Anyone else put Rotella T in their VFR?

Discussion in 'General VFR Discussions' started by braceyoself777, Mar 23, 2012.

  1. Brahms

    Brahms New Member

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    I've used Rotella T 25-40 (dino - NOT the synthetic) exclusively in my Excursion Diesel for years. Found the recommendation for its use in my Wee from the California Scientific Motorcycle Windshields website. The guy makes his money selling motorcycle windshields, but has a ton of info about oil and filters online. He is apparently an ST rider.
     
  2. jch82

    jch82 New Member

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    I use Rotella T 15w40 in my bikes. Have for a few years now and at $13 a gallon, the price can't be beat.

    Josh
     
  3. rickjames

    rickjames New Member

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    On switching between synthetic and dino oils:potstir:. From my experience working at a national lube shop chain, jumping to and fro all willy nilly with oil selection is fine as long as the appropriate weight is chosen. I know many regular customers of the shop i worked at would jump back and fourth between the two depending on how much they wanted to spend(65 or synth, or 35 for dino):eek:. The only thing to worry about in this instance is if the oil had molybdenum or other such friction modifiers in its additive package, that I am told would ruin a wet clutch. As far as your engine is concerned they both do the same thing synthetic just does it better and longer.
     
  4. rc24rc51

    rc24rc51 New Member

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    I know where there's a 26k mile 3rd gen with a little hole in the cases. Owner changed the oil religiously w/ Rottella T-6 and a Supertech filter every 3k miles.
     
  5. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    I currently have Rotella T in my viffer, the mineral 15W40 courtesy of Walmart for $13 lol i will get around to the T6 Rotella 5W40 the next time around. It's kind of sad, my zx6r gets the finest 10W40 Motul 300V oil yet my poor viffer gets second rate walmart oil lol. It's ok my viffer doesn't see the type of abuse my ZX does though.
     
  6. slowbird

    slowbird Member

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    I've been thinking about switching to Rotella.

    I'm currently using the Mobil1 MX4-T (10W40) since it's easy to find in my area. I've done an oil analysis on the bike and it's looking good. I'm going to increase my oil change intervals and check the oil analysis until I see it's starting to break down.
     
  7. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Can anyone say just how much better it is or why Rotella might be better than the Honda-branded oils Honda sells ??
     
  8. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    I put some links to articles and relayed what I found out about ZDDP contents and base stock issues in another thread. Search that one out for lots o info.

    If you want a readers digest version ....

    The Honda oil is JASO MA. The Rotella is JASO MA. They are the same tested quality.

    The Honda oil is about $25 a gallon. The Rotella is about $14 a gallon.

    Rotella is AT LEAST equal quality oil, at about half the cost as Honda OEM.

    Jose
     
  9. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    One thing I did notice with the T6 Rotella on my 02 I used to have was the bike ran slightly cooler at freeway speeds than with the petro version Rotella T. It was about a 9deg cooler. At freeway speeds of 80 it used to run at 185deg after Rotella T6 it sat at 176 all day cruising at the same speed same ambient temps.
     
  10. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    Interesting. Wonder if the synth somehow sinks away heat better?

    Jose
     
  11. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    My guess is the lower friction from the synthetic, who knows. Film strength is tougher with good synthetics.
     
  12. Michael E

    Michael E New Member

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    Good oil is good oil. Rotella is good oil at a great price.

    Lot's of folks used it for years before Shell spent the money to get it MA certified. They got beat up on various oil threads around the web. However, They got to give a great "told you so" when it was certified. I've been running T6 the past year with no problems.
     
  13. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    The greatest thing is you can get it nearly any auto store or walmarts for ways cheaper then those boutique oils at the bike shops. The only reason I run Motul on most of my bikes (exc he viffer right now) is I get it near free since my work place is a Motul dist, otherwise I wouldnt touch nearly any of the boutique oils at the bike shops.
     
  14. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    You can't argue free! (or close to it)

    I did notice that my M6 burns less of the dino based Chevron Delo400 than the Rotella. I suppose I should make it clear that I use the Delo 400 in my M6, but will rotate the Rotella or Chevron (depends on price) in everything else.

    Jose
     
  15. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    I've seen various walmarts sell the 2.5 gallon jug of Rotella T 15w40 for like $30 which is a decent deal.
     
  16. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    If the price is better than the Honda oil, it's BETTER oil !

    Who has anything but good comments about Rotella?? The history of it's heavy-duty diesel truck credentials may or may not make it the best or even among the best of motorcycle oils.

    Drivers (like me) of 1960's imported sportscars and SCCA roadracers mostly used Shell Rotella, already on the world market by about 1958 since back then the low lubrication standard of average motor oil wasn't up to high-performance engine needs. But just because a product was superior 50 years ago implies what today ??

    A thousand riders reporting "no problems" with a product is no real endorsement.

    OK, it's probably an above-average -quality product, and no one reported any engine failures over X years, and the cost is reasonable, sometimes discounted at wallyworld, so that makes it how good, compared to what, and is it possible for a motor oil to become "fashionable?"

    There are many other oils on the market that perform as well or better and might better suited for motorcycles, for which Rotella is not rated.

    The oils topic is intensely scientific, requiring lots of reading and study. Scientists and engineers know while the rest have opinions. Several diverse factors account for lubricating excellence, not just advertizing or popular word of mouth or wacha read online.....

    Then there are the cost-accountants always trying to cheap-out on critical additives and the quantity of additives. How cheap they can sell it without loss of reputation is the question, with engineers and managers facing off against the accountants, the way modern business operates.
     
    Last edited: May 26, 2012
  17. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    Dudage ...

    Rotella AND Delo are both JASO MA. They are both fully motorcycle rated.

    I'll keep my eye open for Wallyworld sales.

    Jose

    Jose
     
  18. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    Even shell doesn't recommend thier Rotella oil for motorcycles. At least nothing I can find on their website Shell Rotella® Products | Shell Rotella and I looked thru the stuff on T1 - T6. All they mention is its use in diesel engines.
    Seems like if it was actually rated for motorcycle use, they would highlight that on their own website...

     
  19. Michael E

    Michael E New Member

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    If Shell didn't want to sell Rotella for motorcycles they would not have spent the money, etc. to get the MA certification (last year or the year before, I believe).
     
  20. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    Well that maybe but I've seen many motorcycle users armed with very good UOA reports from blackstone labs which IS scientific using Rotella in their motorcycles, so by that in my opinion speaks for itself rather then here say from bikers.

    What I do know is oil companies is here to gouge and make money, do you really think that the bike specific oil which cost twice the car equal has twice the costly additive or whatever? I think no.
     
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