What is the consensus on Liqui Moly motorcycle oil?

troop

troop

Joined
Jun 15, 2011
Messages
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Location
WI
Hey all,
I see a 4 liter jug of Liqui Moly 15w50 4T full synthetic motorcycle oil on Amazon for $36. This seems like a good price. I'm sure it would work just fine w/out issues, but maybe some members here have experience with Liqui Moly products? It'd be for my 401 Svartpilen 600 mile oil change. Thx for any input.
https://www.amazon.com/Liqui-Moly-20060-Motorbike-15W-50/dp/B00D91Q402/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3CU8V56T4S7K5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.3K-dzd_sFlCXL1dWU8ueyvNDc5ykENCSzxtA7JsmHlr8Gs3efT9_iTMGAPRJ3cnNxilzz25ilK-wBsp5ZeTbCJXWiKUSUyl414rSxbG8AVda-N8VcU8wqwZeJ1hAcGmWWt4ugv9Ip-X7CXbzc29pW8t9lZQMIEpLLYgdOVXfzYazGHvbaTT6u1jAGv6AS4NK-emuDf66B7ZamOmX7UBqyueW_lpx_DL1k1jRrQwg2pVyFP2ZitBiC7wclpzQilAdZ5ebnJA331ub0M_xesJBYu2Zw2gqcsOiskMSb889GkQ.APFkBqCoPn4APrtZS5N6TPV3zFCSF6qMhTQ1sMqsmmA&dib_tag=se&keywords=liqui+moly&qid=1764083478&sprefix=liquamoly,aps,171&sr=8-8
 
I visit a few various motorcycle-related sites and can't recall anyone ever mentioning using Liqui-Moly brand motor oil. That may not be a bad thing, as many of us seem to continue using what has worked in the past. With that said, the most mentions I've ever seen for Liqui-Moly seems to be from sponsored YouTubers. ;) It does appear to have the appropriate ratings.
 
I used their 10w-50 in my KTM 1290 Super Duke GT for it's last oil change. No complaints. This bike is picky on oil regarding shift quality. I've got about 2k miles on this oil, no shift issues whatsoever. I would definitely use it again.
 
Rick505 said:
I visit a few various motorcycle-related sites and can't recall anyone ever mentioning using Liqui-Moly brand motor oil. That may not be a bad thing, as many of us seem to continue using what has worked in the past. With that said, the most mentions I've ever seen for Liqui-Moly seems to be from sponsored YouTubers. ;) It does appear to have the appropriate ratings.
Click to expand...
Don’t forget our well-compensated sponsored LM cheerleader, @TiGeo 😂
 
FWIW, I switched to Motorex 15W-50 in my '22 Ducati Multistrada V4 Pikes Peak (vs Shell Advanced), after a used oil analysis w/1,700 miles on the oil had shown the Shell sheared down to a 10W-40.
 
JavierH19 said:
Although it's liqui moly its got no moly in the liqui and that's a good thing cause it'd slip the clutch if it did.
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That is not necessarily an accurate blanket statement. Many MC oils have some moly content. Redline MC oils currently show 150 ppm as the spec, and the formula before that was 400+ ppm moly. No issues in my use of Redline in a shared sump. A very recent UOA of BelRay 20w50 on here shows 153 ppm moly. Valvoline MC 10w40 has 94 ppm, Lucas motorcycle oil shows 174 ppm, Amsoil Metric oils generally show 70-90 ppm. Just a few examples I found here on BITOG in used oil analysis and VOA's.

Those numbers are all over the map between different manufacturers and they have JASO ratings.

Looking forward to good discussion and understanding the basis you are coming from.
 
@Panda87 is running HPL primary oil in his Harley primary. It’s got 434 ppm of moly.

Panda87

Thread '2023 HD Road Glide Limited. HPL Primary Oil. Primary fluid analysis at 7400mi.'

This analysis was done at the same time as my engine oil analysis in my other post. The oil held up, but there was some form of dirt intrusion going on. I wanted to get HPL’s take on it and got a call from David. He discussed his concern over the amount of silicon in the analysis and recommended I change the fluid to get the contamination out and try to find out where the contamination was coming from. It was super neat getting to discuss this with him! The standard change interval for the Primary is 10k miles. Come to find out, in 2018, HD issued a service bulletin to install a “Primary...
  • Like
 
EvoMan said:
@Panda87 is running HPL primary oil in his Harley primary. It’s got 434 ppm of moly.

Panda87

Thread '2023 HD Road Glide Limited. HPL Primary Oil. Primary fluid analysis at 7400mi.'

This analysis was done at the same time as my engine oil analysis in my other post. The oil held up, but there was some form of dirt intrusion going on. I wanted to get HPL’s take on it and got a call from David. He discussed his concern over the amount of silicon in the analysis and recommended I change the fluid to get the contamination out and try to find out where the contamination was coming from. It was super neat getting to discuss this with him! The standard change interval for the Primary is 10k miles. Come to find out, in 2018, HD issued a service bulletin to install a “Primary...
  • Like
Click to expand...
HD's use a dry clutch. The big worry with moly is damaging a wet clutch soaked in oil.
 
EvoMan said:
@Panda87 is running HPL primary oil in his Harley primary. It’s got 434 ppm of moly.

Panda87

Thread '2023 HD Road Glide Limited. HPL Primary Oil. Primary fluid analysis at 7400mi.'

This analysis was done at the same time as my engine oil analysis in my other post. The oil held up, but there was some form of dirt intrusion going on. I wanted to get HPL’s take on it and got a call from David. He discussed his concern over the amount of silicon in the analysis and recommended I change the fluid to get the contamination out and try to find out where the contamination was coming from. It was super neat getting to discuss this with him! The standard change interval for the Primary is 10k miles. Come to find out, in 2018, HD issued a service bulletin to install a “Primary...
  • Like
Click to expand...
I still do and have zero slippage. Clutch works phenomenally. Thanks @EvoMan
 
Harley's have a wet clutch but not a shared sump. All the primary fluid has to do is keep the clutch wet which makes a more consistent feel than a dry clutch and flush debris away from the plates. Easy life.
 
Bonz said:
All the primary fluid has to do is keep the clutch wet which makes a more consistent feel than a dry clutch and flush debris away from the plates. Easy life.
Click to expand...
The primary case of HD also has thick/double chain (with tensioner) which rotates two (double teeth) sprockets.
 
Japanese said:
The primary case of HD also has thick/double chain (with tensioner) which rotates two (double teeth) sprockets.
Click to expand...
It has a slightly more difficult life in a primary case than the way I portrayed it...

I amend that to it has a relatively easy life compared to a shared sump where the oil is ground by the transmission gears for whatever length oci the owner chooses, provides lubrication for the entire engine, the valve train, the cam chain, associated cam sprockets and the clutch.

I suspect primary case fluid does not see as high of a temperature compared to a shared sump engine.

I believe Harley recommends 10,000 miles on primary case fluid, that ought to tell a lot about how hard it is worked compared to engine oil in a shared sump even though it has a chain, tensioner and two double tooth sprockets along with clutch duties. It's simply appears to not be worked as hard, and that was my point.
 
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