The Good Oil

Apologies to Quarkz and Tony, they would have seen this on the ZZR Forum:

This is pretty interesting, it's an article regarding testing done on motorcycle oil vs. car oils. The motobike oils don't do that well, and the best performer is Mobil-1...a car oil.

http://www.ducatimeccanica.com/oil.html

Does anyone run car oil in their bike? If so, any problems, and what brand?

Interesting, given the price of motorcycle oil...and how often you seem to change it.

I think you can take out of that what you will. Seems to be a long winded way to say what appears in the one of the final paragraphs:

It could appear from this data, then, that there is no validity to the constantly-used argument that motorcycle-specific oils provide superior lubrication to automotive oils when used in a motorcycle.

'could'? 'It could'? Does that mean possibly, probably, or is it dependant on a persons hidden agenda and the way they interpret the information? waste of time and a bit of a if ya ask me, too inconclusive.

All I know is that when I put car oil in a previously owned motorcycle, the clutch slipped like crazy. I emptied the oil, refilled it with motorcycle specific oil and the clutch didnt slip. That was all the proof I needed to stick with motorcycle oil.

Storm in a teacup.

Does that mean possibly, probably, or is it dependant on a persons hidden agenda and the way they interpret the information? waste of time and a bit of a if ya ask me, too inconclusive.

That may be, but if you don't ask, then you don't find out

It's obviously one of those topics which is going to get a lot of polarised answers, I just got a response from a guy on the ZZR Forum which said it was a good idea

However, if push comes to shove, I agree with what you say. I'd rather play it safe with something I know is going to work than maybe do damage which may or may not be reversible.

hmmm..but don't ducati's have dry clutches?? that is a ducati site isn't it?

correct me if i'm wrong

try some car oil with friction modifiers in it
and see how far you get...probably not up the nearest hill
as your clutch cries enuff...
car oils possibly be used on bikes with dry clutches
but I still wonder at their ability to protect the gear box
motor oils do not have the shear protection that a bike gearbox needs
(and before anyone mentions the Mini, their gearboxes were designed to use engine oils)...

cheers

hmmm..but don't ducati's have dry clutches?? that is a ducati site isn't it?
correct me if i'm wrong

No, you're right...except they are quoting the story from:

Motorcycle Consumer News

thks

Hey Ratmick,

I hope my post didnt come across the wrong way. Im glad you posted it and like you say, its a topic thats going to be a little devisive regarding peoples opinions. I was happy to read it, and I was happy to take on board anything which made sense or was conclusive. I like learning new things. But I lost interest when they kept going on about some sort of conspiracy amongst bike shops and manufacturers etc etc to get us to fork out an extra $5 for oil. Then when I scrolled down and saw that the conclusion was vague was counter productive to the theme of the whole story. I think the testing and article was a waste of time - I never thought that you posting it was a waste of time -I hope you didnt take it that way.

... car oils possibly be used on bikes with dry clutches but I still wonder at their ability to protect the gear box
motor oils do not have the shear protection that a bike gearbox needs
(and before anyone mentions the Mini, their gearboxes were designed to use engine oils)...

cheers

Hey Ian, how the hell are you?

Yes, as Gav pointed out it's possibly why it was published on a Ducati site. I'm just curious, not saying I'm going down to KMart for my next oil change. For the extra $20 it's not worth the trouble.

The article did say the 'shear protection' factor the bike oil manufacturers was mostly not warranted in this age of synthetic car oils though.

...and there may be not many people on this list which picked up the Mini reference, you're showing your age matey

Last edited by Ratmick on Thu Nov 11, 2004 8:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hey Ratmick,
I hope my post didnt come across the wrong way...

James, mate mate maaaaaaaaate, I didn't pick anything amiss in your reply. I agree with what you said, and I agree, it's important what the article didn't say...as in: Go thee out into the land and run car oil in your motorcycle...just petered out into an inconclusive ending.

It is worthy of discussion though, so here we are...and it's better than discussing Neka's poetry.

Cool mate - Im glad no offense was taken - I know what ZZR riders are like

Hey Smitty I get ya mini example. I had three of the buggers, an 850 van with an extended high top roof. an 1100 round nose and a 1100 clubman.

...If you do a quick trawl through the world's internet sites you'll see a lot of impassioned argument about this subject, even on the website that originally spawned the article quoted on the Ducati site.

Some of it gets quite heated. Not really worth it here though. And no-one seems to have the definitive answer. Some do, some don't...and I'm still sticking with the Motorcycle oil

...there's another stream of threads concerning mineral oil vs. synthetic, but we won't go there

Last edited by Ratmick on Thu Nov 11, 2004 9:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Hey Ian, how the hell are you?

Mick..mate..good ..thanks for askin'...howzabout ya self???

Yes, as Gav pointed out it's possibly why it was published on a Ducati site. I'm just curious, not saying I'm going down to KMart for my next oil change. For the extra $20 it's not worth the trouble.

I did once...a long time ago.... car oil in a two-blow....
mate...never again..the smoke screen b4 it seized
all the coke from the oil burning pitted the top of the piston
and then bits got caught in the rings lands..and bang!!!
a 2 stroke that blew...

The article did say the 'shear protection' factor the bike oil manufacturers was mostly not warranted in this age of synthetic car oils though.

different strokes for different folks....
the shear protection needed by a piston or plain rod bearing is different from that needed by a gear or dog in a gearbox...

...and there may be not many people on this list which picked up the Mini reference, you're showing your age matey

I know..I Know....

cheers

Heya,

Could you possible post a link to the zzr forum... I've never seen it.

Thanks,

Lisa

Hey Smitty I get ya mini example. I had three of the buggers, an 850 van with an extended high top roof. an 1100 round nose and a 1100 clubman.

cool James
showing ya age too......

Those mini's were a lot older than me, mate! Except the clubman of course.