Best low cost oil?

BAMX
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BAMX 7/7/2014 6:58am
7/7/2014 6:58am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2014 7:00am
Johnston1 wrote:
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's...
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's what everyone locally I know runs and we have never had any issues with it
What year and which KTM support? KTM is and has been Motorex.
Cygnus
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Cygnus 7/7/2014 7:32am
7/7/2014 7:32am
Roscoe33 wrote:
Rotella T will take more heat than any other oil.

Motul give the flash point in there specs. 482f. Can't find any spec for rotella but the closest I could find on bobs oil site says around 410. I'll stick with the Motul thanks. It also said the rotella has a lot of magnesium that leads to build up and hot spots that may cause dentonation in motorcycles.
PC
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PC 7/7/2014 7:45am
7/7/2014 7:45am
c_dub wrote:
Anyone using Rotella as a gearbox lube in a two-stroke? Opinions? update, I found this thread http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Shell-Rotella-Oil,1252557?exclusive_forum_user=false&page=1 . I'll prob. give it a go once I...
Anyone using Rotella as a gearbox lube in a two-stroke? Opinions?

update, I found this thread http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Shell-Rotella-Oil,1252557… . I'll prob. give it a go once I get the old CR going.
For years without issue. Over 200hrs on my yz250 and 150hrs on my cr125 without any issue.
I change it about every 20hrs in my smokers.
MXD
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MXD 7/7/2014 7:57am
7/7/2014 7:57am
I started using Rotella T in my RMZ450 from the first oil change when it was new. I just tore the motor down this winter with 50 hours on it and the internals looked brand new. I'm OCD about my maintenance so I'm pretty sure the condition of my motor had a lot to do with 3-4 hour oil change intervals and every other oil change for the filters.

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mx317
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mx317 7/7/2014 9:28am
7/7/2014 9:28am
I saw an interview with Roger DeCoster while he was in the KTM workshop and there was a jug of Rotella T sitting on the workbench. Rotella T is a very good oil for motorcycles, but I wish it was 10/40 instead of 15/40.
c_dub
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c_dub 7/7/2014 9:47am
7/7/2014 9:47am
c_dub wrote:
Anyone using Rotella as a gearbox lube in a two-stroke? Opinions? update, I found this thread http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Shell-Rotella-Oil,1252557?exclusive_forum_user=false&page=1 . I'll prob. give it a go once I...
Anyone using Rotella as a gearbox lube in a two-stroke? Opinions?

update, I found this thread http://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Shell-Rotella-Oil,1252557… . I'll prob. give it a go once I get the old CR going.
PC wrote:
For years without issue. Over 200hrs on my yz250 and 150hrs on my cr125 without any issue.
I change it about every 20hrs in my smokers.
Thanks. Are you using the conventional 15w-40 or the synthetic?
Bret
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Bret 7/7/2014 9:52am
7/7/2014 9:52am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2014 9:53am
If a few hundred people make the same claim, "I have always used brand X and never had any problems", and brand X is several different brands, what does that tell you?
Falcon
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Falcon 7/7/2014 10:12am
7/7/2014 10:12am Edited Date/Time 7/7/2014 10:15am
Here are the facts, if anyone here is actually interested:
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rote…

The JASO approvals mean that this oil will work in a motorcycle transmission without any adverse affects. That means it's OK in 2-stroke gearboxes as well as a 4-stroke engine.

Jabroni, most oils are made by someone other than the name on the label, but it's not just a few major blenders doing it all. In fact, there are tons of lubricant companies out there that supply the major blenders, and they come and go from time to time. The additives in the Rotella we're talking abou ttoday may not have come from the same place that they did two months ago.

Aceofspades is correct that a JASO approval is obtained by paying for the stamp. The oil passes a minimum sliding friction test to achieve a passing grade. Just because your oil doesn't have the stamp, doesn't mean that the oil wouldn't pass the test. However, I'd be careful in assuming that the Walmart brand is "the same as" Rotella. If it were technically the same blend, just sold in WalMart's bottle (a common practice,) it's very likely that there would be a JASO stamp on that bottle as well.

