Saturday, December 26, 2009

Is there any difference between motorcycle oil and car oil if the velcosity is the same?

The reason being motorcycle oil cost three time more at cycle shop compare to KragenIs there any difference between motorcycle oil and car oil if the velcosity is the same?
viscosity is the same





automotive oil is formulated as a engine crankcase oil


motorcycle oil is formulated for 3 jobs, a crankcase oil, a transmission-gear oil, and a wet clutch oil.


The most important difference is the wet clutch oil, automotive oil won't work cause of the energy saving formulation will cause a wet clutch to slip.


the average motorcycle engine is a high performance engine, pumping out 4 times more horsepower compared to the bigger size of an automotive engine and the correct formulation of motorcycle oil is important, this oil works harder and more and more is expected from motorcycle oil, that's why it costs more.Is there any difference between motorcycle oil and car oil if the velcosity is the same?
The myth that there is a difference is just that, myth. Many years ago they had Yamalube for Yamaha 2 cycle engines and Mercury ';quicksilver'; for Mercury outboard engines. I noticed that at the Honda dealer yesterday, people bought Honda oil. Believe me, unless it is Castrol, Quakerstate, or Penzoil, it is the same for the most part. The additives aren't in the same quantities from one to the other but they are mostly compatible from one brand to the other. Synthetic oils shouldn't be mixed with petroleum bases but unless otherwise stated, synthetic oils are compatible to other synthetic oils.
I buy the best oil I can find for mine, it has stayed functional for 30 years. But no, I do not buy Honda brand motoroil for my Hondamatic. I use a good grade of fully synthetic oil, MOBIL 1 Extended Performance oil, though, as it gives extended lifespan to the oil, and it come in a weight that no one else has, 15W-50. It get hot down here in the summertime and I like the idea of 50 weight oil (at least in a non-harley) that is guaranteed against lubrication failure for 15,000 miles.





NOW it only takes 3 quarts of oil to completely change the engine and Auto transmission oil out. So how much cheaper is Kragen? So I pay a bit more for my oil, but I have a bit of confidence in the brand name motor oil that I don't in Kragen. Now this stuff MOBIL ONE EP is more expensive than Kragen, but it meets the same standard API SL/CF.





As long as you change your oil EXACTLY AS SCHEDULED, cheap oil that meets the standards of API SL/CF is fine for any thing on the road.





But my Time and labor are worth something too. But for the extra dollar total, that it costs me to buy the Mobil one SYNTHETIC, a versus a house brand of oil, that gives me peace of mind, 15,000 miles between oil changes. And that saves me three oil changes over that time, labor I do not have to do, time for motorcycle maintenance as opposed to riding. And It does not void the warranty on my 30 Year old Honda to do so. If you have a warranty in effect, buy API SL/CF oil, keep your receipts, buy Fram oil filters and ALSO keep the receipts. Note it down in the log in the back of your owner's manual as proof of maintenance as the maker demands.





They have to accept it as proof, under US law. You should be fine, using the absolute lowest quality oil that meets API specs. It just doesn't do it for me.
Yes, there is a big difference. Cars are water cooled and motorcycles are air cooled, therefore they run at different tempatures. The bubbles in your oil is how you oil is cleaned. Dirt penetrates these bubbles and then is removed when it runs through the filter. Since water cooled engines run cooler, if you use that oil in a bike , the dirt can't penetrate the bubbles thus it is not able to clean itself.
The viscosity is the same, but remember that the motorcycle oil also has to lube the clutch and transmission.





If you look at a car the oil in the transmission is completely different than the engine oil.





Cars and motorcycles? IT IS NOT THE SAME OIL!!!





Motorcycles should have motorcycle-specific oil. They have to handle very different things than a car.
Why do you think they make so many different oils?





Gear oil is for gear boxes WD-40 is for door hinges 2 stroke oil is for 2 stroke motors and canola oil is for cooking etc. etc. A motorcycles engine is a combination of a transmission and an engine. A cars engine is just that an engine the transmission is a separate unit that requires its own lubrication system. So motor oil is only good for a motor not transmissions.





Motor oil has additives like friction modifiers it might not be as noticeable in a standard shift bike but try it in an automatic bike and the clutch will definitely slip.
Yes, first when you buy any kind of oil make sure it has the black sun burst badge on it. This means it has all of the additives in it. In older bikes air cooled multiweigth oil is not a good bet. Yamaha Lube is very good oil. In the last few years bikes will run car oil. In the older ones is the problem with wet clutches and the additives. From Drag racing I have learned what oils break down quickest. Castrol oil petroleum broke down first , Pennzoil next The best I found was Valvoline it would make a day of racing in the heat we have down here. My new bike runs on Castrol synthetic 5-50 real good buy this is a syn oil and water cooled eng. That is all I run in my vehicles. But my neighbor would tell you something else. What it boils down to use good oil not cheap oil and if it is a older air coooled motor single grade oil. And above all else what it tell ls you in your owners manual. Even at 6 dollars a quart that is cheap compared to a motor.
Oil is oil.


Don't let the il-informed convince you otherwise.


http://www.xs11.com/stories/mcnoil94.htm
no

No comments:

Post a Comment