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Is this engine oil ok to use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dcboys81
  • Start date Start date
Hey, my bike isn't a diesel, but it is a motorcycle so I use motorcyle oil. Its cheap enough, even the suzuki stuff is only seven bucks a litre.
And that SF SG thing it is just a API alphabetical progression. The "S" stands for "Spark ignition" Gas engine. and the second letter is the api standard,g supercedes f and so on down the alphabet. Also on that label it may say CF CG etc the "C" stands for "Compression ignition" ...Diesel oil.
there, my brain is empty.
Oh, the answer to the question is.... no.
 
Last edited:
derwood said:
Hey, my bike isn't a diesel, but it is a motorcycle so I use motorcyle oil. Its cheap enough, even the suzuki stuff is only seven bucks a litre.
And that SF SG thing it is just a API alphabetical progression. The "S" stands for "Spark ignition" Gas engine. and the second letter is the api standard,g supercedes f and so on down the alphabet. Also on that label it may say CF CG etc the "C" stands for "Compression ignition" ...Diesel oil.
there, my brain is empty.
Oh, the answer to the question is.... no.
Click to expand...

Just wondering...but can you explain the differences between diesel oil and motorcycle oil? I'm not trying to be flippant honest, it's just that I've read all kind of chemical analysis test reports on the Bob is the Oil Guy forum and I just can't understand why motorcycle oil would be better than diesel oil.
 
Well thank you everyone for your replies. this is my first motorcycle. I did use the search, i just wanted to know if I should take back what I had. Im in Illinois, we hit our first 40 degree day and I had my bike out for about 20 miles. Freezing but worth it. I ended up gettin the Rotella 15w40 like most of this site suggests. My father had a 55 gallon supply at work for the machines, so it didn't cost me a thing. Thanks again everyone. Bikes all ready to go.
 
Dcboys81 said:
Its Valvoline Max Life, with synthetic Blend.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/consumer-products/motor-oil/higher-mileage-motor-oil/2

thats the stuff, if theres a problem with using this please let me know, and I will return it and head over to autozone and ask someone.
Click to expand...


i wouldnt ask the guys (or girls) at autozone ANYTHING. my experience is if they cant look it up on their computer, they are lost.

i use the rotella diesel synth in mine. like 12 bucks for a gallon.
 
Nessism said:
Just wondering...but can you explain the differences between diesel oil and motorcycle oil? I'm not trying to be flippant honest, it's just that I've read all kind of chemical analysis test reports on the Bob is the Oil Guy forum and I just can't understand why motorcycle oil would be better than diesel oil.
Click to expand...
I can't see it being better than diesel oil or making a difference. As long as both have healthy amounts of zinc and no slippery additives who cares. At the rate I'm driving my GS it's going to take 10 more years to wear this engine out, then I'll get a classic busa.
 
Always...

Always...

I have used Castrol 10/40 in my older bikes for years, no problems, good clean running oil.. Now my diesels are another story, nothing but Amsoil, pure synthetic 15/40....
 
The gentleman that built my 1327 said to use Mobil 1 15w50. That was back in 1989. Motor make a little more power than stock... When I get done rebuilding the motor, I will use the Rotella synthetic... with a top end oiler... and a oil cooler just to be safe...;)
 
I do not know the difference between diesel and motorcycle oil. I am sure there is one though.
I do know that running 15w40 diesel oil in a gas engine is not recommended (Exxon) because of the ash content in diesel oil.
I don't exactly know what that means to the engine.
Oil is a relatively minor expense so I don't really see any point in using anything other than motorcycle oil unless availability was a concern.
 
derwood said:
I do not know the difference between diesel and motorcycle oil. I am sure there is one though.
I do know that running 15w40 diesel oil in a gas engine is not recommended (Exxon) because of the ash content in diesel oil.
I don't exactly know what that means to the engine.
Oil is a relatively minor expense so I don't really see any point in using anything other than motorcycle oil unless availability was a concern.
Click to expand...