EDIT: By the way, don't run a 15W-40 in really cold temperatures - or at least warm the bike up really well before you blast off. Not really pertinent now, but in winter some of you snow heads may run into trouble. (When I say really cold, I mean well below freezing. Zero to ten degrees F.)

piscokid
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piscokid 7/7/2014 10:40am
7/7/2014 10:40am
mx317 wrote:
I saw an interview with Roger DeCoster while he was in the KTM workshop and there was a jug of Rotella T sitting on the workbench...
I saw an interview with Roger DeCoster while he was in the KTM workshop and there was a jug of Rotella T sitting on the workbench. Rotella T is a very good oil for motorcycles, but I wish it was 10/40 instead of 15/40.
Why? That first number stands for winter. It describes how the oil reacts at 0* F. In other words, 10w-40 will flow better at at 0* F than a 15w oil. A 15w-40 will flow less oil at 0* F. The lower the first number, the easier it flows AT LOW TEMPS. It does not affect the performance at higher temps. Straight? In other words, 10w-40 and 15w-40 are the same oil at standard engine operating temperatures. The 1st number SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED if you are operating engines at really cold temps. Hope this helps.
hillbilly
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hillbilly 7/7/2014 11:49am
7/7/2014 11:49am
dean122 wrote:
Rotella T at Walmart.
You do not want to use any oil that has the "energy conserving" wording in the API badge on the back of the container.

If you pick up a few different brands at walmart and read the back you will see that on most.

The super tech brand does not say that,it is what i use.

Energy conserving means it has molybdenum in it,slick,but is a clutch killer.

Read the manual for your bike,the 08 honda I was given had a good section on oil and told not to use the molybdenum oil.

For what the super tech saves in money you can change it more often.

I change mine when the color just starts to turn.
Johnston1
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Johnston1 7/7/2014 12:00pm
7/7/2014 12:00pm
Johnston1 wrote:
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's...
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's what everyone locally I know runs and we have never had any issues with it
BAMX wrote:
What year and which KTM support? KTM is and has been Motorex.
It was 12 13 and 14.
Aceofspades 7/7/2014 3:02pm
7/7/2014 3:02pm
Falcon wrote:
Here are the facts, if anyone here is actually interested: http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rotella_T_Triple_Protection_15W-40_%28CJ-4%29_%28en-US%29_TDS.pdf The JASO approvals mean that this oil will work in a motorcycle transmission without any...
Here are the facts, if anyone here is actually interested:
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rote…

The JASO approvals mean that this oil will work in a motorcycle transmission without any adverse affects. That means it's OK in 2-stroke gearboxes as well as a 4-stroke engine.

Jabroni, most oils are made by someone other than the name on the label, but it's not just a few major blenders doing it all. In fact, there are tons of lubricant companies out there that supply the major blenders, and they come and go from time to time. The additives in the Rotella we're talking abou ttoday may not have come from the same place that they did two months ago.

Aceofspades is correct that a JASO approval is obtained by paying for the stamp. The oil passes a minimum sliding friction test to achieve a passing grade. Just because your oil doesn't have the stamp, doesn't mean that the oil wouldn't pass the test. However, I'd be careful in assuming that the Walmart brand is "the same as" Rotella. If it were technically the same blend, just sold in WalMart's bottle (a common practice,) it's very likely that there would be a JASO stamp on that bottle as well.

EDIT: By the way, don't run a 15W-40 in really cold temperatures - or at least warm the bike up really well before you blast off. Not really pertinent now, but in winter some of you snow heads may run into trouble. (When I say really cold, I mean well below freezing. Zero to ten degrees F.)

The walmart brand is the same as the chevron delo15-40, which is the same as rotella. Shell sought the jaso spec when they realized both that folks were using it in their atv/bikes and that market was worth the certification expense. Thats not conjecture from me- I read an interview a few years ago from a shell rep and that was his exact words. In the atv world theyve known about diesel oils way before the dirt bike community. I will say that the newer diesel oils dont contain as much nickel as they used to due to epa regs (nickel is a cushioning agent to fight metal to metal contact and as a filler for scratches and wear on microscopic level).. The "high mileage" oils actualy contain more nickel in their formulation to compensate for looser tolerances due to wear. That is actually a better oil as far as wear properties would be concerned since its closer to the original formulation of the properties that made diesel oils popular in the offroad world.
peelout
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peelout 7/7/2014 3:08pm
7/7/2014 3:08pm Edited Date/Time 7/7/2014 3:15pm
dean122 wrote:
Rotella T at Walmart.
yep, just picked up 3 gallons at $13.97 per gallon.

that's what i ran in my 2012 KTM 300XC for 1400 miles in Mexico in April and again 230 miles of single track and technical atv trails this weekend in the mountains.
bturner26x
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bturner26x 7/7/2014 3:34pm
7/7/2014 3:34pm
Go over to ThumperTalk. There are 100's of threads 50 pages long about Rotella. Between that & the Rekluse, you can find all the opinions you'll ever need over there. I like how half of the Rekluse haters on TT (that had never used one) say that your lazy & you don't know how to use a clutch if you run one. Some of those threads are good entertainment..Laughing Laughing

