Can a 5W-40 properly protect a motorcycle engine? Apparently so...

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Jun 11, 2002
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The Dirty South
Lab: Schaeffer's Specialized Lubricants

Engine: 739cc air/oil-cooled four-stroke four-cylinder motorcycle engine with combined transmission and wet clutch.

Miles on engine: 24,100

Miles on oil sample: 3000

Miles on oil filter: 3000

Oil: Shell Rotella T Synthetic [group III] 5W-40 (Current API SL/CH-4 formulation)

Make-up oil added: Approx 5% of total crankcase volume.

Operating conditions: 55F to 100F, mixed high and low speed/RPM, no short trips, moderate idle time

Engine condition/tune: Good overall. Mild knock at startup. Factory jetting, pilot screws 3 turns out (overrich idle). Modified exhaust and airbox, stock air filter element.

Results from previous 3k mile analysis of Delvac 1300 Super 15W-40 are in "()"

Copper: 2ppm (2ppm)
Iron: 10ppm (16ppm)
Chromium: 0ppm (0ppm)
Aluminum: 3ppm (6ppm)
Lead: 1ppm (1ppm)
Moly: 3ppm (71ppm)
Phosphorus: 976ppm (1769ppm)
Zinc: 972ppm (1852ppm)
Magnesium: 220ppm (757ppm)
Calcium: 2950ppm (4071ppm)

Anti-freeze: 0% (0%)
Fuel Dilution: none (none)
H2O: 0% (0%)
Silicon: 2ppm (3ppm)
Viscosity: 13.94cSt @ 100C (13.67cSt @ 100C)
Mfr viscosity spec: 14.6cSt @ 100C (15.5cSt @100C)

Oxidation: 0% (9%)
Nitration: 0% (2%)
TBN: Not tested.
Soot: Not tested.
 
Wow, I have been waiting for a comparison between the Rotella Syn and Delvac. Unfortunately, I am not oil-analysis-literate (yet). Can someone please interpret the results for me?
 
Ahh good! Finally we get to see a Rotella T Synthetic report. I've speculated that this may be the best OTC oil for motorcycles. And look, it's still a 40-weight after 3000 miles! What bike was this used in, richard612? You've got excellent filtration.
 
The Delvac 1300 shifted OK. The Rotella synth was better, probably as good as Mobil 1 15W-50. The cheap dino 20W-50 in there now shifts pretty badly.
 
I wonder how it would work in my GS1100 Air-cooled motor...especially since it shifts so much better with the Castrol 20w-50 than a 10w-40, and this is a 5w-40.?
 
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