I tried Repsol Moto Full synthetic 4T Racing oil and it was very nice for ~500 miles. After 1000 miles it didn't seem a whole lot better than the conventional/synthetic blend (Kawi) I had used up to that point. The Repsol was not fresh from the shelf when I put it in but since it was synthetic, I thought it should be fine after sitting in the bottles for a couple months. Even so, I don't want to run it past 3000 miles. Time to change.

Rather than try another full synthetic right away, I think I'd like to go straight back to the blend I used to use to compare. Can I just drain the Repsol and not worry about the residual left in there or is there some kind of special procedure I should follow to get as much of the full synthetic out as I can?

Rook

Rook you shouldn't have any problem. Just drain out the old and pour in the new. I hope I'll get my lab report in here pretty soon on the new formula, Rotella T full synthetic. If it checks out as good as the old formula I will recommend that oil.

Thanks again, Phil.

HMMMmmmmmmmm- Interesting, you had samples of Rotella analyzed for chemical composition?? That's what i call dedication!

I tried the repsol once also. After about 500 miles it shifted like crap. Went back to Yamalube on the R1 with it.

After 1000 miles it didn't seem a whole lot better than the conventional/synthetic blend (Kawi) I had used up to that point.

What metric are you using to compare the two Rook? Only an oil analysis by a reputable lab will tell you what's really going on with your oil. No problem going back to a dino or dino/synthetic blend but why not wait for Phil's OA to come back from Blackstone and see how the new formulation is holding up? Here's Phil's OA from the old Rotella Synthetic, very impressive numbers.

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/16/2009 @ 1:28 PM *

Thanks for showing the old report, Kruz. Very interesting. I haven't had the oil analyzed but i could tell that after 500 miles the performance of the Repsol was noticably deteriorating. The cam chain tensioner rattled on start up like always and the first and second gear "Klunk" came back too. After 1000 miles, Repsol didn't seem to shift any smoother than Kawi 4 cycle 10W-40. I will say this for the full synthetic, it was smooth like butter for the first 500 miles. Although the full synthetic lost a great deal of overall smoothness with use, high temp up and down shifting may have been better even after a few thousand miles of use.

I think I paid ~$34 for 5 quarts of Kawi oil. If I could get Sythetic for for the same price, I'd use it. Mobil 1 was 60-some dollars a gallon. Repsol was even more. I can't see spending money like that on oil unless it keeps the bike running great for 3000 miles. Seems better to go cheap and change more often. I'm a little spooked by the rumors of clutch slippage from Rotella too.

Ahhh- I see your thread about Rotella below in Maintenance. It is cheap enough to change often. I'm liking it more now.

If my clutch slipped from Rotella, would it do permanent damage or would it be as simple to fix as changing to another oil?

* Last updated by: Rook on 7/16/2009 @ 10:23 PM *

I received the report today on the new formula Rotella and e-mailed Kruz a copy for him to post. The new stuff is still good, don't get me wrong. But it's not even close, I.M.O. to being as good as the old formula. Kruz has much more experience reading those reports, so I'll wait for him to post his take on it before I say anymore.

Rook, I have never heard of a documented case of clutch slippage occurring with Shell Rotella oil used in a wet clutch motorcycle engine and this has got to be the most widely used oil out there. The new 5W40 does seem to have more molybdenum anti-friction additive than the old formulation. I need to check the moly concentration against the JASO-MA specs to see what is allowed. I'm running the new formualtion in all three of my bikes with zero issues.

Kruz

* Last updated by: Kruz on 7/17/2009 @ 8:35 AM *

"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."

Richard Moore
Staff Engineer
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.

If you're clutch is slipping it's because it is either worn out or defective. I called and talked to an engineer at Shell at the above number and confirmed the new Rotella 5W40 meets or exceeds JASO MA specs for wet clutch applications. If you don't believe me, please call and talk to a Shell engineer yourself.

Kruz

^^Thanks........and it's cheap.