My mechanic is an old school guy & he got me using Rotella. I haven't had any issues in my bikes I've been running it in. I use the blue jug. I have a Rekluse & they recommend you to use the Rotella w/ it.
mumbles
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mumbles 7/7/2014 3:50pm
7/7/2014 3:50pm
I got turned on to Rotella T from this board about a year and half ago. Been running it in my 2012 RMZ450 with no problems.
Zycki11
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Zycki11 7/7/2014 8:27pm
7/7/2014 8:27pm
Is everyone using rotella 15-40 diesel?
500guy
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500guy 7/7/2014 8:37pm
7/7/2014 8:37pm
Zycki11 wrote:
Is everyone using rotella 15-40 diesel?
You could also run Delo 15-40 that Cost-Co sells.

it's pretty simple, look in the manual see what the acceptable ratings for weight and type like API,SAE ect and buy something that meets that criteria.

as mentioned earlier don't use anything with the friction modifiers in it , the clutch will slip.
jleews6
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jleews6 7/7/2014 8:54pm
7/7/2014 8:54pm
I use Rotella T in everything I own. Never had a problem with it.

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hillbilly
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hillbilly 7/7/2014 9:18pm
7/7/2014 9:18pm
Falcon wrote:
Here are the facts, if anyone here is actually interested: http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rotella_T_Triple_Protection_15W-40_%28CJ-4%29_%28en-US%29_TDS.pdf The JASO approvals mean that this oil will work in a motorcycle transmission without any...
Here are the facts, if anyone here is actually interested:
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rote…

The JASO approvals mean that this oil will work in a motorcycle transmission without any adverse affects. That means it's OK in 2-stroke gearboxes as well as a 4-stroke engine.

Jabroni, most oils are made by someone other than the name on the label, but it's not just a few major blenders doing it all. In fact, there are tons of lubricant companies out there that supply the major blenders, and they come and go from time to time. The additives in the Rotella we're talking abou ttoday may not have come from the same place that they did two months ago.

Aceofspades is correct that a JASO approval is obtained by paying for the stamp. The oil passes a minimum sliding friction test to achieve a passing grade. Just because your oil doesn't have the stamp, doesn't mean that the oil wouldn't pass the test. However, I'd be careful in assuming that the Walmart brand is "the same as" Rotella. If it were technically the same blend, just sold in WalMart's bottle (a common practice,) it's very likely that there would be a JASO stamp on that bottle as well.

EDIT: By the way, don't run a 15W-40 in really cold temperatures - or at least warm the bike up really well before you blast off. Not really pertinent now, but in winter some of you snow heads may run into trouble. (When I say really cold, I mean well below freezing. Zero to ten degrees F.)

Aceofspades wrote:
The walmart brand is the same as the chevron delo15-40, which is the same as rotella. Shell sought the jaso spec when they realized both that...
The walmart brand is the same as the chevron delo15-40, which is the same as rotella. Shell sought the jaso spec when they realized both that folks were using it in their atv/bikes and that market was worth the certification expense. Thats not conjecture from me- I read an interview a few years ago from a shell rep and that was his exact words. In the atv world theyve known about diesel oils way before the dirt bike community. I will say that the newer diesel oils dont contain as much nickel as they used to due to epa regs (nickel is a cushioning agent to fight metal to metal contact and as a filler for scratches and wear on microscopic level).. The "high mileage" oils actualy contain more nickel in their formulation to compensate for looser tolerances due to wear. That is actually a better oil as far as wear properties would be concerned since its closer to the original formulation of the properties that made diesel oils popular in the offroad world.
Its what I said in all these threads,oil is oil.

If the rating is the same ,it is the same.

