TOPIC: Oil - For That Clunk

At the meeting yesterday we were talking about oils and what to use. I use Redline products exclusively (almost) in my motorcycles. The transmission "clunk" that we all have (no matter what manf) as we shift can be made A LOT better with the oil you use. I have been using Redline oils for years ... Harley probably has the worst clunking tranny out there but BMW isn't far behind!

I have a friend that owns and produces oil for race cars, race motorcycles, food handling etc ... he makes them all. He tested, to show me, a bunch of oils in his lab and I was surprised how poorly some of the oil tested!

Anyway this got longer post then I wanted ...

We have not had an oil thread to my knowledge on this site. I have had great results with Rotella universal oil in my bikes. It has demonstrated very good viscosity under extended use, is inexpensive and Is safe to use in bikes that share the oil with the clutch.
Now I hope I have not started a real oil thread.

I thought it was you, Leo, Walt and I talking about transmission clunks and oil in the upper garage ... I must have been mistaken. I certainly don't want to start an oil thread here or anywhere for that matter. I thought I would share my solution to the clunky transmission with the group as a whole and that is/was the only reason for my post! Now I have to remember who it was I was talking to ... hum ...

Don

Vince Giannetti wrote:
Have you done an oil analysis on the Rotella after being run in your bike(s)? Just curious about your comment "demonstrated very good viscosity under extended use" if that is from Rotella's advertising or an actual analysis that you had done. An oil analysis by Blackstone (I'm sure there are others) will give you exactly what the viscosity of the oil is compared what it should be along with many other factors that tell you how the oil is holding up, how your engine is holding up, how your filter is working etc etc ...

Does the Rotella help with the "clunk" I was referring too and what I started this thread for?

V-Man, the post was somewhat "tongue in cheek" because I have probably spent way too much time in the past reading oil threads. I usually use motorcycle specific Mobile 1 10 w 40 in the summer and the Rotella 5 w 40 in the winter when I ride a lot less. I have not done my own oil analysis but have seen the analysis of Rotella on many web sites in various bikes and the oil has held up well if you change it at a shorter interval, 3000 miles or less. It does tend to shear down to a 30 weight oil at extended drain intervals. Both the Rotella 15 w 40 non synthetic and synthetic 5 w 40 are used by many and both have been tested with the results published on sites such as Bob the Oil Guy and other Bike specific sites. I have never had any problems on any of my bikes with clunky transmissions but that may be because I have been riding BMWs for a long time and I am getting too old to remember my Honda riding days. BMWs tend to have a reputation for clunky transmissions and if you have found a good oil to solve that problem, then that is helpful to know. As I said I may have become accustomed to it. I tend to put well over 100,000 miles on my bikes before I purchase another bike and never had any problems. IMHO any oil that carries a JASO specification , changed at regular intervals and follows the specifications in the owners manual should be fine. I am not an oil expert though but I did stay at the Holiday Inn Express.

I'll join in.

BMW recently - in the last year - moved from Castrol to Shell as its oil supplier. The new oil is called BMW Advantec - it is pricey at $15/liter. Maybe the same or similar to Shells rotella T6.
I just had my first oil change using the new Advantec oil and have to say that my 6 year old F800GS has never shifted better. Your mileage may vary but worth a try. I'd be interested if anyone else has had a similar experience.