Friction modifiers additives are only a small percent of the total oil
product and help the base oil do things that it otherwise could not...
Additives fall into several basic categories but Moly is the most
often used friction modifier because it has such a high melting
temperature (4730¯ F versus 2795¯ F for iron), it works great as a
high-temperature, high-pressure antiwear agent. Some claim that
because moly is so slick, it can cause clutch slippage... but note
that 6 of the 19 motorcycle oils Sport Rider tested used moly
including the HP4 market by Honda for any of their motorcycles...
Technically speaking a wet clutch in good working order is not about
to slip no matter what oil the owner selects... what is confusing the
issue is the fact that all motorcycle wet clutches will reach a point
in their life and start to slip... have you notice no one complains
about clutch slip when new... but on about the 27K range contaminants
may build up to point where the clutch begins to loose its grip during
WFO (Wide Fooking Open)throttle only... in error the oil is to blame
but technically speaking its really the clutch...
Quote SportRider
Can synthetic oils cause my clutch to slip?
"To answer this in one word: No. Clutch slippage is caused by
many things, but the use of synthetic oil alone is usually
not the culprit. The truth is that some bikes seem to suffer
clutch slippage no matter what oil goes in them, while others
run fine with any oil. This is most likely caused by factors
other than the oil, such as the spring pressure, age and
clutch plate materials".
Quote Mark Junge, Vesrah's Racing representative
"He said that in his years of engine work he has yet to see a
slipping clutch that could be pinned on synthetic motor oil.
Junge felt that nearly every time the clutch was marginal or
had worn springs, the new oil just revealed a problem that
already existed."
