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This rumor comes up a lot. I’m just curious if teams are still using shell rotella in their race bikes. Maybe ML can give a definitive answer?
T6 for the win….
Funny thing is I saw a video or two where I noticed that oil in the background. Just keep in mind that motocross mechanics are not oil or chemical engineers. I tend to get my info on oil from other sources such as aviation engineers or big truck engine shops.
I’m not sure on currently but it has been used in the past, good chunk of off-road teams have used it to (GNCC and WORCS).
Probably the most common oil I see used these days, that isn’t the oil sticker you see on a team’s bike, is actually Motul.
I used it back in 2014-2015ish as Rekluse recommended it. Then they changed something in it shortly after that and Rekluse told me to quit running it after I mentioned some premature slipping in my clutch. Switched to BLUD Lubricants and instantly fixed slipping issues that arose when Rotella changed something. I had good luck tho before they changed whatever it was
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I can say without a doubt a certain orange brand was using it in 2015-2017 in the 250 bikes.
Your attention to detail is top shelf.
I sure hope you don’t believe that the local MMI graduate is deciding what oil goes in the engine.
If you search on here for oil you’ll find the threads with lots of info by lots of smart people that have extensive knowledge about oils and from what I remember the teams have done testing and Rotella is the oil of choice by most.
I am pretty sure aviation engineers did not go to MMI. Aviation vs motocross are two very different levels. Most of the oil we buy off the shelf is the same or very similar. Most shelf comes from the same refinery.
Yeah, true they always recommended it..............well that is until they put their own label on an oil. Then they said don't use it! Imagine that.
300V or...
Not a factory team, but I put Rotella in a Dragon Racing Fuels KTM back in 2010.
Pretty easy to spot the green oil in the sight glass, right?
Here in europe we use different Rotella.
Back in the day Honda teams put Yamalube into Honda oil bottles so spectators wouldn't know.
The T6 is still rated Ma/Ma2 Jaso. That is safe for wet clutch applications.
problem is, it’s not that cheap anymore, but still more cost effective than most motorcycle branded oils. I go back & forth between T6 & Maxima Pro Plus, matter of fact, both oils smell & look very similar. I think my 4t”s shift smoother with the T6….
Yamalube premix?
Yes Rekluse now has their own oil. But I did some back to back testing with the old Rotella and the new Rotella and something definitely changed for the worse on the new rotella. My father in law had a case of old rotella he donated to me that I used after the the issues with the newer version.
It’s a scientific fact that Rotella is either the best oil or the worst oil.
Pit Row
I thought Rotella changed a year or so ago and added friction modifiers that make it no longer the hot ticket for wet clutches? I remember that people were hoarding the old formula Rotella. Did I just make this up in my head?
Yamabond
I swear Rotella changes my clutch feel/engagement for the worse.
I know a former team manager (MDK KTM team) that told me they used it and he used it in his personal bike. I have used it with no problems, but currently use Maxima oil.
In the 80's a close friend ran the AMA 250GP circuit on a Honda RS250, at Daytona in 1988 HRC flowed him factory cylinders, heads ect. With the HRC parts came a case of "Castrol A747" pre mix oil not sold in the USA, The factory MX bikes had Bel-Ray decals on them but some ran A747 as well.
FWIW, the Motul 300V2 in 10w-50 is not green. Just normal amber color.
Negative. User error.
Only 2 blends of Rotella have the wet clutch ratings. T4 15w40 and T6 5w40
T5 10w30 does not, Nor does Rotella gas engine Red bottle (Basically Pennz Ultra)
There is a few new viscosities of Rotella, a T6 15w40 synth and 2 others. Not sure what ratings those are.
Using Rotella, is like using Bel ray, and then using filter oil as premix.
Read the labels.
Here is something, TONS of street bike guys use car oil with no issues of clutch slip. It is hard to replicate clutch slip with any oil in tests unless the plates are worn or springs are weak.
That said, read the labels. They pay money to run those Certs.
This is true. I saw it.
That said, Citgo Sea and Snow, Mystik(Citgos retail brand) and Yamalube 2 is the same stuff basically, or was.
Esso blended Yamalube for the Euro market. Or did.
If you compare old MSDS info, A747 was awfully close to what read for Castor 927. Almost identical.
Waaaaay back, many brands relabeled Castrol R30 and 40 as "Degummed Racing Castor"
I run ATF Type F in my Cr500 motor. Two rides and I change it.
Maxima premix
Are you still running a Rekluse Auto clutch, or just their manual clutch products? Thanks!
I was always under the impression that yamalube wasn’t a very good oil, in fact I almost ordered some yesterday to use as a break in oil to seat the rings lol. That’s good to know 👍
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