[sabunim5]

Warning. In past threads I told others that if they were going to use Rotella oil they needed to be sure and buy the blue bottle and not the white. The blue bottle is NO LONGER SAFE. The blue bottle now has an SM rating which is a no-no for use in the Spyder. It is back to BRP oil for me unless I can find a cheaper 5w40 that meets all the required specs. Ryde Safe and Enjoy
sabunim5

[BeRight]

Check out Castrol Syntec 5w40

[iSpy]

Originally Posted by Richard Moore, Staff Engineer
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.
Westhollow Technology Center, PO Box 4327, Houston, TX 77210, United States of America

Date: 1/18/2008

We recently ran the JASO MA friction test on Rotella T with Triple
Protection 15W-40, Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 (CI-4) and our soon to be
introduced (within the next 2 months) Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4.
All three oils passed the wet clutch friction test. Rotella T Synthetic
5W-40 (CI-4) has more than 1.2% ash (JASO MA spec limit) so it can not
be classified as JASO MA. However, Rotella T with Triple Protection
15W-40 and our soon to be introduced Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4 do
meet JASO MA."

If you have any additional questions please call us at 800-231-6950.
Thank you for your interest in Shell products.

This post has been edited by iSpy: 10 January 2009 - 11:33 AM

[widowmaker2011]

iSpy, on Dec 30 2008, 06:14 PM, said:

The API is more about $. Shell had to pay more to get as additional license designation. They will probably sell more product with a more inclusive classification.

Though marketed as an engine oil for diesel trucks, Rotella oil has found popularity with motorcyclists as well. The properties of heavy duty engine oils tend to map to the same requirements of motorcycle oils, particularly those whose engine and transmission share the same oil. (This is called a "shared sump" design, which is unlike automobiles which maintain separate oil reservoirs - one for the engine and one for the transmission). The chemical additives found in heavy duty engine oils work well with motorcycles. In addition, the lack of "friction modifiers" in truck oils such as Rotella means they do not interfere with proper wet clutch operations.

Shell that Rotella 15W-40 CJ-4 has been tested and shown to meet the JASO-MA friction test. This particular certification is important for motorcycles because of the clutch design which is bathed in the engine oil. This is known as a "wet clutch." Oils that have excessive "friction modifiers" tend to make wet clutches slip. Indication that Rotella T Triple Protection passes the JASO-MA friction test offers one more reason to seriously consider Rotella T for motorcycle use.

http://motorcycleinf....com/Oils1.html

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbth...;Number=1064549

http://www.api.org/c...ions/engineoil/

http://www.shell.com/home/PlainPageServlet...expert_faq.html

ispy , I rarely blast a post but Rotella does not meet that certification. It just plain does not meet the JASO MA friction test, if it did it would bear the label and it does NOT. There are independent testing labs for a reason and Rotella has never been certified JASO MA. EVER. they have only concluded through their own results in an email to a consumer that it meets the requirement. thats like me selling you a gold watch saying its real gold see I tested it myself here is the email saying I did.
Anyways , this Rotella thing drives me nuts , it is a good oil but to say it meets JASO MA is not true . We do not know wether it failed the test or they chose not to test it on purpose but the FACT remains Rotella NEVER made the certification. End of story. Wanna use it in your spyder? Knock yourself out . just know it is not what you think.

[Putt-Putt]

sabunim5, on Dec 29 2008, 04:24 PM, said:

Warning. In past threads I told others that if they were going to use Rotella oil they needed to be sure and buy the blue bottle and not the white. The blue bottle is NO LONGER SAFE. The blue bottle now has an SM rating which is a no-no for use in the Spyder. It is back to BRP oil for me unless I can find a cheaper 5w40 that meets all the required specs. Ryde Safe and Enjoy
sabunim5

When did this take place as I've been using Rottela 5w/40 with no problems. I bought seveal gallons last summer.

[smokster]

Putt-Putt, on Jan 2 2009, 05:05 PM, said:

When did this take place as I've been using Rottela 5w/40 with no problems. I bought seveal gallons last summer.

