Anyone else put Rotella T in their VFR?

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

  1. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    But where is the information about that certification?
    and if they spent money on the cert, why not put that information on the website -- for that matter even if they didn't pay for it, why not advertise it? Especially if it was that long ago. They still say only stuff about diesel engines.

     
  2. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    Blackstone, if I am not mistaken, is just examining the oil, not saying whether it is appropriate for the usage you are engaged in. There is some overlap there, of course, but it is not the same thing.

     
  3. VIFFER RIDER

    VIFFER RIDER New Member

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    It's says right on the bottle JASO MA on both the 15W40 Rotella T Dino and the 5W40 T6, it's not primarily marketed for motorcycle use but it's merely stating its ok for wet clutch use. The primary market they are targeting for these oil is diesel customers which is why they aren't really pushing the motorcycle market for it. They would rather market a oil for twice as much for the motorcycle market rather then to make less pushing diesel oils to motorcycle customers.

    Someone on the fireblade forum once posted pictures of a dismantled i think it was a gixxer 1000 motor after 60k miles of street and track day use using just the dino version of the rotella 15w40 changed every 4k miles and it look brand new inside with virtually no wear. I forgot why they took it apart but it wasn't from oil related breakdown.
     
  4. Michael E

    Michael E New Member

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    Google "Rotella JASO MA" and you will see a million threads around the web on it. The Shell Rotella site used to have a FAQ section. There was a question there about whether it is ok to use Rotella for bikes. You can find a copy/paste of it here and there. I believe it was even before the MA certification. The Shell rep went on at length about the qualities of the oil and compared the diesel truck oil requirements to that of a bike.

    Rotella was probably the biggest topic in oil threads over the years. That pretty much stopped with the JASO certification because all those against it no longer had that as their sole argument against it, the one argument that they used against all of the overwhelmingly positive anecdotal evidence. You will find all kinds of threads with good, scientific discussion on the various additives and content analysis, but most of that is over my head.

    The owners manual states JASO MA and not "Energy Conserving" as oil requirements. Rotella has both. End argument. Use it or not, it's an individual choice. But it's a good oil at a great price.
     
  5. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    It doesn't matter if Shell advertises it for motorcycles or not. It is JASO MA rated. That ends the discussion as to whether or not it is safe to use in a motorcycle with a wet clutch. Honda SPECIFIES JASO MA oil, so it meetst the standard.

    Jose
     
  6. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    From JASO's own listing of oils submited that are supposed to meet their standard for motorcycle oil, as of June 1, 2012, I don't see Rotella listed.

    http://www.jalos.or.jp/onfile/pdf/4T_EV_LIST.pdf

    Even if the primary market was still deisels, but the oil was qualified for use on motorcycles, you would think they would at least list motorcycles as a valid use. Wouldn't cost them anything. But yet they still do not do it. Not even saying they have to "push it", just list it. Yet they don't. From what I have been able to find, and I admit I haven't found anything definative, the MA standard does NOT mean motorcycle approved. Their motorcycle standard appears to actually be "JASO T 903" for 4 stroke motorcycles. It appears that the M standard is actually specifically for their diesel engine oil specification. So the fact that the Rotella is M rated, then makes perfect sense -- as it is a diesel engine oil. The M, does not indicate an OK for motorcycle use. So, if what I am finding is accurate, the MA has nothing to do with wet clutch compatability.

    I think if they could make money at it they would. IF it was safe for bikes, they would surely talk about it. And still sell the more expensive stuff too. Just like many companies have 2 or 3 tiers of motorcycle oil for sale and they sell all of it. They'll have Dino, blend, and full synth all by the same maker. So if the Rotella was recomended or approved, for bikes, they would surely capitalize on that.

    So someone somewhere said, "this is what I did"? That isn't really conclusive.

     
  7. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    That assumes that MA means "Motorcycle Approved"


     
  8. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    A million people talking about it, sure. But none of them being the people from Shell, or Jaso, or a major motorcycle manufacturer.

     
  9. Spike

    Spike New Member

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    Just actually looked in my service manual, it does NOT specify MA rated oil, it specifies oil which meets the T903 service classification -- which as I previoulsy posted is their motorcycle standard and then MA. I don't see anywhere on Rotella, where they say the T903 classification.


     
  10. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Just another endless oil discussion buy guys who should be out riding.


    Good mixture on this thread of wild speculation, serious science, both un- and informed opinion, good engineering, hearsay that came from the internet, hypothesis, unpaid advertising, old school tradition, and guesswork, along with a few clever defensive ego-protecting stratiges.

    Just another endless oil thread buy guys who should be out riding.
     
  11. bitterpil

    bitterpil New Member

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    Hahahahah.... Go Squirrelman
     
  12. Rubo

    Rubo New Member

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    Rotella T on my bike now and noticed considerably more false neutrals then before.I had Honda oil before specific to motorcycles and I never had that problem before.
    You just need to be little more firm on shifting on Rotella.
     
  13. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    Found this.

    Rotella T 15W-40 CJ-4/SM with Triple Protection - Bob Is The Oil Guy

    Here is a .pdf of the JASO spec.

    http://www.jalos.or.jp/onfile/pdf/4T_EV1105.pdf

    In a nutshell, JASO MA/MA1/MA2/MB are various grades of the T903 standard, but they are ALL compliant with T903. There WAS a T904, but that has been merged into T903. The diesel engine Rotella-T that we are talking about is JASO MA, which means it is T903 compliant.

    Do a lookup on the Shell site for oil recommended for a VFR. There is a 10W-30 Shell Rotella-T listed. If you live in a REALLY cold climate, maybe you could track down some 10W-30. I am quite satisfied with a 15W-40 as California weather is quite temperate.

    Jose
     
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