the truth about synthetic oil in motorcycles

[Titan]

Must disagree, jonny-b. Not disagreeing with the fact that some synthetics are better at holding grade, or stand up to pressure better. What I disagree with is the thought that better lubrication qualities equals better engine life. It's more complicated than that. Causation just doesn't necessarily follow certain facts.

5000 miles on synthetic being twice as good as 10 miles on non-syn? Surely, you jest! Using that "logic", going 100 miles on non-syn would worse for the engine than going 100000 miles on one synthetic oil fill. Good luck with that one...

Actually, in motorcycles with wet clutches/shared transmissions, I'd say it's more important to change the oil to rid yourself of the particulate matter than it is to try and extend oil change intervals...even if the oil is still in grade. THAT is why I DON'T waste money on synthetics in my shared sump motorcycle application. I'm dumping the particulate matter much sooner...sooner even than the non-synthetic undergoes significant grade-loss.

 

[wileyE]

quote:

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Don't mean to blast ya wileyE,

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No offense VStrom (beer glasses), I made the statement to spark debate and oem's I was thinking of were not bike oem's, at least not any that I can think of off hand? Forbid was maybe a poor choice of words.

 

[arkainzeye]

i have been using the New amsoil 10w40 in my 05' Vulcan 2000. And i will say the first thing i noticed right from the start was a smoother shifting trany, on top of a cooler running engine. my fan rarely ever kicks on. now i also ran amsoil (the old brew) in my 02' vulcan 800B and it did the samething. once i went to mobil1 15w50 and i noticed the trany didnt shift as smooth as it did when i had the amsoil in it. this is just the seat in the pants feeling i was able to witness.. One of the bad things about this vulcan i have now is 5.8QTS !!!!!!

http://www.cruisercustomizing.com/arkainzeye

chris

 

[Titan]

Nice, bike, Chris!

 

[KBFXDLI]

I have used synthetic in my Sportster and it works just fine

 

[Steve S]

jonny b, you have to be careful because there are different base synthetic stocks so the blanket statement of film strength is not accurate.As for protecting better ,the used oil anaylsis wear numbers don't show it. Although there are advantages of syn oils and it seems that if the advantages not needed there is little to justify the price.

 

[Arctic388]

when its said to change to get out the particulates is that not what the oil filter does ? if one uses a good filter will that not "catch" the stuff ?

 

[Miss Rita]

MerCruiser recommends against using synthetic oil in their marinized auto engines.

 

[Huhwhye]

UOA's don't show everything. The UOA is only of value when I know how it was really driven. Then compared to other UOA's on the same vehicle with same driver. Even still, not everyone drives the same and I would be willing to bet my UOA's show more wear metals than the average person with same vehicle and oil. I run my bikes hard and expect all the consequences that come with that. Cost of doing business as far as I'm concerned.

So I take other people's UOA's with a grain. Unfortunately my most recent OCI was contaminated by a broken oil cooler line. I really really wish I had that UOA.

That said I run syn in all my vehicles. And I run dead dino's in my grandmoms Camry. No benefits to syn in her car.

 

[tweeker43]

quote:

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Originally posted by Vstrom:
wileyE sez-
"So why do so many hiperf engine builders, cam grinders, and OEM's forbid the use of synthetic oils? "

So what OEM forbids the use of synthetic oil?

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while this started out as a joke, i do have an answer for this question.

bmw says not to use synthetic oil in the f650 series.

so i'm using amsoil synthetic motorcycle oil in my f650.

and i have to stop to urinate quite frequently.