They pour the walmart in the rotella jug and charge you 3 times.,lol.
Loftin79
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Loftin79 7/8/2014 1:14pm
7/8/2014 1:14pm
Johnston1 wrote:
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's...
I was against using rotella T forever then at mammoth the ktm support had gallons of it and that's what they said we should run. That's what everyone locally I know runs and we have never had any issues with it
BAMX wrote:
What year and which KTM support? KTM is and has been Motorex.
Johnston1 wrote:
It was 12 13 and 14.
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in their bikes and keep the money in the motorcycle industry. Motorex gives big money to teams and Rotella doesnt do anything in return for our sport
GuyB
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GuyB 7/8/2014 2:58pm
7/8/2014 2:58pm
Loftin79 wrote:
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in...
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in their bikes and keep the money in the motorcycle industry. Motorex gives big money to teams and Rotella doesnt do anything in return for our sport
Proof?
scooter5002
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scooter5002 7/8/2014 3:32pm
7/8/2014 3:32pm
Loftin79 wrote:
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in...
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in their bikes and keep the money in the motorcycle industry. Motorex gives big money to teams and Rotella doesnt do anything in return for our sport
In my neck of the woods, Bel Ray trans oil is $9 a litre, I can buy a pail of Rotella 15-40 at $3.10 a litre. Indirectly, Shell IS doing something for the sport, they're offering a low cost alternative to Bel Ray.
Loftin79
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Loftin79 7/8/2014 3:34pm
7/8/2014 3:34pm
Sorry, i have no proof lol. Just know somebody that used to work on a certain team and thats what he told me. Said back in the 2 stroke days they ran Yamalube 2R but they werent even riding Yamahas
TallonT911
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TallonT911 7/8/2014 3:36pm
7/8/2014 3:36pm
Loftin79 wrote:
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in...
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in their bikes and keep the money in the motorcycle industry. Motorex gives big money to teams and Rotella doesnt do anything in return for our sport
GuyB wrote:
Proof?
I was talking to one of the Factory KTM riders for the off-road team in '09 and he said that they used Rotella in their bikes instead of Motorex.
harrowguy 7/8/2014 4:32pm
7/8/2014 4:32pm Edited Date/Time 7/8/2014 4:40pm
I spent years riding sport bikes.
When changing oil from a name brand conventinal to a top of the line synthetic your could tell the difference in shifting.
And a diesel turns what max revs?
a 250f turns 14,000

Those were MY concerns thats all
Ing
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Ing 7/8/2014 5:07pm
7/8/2014 5:07pm
Zycki11 wrote:
Is everyone using rotella 15-40 diesel?
500guy wrote:
You could also run Delo 15-40 that Cost-Co sells. it's pretty simple, look in the manual see what the acceptable ratings for weight and type like...
You could also run Delo 15-40 that Cost-Co sells.

it's pretty simple, look in the manual see what the acceptable ratings for weight and type like API,SAE ect and buy something that meets that criteria.

as mentioned earlier don't use anything with the friction modifiers in it , the clutch will slip.
Why would you want to spend $40 on oil when you could be spending $400? Has this world gone crazy or what?
slipdog
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slipdog 7/8/2014 5:13pm
7/8/2014 5:13pm
I run UltraSuper Motorcross oil cause I'm sponserd!
mx317
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mx317 7/8/2014 5:18pm
7/8/2014 5:18pm Edited Date/Time 7/8/2014 5:27pm
piscokid wrote:
Why? That first number stands for winter. It describes how the oil reacts at 0* F. In other words, 10w-40 will flow better at at 0*...
Why? That first number stands for winter. It describes how the oil reacts at 0* F. In other words, 10w-40 will flow better at at 0* F than a 15w oil. A 15w-40 will flow less oil at 0* F. The lower the first number, the easier it flows AT LOW TEMPS. It does not affect the performance at higher temps. Straight? In other words, 10w-40 and 15w-40 are the same oil at standard engine operating temperatures. The 1st number SHOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED if you are operating engines at really cold temps. Hope this helps.
Nothing I didn't know. Why, because the people that made the motorcycle recommend 10w/40. I have used Rotella T with no issues though.
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Falcon 7/8/2014 5:25pm
7/8/2014 5:25pm
Loftin79 wrote:
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in...
For the races they put Rotella in Motorex jugs so the fans think they are using Motorex so they will go buy Motorex to put in their bikes and keep the money in the motorcycle industry. Motorex gives big money to teams and Rotella doesnt do anything in return for our sport
GuyB wrote:
Proof?
I can't corroborate Loftin's story, but when I worked at Bel-Ray I was talking to a guy who will remain unnamed about his particular team's oil usage. The team, which will also remain unnamed, was a very prominent lites team with one legendary 450 guy. When I joked to him about using Bel-Ray instead of the team's sponsor he said, "we do!"
Roscoe33
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Roscoe33 7/9/2014 6:11am
7/9/2014 6:11am
Roscoe33 wrote:
Rotella T will take more heat than any other oil.

Cygnus wrote:
Motul give the flash point in there specs. 482f. Can't find any spec for rotella but the closest I could find on bobs oil site says...
Motul give the flash point in there specs. 482f. Can't find any spec for rotella but the closest I could find on bobs oil site says around 410. I'll stick with the Motul thanks. It also said the rotella has a lot of magnesium that leads to build up and hot spots that may cause dentonation in motorcycles.
I base my opinion on my experiences, Hans my former motor guy from Austria tested all the oils on the market.

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