]

An an anti-wear additive, you should have > than about 1500 ppm (0.15%) of zinc and 1350 ppm (0.135%) of phosphorus tied up in the ZDDP molecule. I would say that's about right for a motorcycle engine. Looks like a good semi-synthetic. As others have stated, the friction modification might cause clutch slip depending on how much FM the manf. added and whether you have a wet clutch or dry clutch.