OH NO!!! an oil question.....

[alph]

anyone ever use Castrol Actevo Xtra 20W-40 4-Stroke Motorcycle Oil ?  i was looking for some 20w-40 synthetic engine oil and this came up.  found it on amazon for about $35 for 6 quarts. 

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Castrol%2006394%20Actevo%20Xtra%2020W-40%204-Stroke%20Motorcycle%20Oil%20

[Hoser]

Should work fine, price ain't bad either.  Hoser

[Farther]

It's not a full synthetic.

[Hoser]

So?  The Valkyrie does not require synthetic.. Or any other bike that I know of.  Hoser

[Patrick]

I think alph said he was looking for a synthetic. This is a blend.

[98valk]

a 15w40 diesel oil would be better and cheaper,it has to handle a long piston stroke which is actually a higher piston speed than a m/c engine and it has to handle a turbo spinning at 50+k rpms.
no need for an overpriced m/c oil, unless one has money to burn.

[da prez]

 Six gallons of 15W/40 Shell rotella at sams club is $72.oo .

                                       da prez

[Hoser]

I think alph said he was looking for a synthetic. This is a blend.

mea culpa  Hoser

[alph]

I read the 14 reviews that amazon had posted.  seems that several guys use it for their cycles, one guy didn't like it, but the other reviews were all giving it thumbs up. 

usually I used amsoil 20w50, but switched to mobil 1 10w40 last year (manual says to use 10w40) thinking it would increase my fuel mileage (didn't change at all).  had a "ticking" noise from the engine (near cylinder 2&4) when I was sitting at idle, some suggested my idle was too low at 800rpm. I'm not sure myself.......  I'm probably going back to the amsoil this year, see what that "ticking" noise does.  if it doesn't go away, it'll go in for a valve clearance check.

al.

[98valk]

see my oil analysis of Amsoil 10w30/30HD Diesel Oil
mpg was slightly better.  manual allows dino 10w30 up to 90-95f ambient. honda now calls for 10w30 for just about all of their bikes. SAE report which I have posted before shows that the m/c manufacturers test their engines using 10w30

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,17708.0.html

[blackbird239]

I have been using that Castrol oil in my 1999 Blackbird and my wife's Hayabusa for years with no problem.  I just bought a 2002 Valkyrie in October with 1900 miles on it. Bike was perfect. I changed the oil at 2700 miles. I now have 3300 miles on it.  Last weekend I was taking a ride ( about 100 miles each way). My  clutches started slipping in 4th gear on the turnpike on the way home. By the time I got home, they were slipping some all over the place.

I was told in the Valkyrie chat room that Castrol changed something recently with their oils. I was advised to change the oil, specifically to try Shell Rotella T6. I am going to give this a try and pray that I don't need a clutch replacement. I'll post something after I change the oil and put some miles on the bike. Hopefully this will work.

[Rio Wil]

I have been using that Castrol oil in my 1999 Blackbird and my wife's Hayabusa for years with no problem.  I just bought a 2002 Valkyrie in October with 1900 miles on it. Bike was perfect. I changed the oil at 2700 miles. I now have 3300 miles on it.  Last weekend I was taking a ride ( about 100 miles each way). My  clutches started slipping in 4th gear on the turnpike on the way home. By the time I got home, they were slipping some all over the place.

I was told in the Valkyrie chat room that Castrol changed something recently with their oils. I was advised to change the oil, specifically to try Shell Rotella T6. I am going to give this a try and pray that I don't need a clutch replacement. I'll post something after I change the oil and put some miles on the bike. Hopefully this will work.

You might want to take a look at the clutch lever....is is releasing properly...engagement/disengagement?

[Bighead]

I have been using that Castrol oil in my 1999 Blackbird and my wife's Hayabusa for years with no problem.  I just bought a 2002 Valkyrie in October with 1900 miles on it. Bike was perfect. I changed the oil at 2700 miles. I now have 3300 miles on it.  Last weekend I was taking a ride ( about 100 miles each way). My  clutches started slipping in 4th gear on the turnpike on the way home. By the time I got home, they were slipping some all over the place.

I was told in the Valkyrie chat room that Castrol changed something recently with their oils. I was advised to change the oil, specifically to try Shell Rotella T6. I am going to give this a try and pray that I don't need a clutch replacement. I'll post something after I change the oil and put some miles on the bike. Hopefully this will work.