How many miles do you have on the Rotella oil?

[Putt-Putt]

I have over 6,000 miles with the Rotella oil. Everything works as it did with the BRP oil.
Except for two things.
1. a lot less oil consumption
2. a fair amount cheaper

This post has been edited by Putt-Putt: 03 January 2009 - 01:04 PM

[iSpy]

8,000 miles

[Renazilla]

I have one quick question.........

I used Moble one v-twin synthetic......is that good for the spyder or not????????

[Donzo]

Renazilla, on Jan 10 2009, 12:31 PM, said:

I have one quick question.........

I used Moble one v-twin synthetic......is that good for the spyder or not????????

Any of the Mobile 1 motorcycle oils will be fine - they even state that they are good w/ wet clutches and meet SG requirements.

I always used Rotella T syn. in my bikes - but now that SM showed up on the bottle, no more. I was concerned enough that I dumped the oil last week with less than 1000 miles and put in BRP - I don't want a slipping clutch......

[Putt-Putt]

I contacted Shell and asked about 5w-40 synthetic (API SM) new container, new rating. Shells tech. responce is.
1. It does not contain any Friction Modifiers
2. Will not cause a Wet Clutch Problem
3. The ones to cause problems would be designated "Energy Conserving"


All I know is I have no problems with my Spyder (8900 miles)- or -my 800 Outlander (2006)
Been using Shell Oil in both ever since the first oil change.

[beanoil]

widowmaker2011, on 30 December 2008 - 09:52 PM, said:

ispy , I rarely blast a post but Rotella does not meet that certification. It just plain does not meet the JASO MA friction test, if it did it would bear the label and it does NOT. There are independent testing labs for a reason and Rotella has never been certified JASO MA. EVER. they have only concluded through their own results in an email to a consumer that it meets the requirement. thats like me selling you a gold watch saying its real gold see I tested it myself here is the email saying I did.
Anyways , this Rotella thing drives me nuts , it is a good oil but to say it meets JASO MA is not true . We do not know wether it failed the test or they chose not to test it on purpose but the FACT remains Rotella NEVER made the certification. End of story. Wanna use it in your spyder? Knock yourself out . just know it is not what you think.

Yes it did, yes it does.

[Putt-Putt]

Putt-Putt, on 31 January 2009 - 11:26 AM, said:

I contacted Shell and asked about 5w-40 synthetic (API SM) new container, new rating. Shells tech. responce is.
1. It does not contain any Friction Modifiers
2. Will not cause a Wet Clutch Problem
3. The ones to cause problems would be designated "Energy Conserving"


All I know is I have no problems with my Spyder (8900 miles)- or -my 800 Outlander (2006)
Been using Shell Oil in both ever since the first oil change.

I now have 25,000 miles on the Spyder & 3,700 miles on my Outlander. I'm still using SHELL ROTELA 5/40W OIL and not (1) problem. And I'm sticking to it.

[BillG]

smokster, on 03 January 2009 - 12:25 PM, said:

How many miles do you have on the Rotella oil?

Over 194,000 miles on three different bikes, all with wet clutches. No problems.

[BillG]

sabunim5, on 29 December 2008 - 05:24 PM, said:

Warning. In past threads I told others that if they were going to use Rotella oil they needed to be sure and buy the blue bottle and not the white. The blue bottle is NO LONGER SAFE. The blue bottle now has an SM rating which is a no-no for use in the Spyder. It is back to BRP oil for me unless I can find a cheaper 5w40 that meets all the required specs. Ryde Safe and Enjoy
sabunim5

If you look on the back of the BRP oil bottle you will see "SOPUS", which is the acronym for "Shell Oil Products U.S.". It might be interesting to ask BRP exactly WHAT Shell Oil is mixing for them, hmmm? Especially since the container does not specify the weight or API service, not to mention nothing about JASO.