The latest version of Rotella diesel oil is JA certified, which means its certified for use in motorcycles. I'm fairly certain that most of the various diesel oils would likewise meet JA but the manufacturers don't want to go to the expense of performing the certification testing. Diesel oil is typically available for about $10/gallon if you look for a sale and motorcycle oil is about $4+/quart. I'm cheap so diesel oil frees up money for other things my bike needs.
 
Last edited:
hey guys, just bought this oil for my 82 650.

Truck Pride- SAE 15W-40(for gas or diesel)
Meets or Exceeds CJ-4,CI-4,C-4 PLUS,CH-4,CH-4,CF-4,CF/SL

Cost $2.40 a quart.
No energy rated crap on it anywhere.

-----
Will this stuff work for my bike okay?

They were out of the Rotella 15W-40 Diesel, so I bought this.
-----
Im running expensive motorcycle oil right now, but I just wanna make sure THIS stuff will work, so if it doesn't I have time to take it back!

Thanks!
Mike
 
That should work fine in your bike. If they are out of rotella, sometimes I will buy the motorcraft brand 15w-40.
 
Ok chaps, often read through these kind of discussions and a number of times have resolved myself to switch to Rotella yet when I go to look for it there's about ten different versions. Well maybe not that many but enough to confuse an oil dumbo like me. Many times I wished someone would post a pic and say "this is the one I use". So, is this the one other's use?

PS, I thought you used castrol syntec blend Mr BassCliff, at least that's what it used to show on your oil and filter change tutorial. Is that diesel oil then?
 
I went from 10w-40 Suzuki motorcycle oil to Rotella 15w-40, and shiftingis much smoother with the Rotella, and it was half the price.
 
Wallowgreen said:
I thought you used castrol syntec blend Mr BassCliff, at least that's what it used to show on your oil and filter change tutorial. Is that diesel oil then?
Click to expand...

Hi,

Yes, I used to use the Castrol Syntec Blend (not a diesel engine oil). But my bike seems to like the diesel engine oils better. I can find the Rotella T 15w40 dino at my local AutoZone for about $13 a gallon. It's not often that the best solution is also the cheapest.

Thanks to my friends here at the GSR forum, I have seen the light!
cool_smiley.gif



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff
 
Wallowgreen said:
... when I go to look for it there's about ten different versions. Well maybe not that many but enough to confuse an oil dumbo like me. ...
Click to expand...
If you are looking for "Rotella", I have only ever seen FOUR choices.
1. WHITE JUG, 15w-40, "regular" dino oil, quart size.
2. WHITE JUG, 15w-40, "regular" dino oil, gallon size.
3. BLUE JUG, 5w-40, "synthetic" oil, quart size.
4. BLUE JUG, 5w-40, "synthetic" oil, gallon size.

Any of these will work. The gallon jug is cheaper than buying four separate quarts.

.
 
I'm not sure if the formula changed but if you stumble across any of the older CI4+ diesel oils they have more zinc and phosphorus than the current CJ4 stuff. Other than this detail just about any diesel oil will work just fine.
 
A lot of the oil companies had to remove a good portion of the zinc to meet the epa's new guidelines. This was a few years ago. There are zinc additives that can suppliment the oil. I learned the hard way that you have to have the zinc in there. We build vintage road race motors at work for various applications and lost a couple of motors right after they took the zinc out. Not a pretty picture.....
 
Alright then, stopped by wally world while I was out and picked up a gallon of white jug 15w40 Rotella T with pictures of an 18 wheeler, tractor and pick up on the back. I assume that means diesel oil even though it doesn't actually say that anywhere. What it does say is "energized protection" I hope that's different to "energy conserving".

It'll be in the 1100 tomorrow with a new filter ready for when the sun finally shows up around here.
 
If you are looking for "Rotella", I have only ever seen FOUR choices.
1. WHITE JUG, 15w-40, "regular" dino oil, quart size.
2. WHITE JUG, 15w-40, "regular" dino oil, gallon size.
3. BLUE JUG, 5w-40, "synthetic" oil, quart size.
4. BLUE JUG, 5w-40, "synthetic" oil, gallon size.

Any of these will work. The gallon jug is cheaper than buying four separate quarts.
Click to expand...

The Walmart near me also has a 2.5 gallon jug of the 15w-40 for around $25.
 
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