You might want to take a look at the clutch lever....is is releasing properly...engagement/disengagement?

Yep I had that happen when I put chrome levers on mine. The brass piece that holds the cable wouldn't rotate the way it should so a bit of sandpaper and it worked great and never slipped again.

[Ricky-D]

Motorcycle specific oil, is usually more expensive because of the additive package, which is composed of

higher grade materials that protect the engine better than the additives now found in modern automotive

and diesel oils, manufactured to conform with standards in todays world of a pollution free environment.

The funny thing is that these more "expensive additive" ingredients were the more commonly used

ingredients in all oils 30 and more years ago.

So, if you're using automotive/diesel oils, regardless, you are shortchanging your engine longtime for the

short term benefit of saving a few bucks.

***

[98valk]

Motorcycle specific oil, is usually more expensive because of the additive package, which is composed of

higher grade materials that protect the engine better than the additives now found in modern automotive

and diesel oils, manufactured to conform with standards in todays world of a pollution free environment.

The funny thing is that these more "expensive additive" ingredients were the more commonly used

ingredients in all oils 30 and more years ago.

So, if you're using automotive/diesel oils, regardless, you are shortchanging your engine longtime for the

short term benefit of saving a few bucks.

***

R-D,
oil analysis completely disproves your comments.
suggest u go to the used oil m/c section of www.bobistheoilguy.com and read the reports. in fact there is a ST1100 who has posted many reports even a fantastic report with low cost walmart supertech 15w40 oil. a diesel engine puts much more stress on an oil than a m/c engine ever could.
don't believe the hype of m/c oils.

[Ricky-D]

You are misreading what I posted and misconstrue what I am saying.

The point I am making is that Motorcycle specific oil does not have to

meet the stringent requirement that the EPA imposes on automotive/diesel oils.

Secondly, that the additives that were the best and commonly used in oils

a long time ago (30years+) are now not acceptable, nor allowed, by the EPA rules.

Rules, that don't apply to motorcycle specific oil.

***

[Farther]

You are misreading what I posted and misconstrue what I am saying.

Maybe that quote is what should be in your signature line. 

[Ricky-D]

Another contributive post!



***

[Hoser]

Well, geez.  I guess I've been shortchanging my bike for eight years and 130,000 miles.  It's a wonder it still runs!     Hoser

[98valk]

Well, geez.  I guess I've been shortchanging my bike for eight years and 130,000 miles.  It's a wonder it still runs!     Hoser

just your pocket, lower cost diesel oil would have been just as good and most likely better.

[98valk]

You are misreading what I posted and misconstrue what I am saying.

The point I am making is that Motorcycle specific oil does not have to

meet the stringent requirement that the EPA imposes on automotive/diesel oils.

Secondly, that the additives that were the best and commonly used in oils

a long time ago (30years+) are now not acceptable, nor allowed, by the EPA rules.

Rules, that don't apply to motorcycle specific oil.

***

today's diesel oil still has the same additives with more better additives to deal with the extra soot from the epa devices.
see additive packs, compare to m/c oils they are the same or better. and remember mobil 1 m/c oil has moly in it which I have posted many times and provided the analysis chart - see my old posts for mobil 1 or search bobistheoilguysite.
below are diesel oils.
http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/HDEO%20SUMMARYrev2.html

[flcjr]

You are misreading what I posted and misconstrue what I am saying.

The point I am making is that Motorcycle specific oil does not have to

meet the stringent requirement that the EPA imposes on automotive/diesel oils.

Secondly, that the additives that were the best and commonly used in oils

a long time ago (30years+) are now not acceptable, nor allowed, by the EPA rules.

Rules, that don't apply to motorcycle specific oil.

***

today's diesel oil still has the same additives with more better additives to deal with the extra soot from the epa devices.
see additive packs, compare to m/c oils they are the same or better. and remember mobil 1 m/c oil has moly in it which I have posted many times and provided the analysis chart
http://www.pqiamerica.com/March2013PCMO/HDEO%20SUMMARYrev2.html

I don't see Mobil one motorcycle oil listed there anywhere?? All I see is Mobil Delvac diesel oil?
I run Mobil one 10w40 racing motorcycle oil cause it makes me feel good and 40 bucks a year for oil is the least of my concern