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Will synthetic oil cause clutch slip?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GelandeStrasse
  • Start date Start date
G

GelandeStrasse

Guest
Hi GS'ers
Usually petrol head forums have thousands of threads about what's the best oil to use! My search yielded no results? :confused:

I'm a believer in the qualities of synthetic oils and plan to use it in the GK when it's ready. I have previously had slipping issues on another wet clutch bike after using synthetic oil.
Anyone had any problems using synth in a GS motor? Any oil recommendations?
Thanks :)
 
you really didnt search very well....there are countless threads on this site regarding what oil is used or recommended. try again
 
Most popular around here is Shell Rotella-T 15-40W, some go a little heavier. It is what I use. Any "energy conserving" oil will likely cause clutch slippage; this would include synthetics and blends. Though I wouldn't personally know, and don't care to find out
 
Agemax said:
you really didnt search very well....there are countless threads on this site regarding what oil is used or recommended. try again
Click to expand...
hmmmm, that's what i thought, ok, thanks, i think :| "synthetic oil", "what oil", "synthetic oil clutch slip", "best oil" and finally "OIL". What magic combination of search terms should i have used? :confused: Maybe you might be kind enough to post a link to a relevant thread if you know of one? :)


matt1100 said:
Most popular around here is Shell Rotella-T 15-40W, some go a little heavier. It is what I use. Any "energy conserving" oil will likely cause clutch slippage; this would include synthetics and blends. Though I wouldn't personally know, and don't care to find out
Click to expand...
Great, thanks for the info Matt. I'll be looking for non energy conserving type then :)
 
I have two bikes, one I use synthetic in and the other conventional oil in,
I have no clutch slippage in the bike I use synthetic oil in. Shell Rotella in both.
 
"Synthetic" is the search term I used. Here's the specific thread you are probably looking for:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=184016&highlight=synthetic


And others that may be of interest:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=182414&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=169400&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=176901&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=175490&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=175750&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=171287&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=171075&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=155119&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=184407&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=190752&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=194367&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=195910&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=197104&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196441&highlight=synthetic
 
fishfarm said:
"Synthetic" is the search term I used. Here's the specific thread you are probably looking for:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=184016&highlight=synthetic


And others that may be of interest:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=182414&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=169400&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=176901&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=175490&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=175750&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=171287&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=171075&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=155119&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=184407&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=190752&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=194367&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=195910&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=197104&highlight=synthetic

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=196441&highlight=synthetic
Click to expand...
Brilliant LOL :D I'm off to begin my synthetic oil education now, I may be some time! :D

Edit: so my interweb settings must be outta whack, I'm just getting recent posts when i search, that explains my inept attempts to find synthetic oil threads. Thanks for the help guys :)
 
Last edited:
Rotella Synthetic 5W-40 is certified for use in wet clutches (no slippage). Good stuff.

As with any oil, don't use car oil in your motorcycle. Car oils have much less high pressure additives like zinc and phosphorus. Diesel engine oil is good stuff, and much cheaper than motorcycle oil.
 
GelandeStrasse said:
Brilliant LOL :D I'm off to begin my synthetic oil education now, I may be some time! :D

Edit: so my interweb settings must be outta whack, I'm just getting recent posts when i search, that explains my inept attempts to find synthetic oil threads. Thanks for the help guys :)
Click to expand...
When you click on Search, look under "Advanced Search" and "Search Options." Your "Find Posts from" setting may be limiting your results.
 
Forestalling endless churlish chitchat

Forestalling endless churlish chitchat

To actually answer the frickin' question:


NO.


You're welcome. :D
 
Improper adjustment causes slippage
the notion of synthetic oils being slipperier is voodoo.

Hydrostatic pressure is what makes a wet clutch work so oil snobs doofii
 
will synthetic oil cause slippage......

will synthetic oil cause slippage......

hi guys,,, well i,ve been using sythetic fortified oil,,, its actually SHELL SX4 FORTIFIED not full synthetic,,, i did that for a good reason,,, being if i needed oil for the bikes in a tiny hick country town i could use ordionary mineral oil 15-40 or similar until i got home with out harming the motor and i,ve never had clutch slippage at all ,,,,,and i know i,m using a good oil .....regards oldgrumpy:):):)
 
I got 140k on a highly abused camaro, which calls for synthetic.
I've used nothing but supertech 5w30-Regular oil.
So you can probably guess my views on synthetic(which really isn't synthetic anyways)

But you NEED TO USE DIESEL oil in your GS, because of the wet clutch system.
It will probably slip if you don't.
(there are people here that report no slippage with car oil...but it's Far from the majority.)
 
Actually, it is the extra additives that provide better shear protection for the gearbox that make diesel oil better. It is the "energy conserving" additives in automotive oil that make the clutch slip.
And synthetics really only provide longer oil life, nothing else.
And they come in two flavors - full synthetics and blended.
I don't waste my money on them, even in my turbocharged TransAm. I just change the oil religiously.
 
koolaid_kid said:
Actually, it is the extra additives that provide better shear protection for the gearbox that make diesel oil better. It is the "energy conserving" additives in automotive oil that make the clutch slip.
And synthetics really only provide longer oil life, nothing else.
And they come in two flavors - full synthetics and blended.
I don't waste my money on them, even in my turbocharged TransAm. I just change the oil religiously.
Click to expand...

Yes, the main thing with synthetic is it resists shearing down so it lasts longer. You can extend your change interval to offset the high cost. Another thing synthetic does well is resist thinning under extreme heat. A good feature for an air cooled motorcycle that gets stuck in traffic during the summer. Another application where the heat resistance would be good is feeding a turbocharger which gets super hot. Particularly some of the older type that didn't have water cooling.
 
koolaid_kid said:
And synthetics really only provide longer oil life, nothing else.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately don't agree. Synthetics are much more superior to conventional oils. I once read an independant study where they ran two engines 100K, one with synthetic (after the engine was broken in) and the other conventional. Then they tore apart the engines. The sythetic oil engine still had cross hatching in the cylinders, the oil pan was spotless, gas mileage and horsepower increased (not much, but still) and in very cold weather synthetic wouldn't gel (had to use it in Alaska). The two con's I had with it, is if there was the potential for a leak, synthetic would find it, and it costs more.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/synthetic-conventional-motor-oil.htm

http://suite101.com/article/synthetic-oil-vs-conventional-motor-oil-a136539
 
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