[sabunim5]

BillG, on 27 August 2010 - 08:23 AM, said:

If you look on the back of the BRP oil bottle you will see "SOPUS", which is the acronym for "Shell Oil Products U.S.". It might be interesting to ask BRP exactly WHAT Shell Oil is mixing for them, hmmm? Especially since the container does not specify the weight or API service, not to mention nothing about JASO.

Please note that my post was made two years ago. I am now using the Shell Rotella again as it now has the JASO MA on the label. To the poster that said they were using the "V twin" version of Mobile 1:
Mobile 1 is a great lubrication product and has done well in many objective tests. I use it in my BMW motorcycle. The V-twin formula is 20-50W and might raise some eyebrows at BRP if there was a warranty issue. There is a motorcycle version of Mobile 1 that is 10-40W and comes much closer to the BRP spec. for the Spyder.

[Donzo]

sabunim5, on 27 August 2010 - 09:42 AM, said:

Please note that my post was made two years ago. I am now using the Shell Rotella again as it now has the JASO MA on the label. To the poster that said they were using the "V twin" version of Mobile 1:
Mobile 1 is a great lubrication product and has done well in many objective tests. I use it in my BMW motorcycle. The V-twin formula is 20-50W and might raise some eyebrows at BRP if there was a warranty issue. There is a motorcycle version of Mobile 1 that is 10-40W and comes much closer to the BRP spec. for the Spyder.

Mobil one racing 4T

[jomion]

Putt-Putt, on 31 January 2009 - 11:26 AM, said:

I contacted Shell and asked about 5w-40 synthetic (API SM) new container, new rating. Shells tech. responce is.
1. It does not contain any Friction Modifiers
2. Will not cause a Wet Clutch Problem
3. The ones to cause problems would be designated "Energy Conserving"


All I know is I have no problems with my Spyder (8900 miles)- or -my 800 Outlander (2006)
Been using Shell Oil in both ever since the first oil change.

Y'all must not like your MOMs (Manufacturer Operating Manual). It clearly states to NOT use API SM oils.

The "new" Shell Rotella Synthetic now says it's API-SM. It used to be API-SL. If the Shell tech says that the oil hasn't changed (no friction modifiers; no damage to wet clutch) then why did they change the API rating from an SL to an SM?

I used Rotella's Synthetic before and recommended it to everyone. But once the API rating changed from SL to SM it was game over and I switched oils. As far as I'm concerned you can put whatever you want (canola oil?) in your rydes, but I can read the manual and on this topic they are very specific.

The real proof will be how well your clutch holds up over time. So if you use the API SM and don't burn up a clutch over the next three years, you have earned all of the rights and privileges to say "Nana-Nana Boo-Boo, Stick Your Head in Doo-Doo!"

[asmdjackal]

jomion, on 31 August 2010 - 03:32 PM, said:

Y'all must not like your MOMs (Manufacturer Operating Manual). It clearly states to NOT use API SM oils.

The "new" Shell Rotella Synthetic now says it's API-SM. It used to be API-SL. If the Shell tech says that the oil hasn't changed (no friction modifiers; no damage to wet clutch) then why did they change the API rating from an SL to an SM?

I used Rotella's Synthetic before and recommended it to everyone. But once the API rating changed from SL to SM it was game over and I switched oils. As far as I'm concerned you can put whatever you want (canola oil?) in your rydes, but I can read the manual and on this topic they are very specific.

The real proof will be how well your clutch holds up over time. So if you use the API SM and don't burn up a clutch over the next three years, you have earned all of the rights and privileges to say "Nana-Nana Boo-Boo, Stick Your Head in Doo-Doo!"

My 2 cents: I used the Rotella blue 15/40 and after 500 or so miles, I started having issues with my clutch sticking and being hard to shift. I went ahead and put the barnett clutch in it and the dealer said my clutch look fried... So I switched to AMSOIL. Everyone is reading labels and talking about what could/should work, but I can tell you from experience that I ran the Rotella blue synthetic and it was NOT good for my clutch. Use at your own risk.