What kind of oil are you using?

GASKET-->
, I use 10W40, the climate is cold around here. It makes it a lot easier on the engine and it's synthetic so it still lubricates at high temps.
I did use the 15W50 in the past but it makes the cold starts a bit harder and probably slows down the lubrication


TEMPLAR-->
DO use the MX4T (or racing), NOT the V-TWIN. It's not the same certification.

As for certification, one thing that is mentioned in the Rocket book and I find hard to find is the API SG/SH certification. Most oil I find only has up to SF or SG but not SH..... that's why I stick with the Mobil 1.

Rook, I have a gallon of the MX4T in my shop that I bought at the Triumph dealership in San Antonio. It is what they used in my daughter's Speedmaster.

I'll check the certification on it today.

Silkolen $60.99 a gallon

I was incorrect about what type of oil I had on the shelf.

The gallon I bought from the Triumph dealership is Mobil 1 Racing 4T in 15-50. It is rated API SJ/CF JASO MA

I have one quart of Mobile 1 4X4T in 10-40. It is rated API SG SH/CF JASO MA.

Even after reviewing several web sites, I am still uncertain what the classifications means. JASO MA means the oil has no friction modifiers while JASO specifies oil with friction modifiers.

This is from the Amsoil site: "A premium quality motorcycle engine oil can be stated to meet the requirements of API Service Classification SJ, SH, SG, SF, CH-4, CG-4, CF-2, CF and CD. Note that SH, SF, SG and CD are now obsolete."

I still don't know what each means. They are specifications related to the year an engine was built but I am not sure what is the difference.

BigLaw said:

http://www.shell.com/home/Framework?siteId=rotella-en&FC2=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/products/zzz_lhn.html&FC3=/rotella-en/html/iwgen/products/t6_detail.html

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Is this even motorcycle oil? Doesn't look like it.

GASKET, API SJ covers anything lower. (SG, SH) It's alphabetical.
INFO HERE:
http://www.unitedoil.com.au/apiclass.htm

I just got my first oil change done on the '08 R3T. The dealer recommended I bring it in at 800 miles instead of the recommended 500 miles. He wanted the rings, et al, well broken in. Oil used was Mobil 1 racing 4T 10W-40 (I'm at latitude N 46 degrees). The options on his parts shelf were Silkolene for $60/gal and the Mobil 1 for $52/gal. More if bought in a quart bottle. He charged $13.95/qt for the oil. I chose to have them do it for the sake of the warranty and to perform the other checks involved with a 500 mi. service. The bike is new to me as well as this dealer (I bought it on eBay) and I wanted to establish a relationship with teh dealer. I will treat the next oil change a little different and probably do it at 5,000 miles. It seems like cheap insurance to me.

I will continue to look for a bargain on the Mobil 1 oil. The best I've been able to find on the 'net is about $10.50/qt. with the Silkolene even higher. I've got 9,000 miles in which to find some. The way I justified the high cost of this first oil change is that I amortize the cost over the 10,000 miles between changes (approx. $10/1,000 mi.). That's less than the cost of a tank of gas every month for a year.

I did my first oil change at about 800 miles with Mobil 1 that I bought at Triumph of Pensacola because the shop was going to be closed during Bike Week. The owner did the rest of the 500 mile service upon his return and signed off on my book. I changed it at 5000 and then had dealerships do it at 10K and 15K.

I think it is prudent to have the dealership do the required oil changes when within the warranty period.

I had warranty done to a car and as long as you can prove (receipts) that the maintenance was done on time they have nothing to say.

As for the Rocket, as you probably know there had just been $9200 claim done on warranty and extended warranty on mine. They never even asked for oil changes proof.

Templar, I looked at their website too and besides different viscosity I can't seem to find the difference between the two anymore.

As for the "Triumph" Mobil 1 4T: (From their website)
Mobil 1 MX4T 10W-40 was renamed because the product is known as Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 outside the US. Be assured that no changes to the Mobil 1 MX4T 10W-40 formulation occurred during this name change. Same great product, new name.

malfunconz said:

warantee paranoia .... do your own oil . buggar the price , get the good stuff , trumpy brand filters (support the manufacturer) sleep easy .

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Amen to that!

Templar said:

I think Mobil uses the V-Twin designation so the Harley guys feel good about leaking $10 on the garage floor everyday.... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

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Probably :lol: