2563.1

I`ve heard talk about Shell Rotella of the synthetic variety so I decided that since I could purchase it right here in Lay-Belle that may be the way to go. I`ve decided I`m going to to change my own oil at the 5,000 mi. interval and take it in at 10,000 mi. after I`ve already changed the oil to let my mechanic go over the bike front to back to save $. Red Line oil is $14.95 a qt. at the stealership. Guess it`s time for a different brand. The Rotella looked like good oil according to all the specs but said nothing about motorcycles. I inquired about this and was told that it was very good oil but was not specically designed for motorcycles. The man then told me that the Mobile 1 was an excellent synthetic oil that was made exclusively for the intense heat that a motorcycle engine creates. I`ve heard many good things about Mobil 1 already so I figure I`d give it a try. It`s still quite expensive at $9.50 a qt. but at least it`s $5.00 cheaper than Red Line and will save in labor costs.

Let us know how you like it!!

Hi,

I've been using Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 oil  in my '09 Sportster XL1200C for nearly a year and it seems to work very well.  (I would recommend the Mobil 1 V-Twin motorcycle oil over the Mobil 1 car motor oil.)  I put it in when I did the 1000 mile oil change.  FWIW, I did a lot of internet searching (motorcycle forums) and investigating before I decided to use Mobil 1.  I don't have a oil temperature gauge, but the bike doesn't run hot as far as I can tell.  It's made for motorcycles and is sold here in Oregon Wal-Mart stores for $8.95 a quart.

Stan

The main differences between the 15w50mobil1 and the 20w50 vtwin mobil 1

First, they are not the same oil at all  , vtwin is capable of 518 degrees, and 15w50 around 440. Its not because of the weight, its because of the base of composition(not the same base oil at all).  Even mobil 1 10w40 motocycle 4t(487)degree has higher operating temp capability than the car oil 15w50 version, even though a lower weight oil.

Vtwin has about the highest amount of zinc and phosphous in the industry. Most mc oils have been scaling back with induction of cat convertors. Vtwin may have come down alittle since last I checked.

I would be extremely interested in knowing, and you guys check around for me, if like redline oil is seeing a big drop in temperature in Harleys, or how its fairing with mobil 1?

 

 

 

 

I've observed that when it comes to oil, doing the changes when called for in the owner's manual and using the right weight of oil seem to be more important then which brand or type of oil you use.  Compounding that is the whole controversy over the definition of 'synthetic' which leads me to believe that most of the branding and advertising seems to exist to hoodwink the customer into paying more for oil.  I've been using Castrol GTX in the BMW which is about the cheapest oil you can buy and at 37,000 miles I haven't had any problems.

My track bike ('05 ZX-6R) has gotten a steady diet of Shell Rotella T 15W-40 non-synthetic and gets the oil & filter changed after every track day.  I've put 3,000 miles of revved to the redline miles on that bike in the last two years (it gets ridden on the track only) with no issues.

My advice on oil is to buy whatever lets you sleep at night.  From $1.00/quart NAPA oil all the way up to  Motul 300V at $17 a quart (which I think is the only true 'synthetic' on the market today) you have lots of choices.