Can you use car oil for a motorcycle?

I heard that as long as it isn't the energy saving kind of oil any oil can be used for a motorcycle as long as it's the right grade. That right?Can you use car oil for a motorcycle?
Yes, as most other people who have replied you can use car motor oil on a motorcycle as long as it is the correct viscosity and it isn't energy conserving (make sure it doesn't have the green logo on the back).





Oil companies would love you to believe in those specialized motorcycle oils that they claim to do everything and cook you breakfast but it's all just marketing.





I use Shell Rotella on my bikes. Works great.Can you use car oil for a motorcycle?
You definetely can use car oil as long as it is NOT energy conserving.


The cycle dealerships apparently have many motorcyclists misled,confused and suckered. I have a garage full of bikes, difererent sizes, different makes new and old, sports bikes etc. and have been riding for years and have many miles on my bikes with NO problems and no shifting or clutch slippage problems. The dealerships of course want you to pay $4.00 to $8.00 for a quart of oil, my bikes are proof that this 'motorcycle oil' as it is called is a big waste of money.There are many websites on the subject as well.


Let these cycle riders keep buying this expensive oil, how do they really know it is making the difference if that is all they have ever used?
It is perfectly OK to use automotive oil in a motorcycle as long as you use the correct viscosity. But you are correct that you shouldn't use one that is stamped ';energy conserving';. It will cause the clutch to slip.
I ran automotive oils in my KZ1000 for over 100,000 miles with no problems. However, now I'm using oil rated for older diesel engines because it still has the higher levels of zinc needed for engines with flat tappets and common sump (engine-tranny.)
They make oil for air cooled engines and oil for water cooled engines, they are not the same regardless of the viscosity.
You are correct.


I used Mobil 1_ 15W50 for cars (before they changed the additives) for over 150, 000 miles in one bike. Now, I use Rotella full synthetic 5W40 in three Hondas.
You definitely should NOT use car oil in a motorcycle. It will work, but motorcycle oil is specificly desinged to lubricate the engine AND the transmission. Car oil is not. Motorcycle oil is also typically desinged to operate at higher RPMs as most bike engines run at higher RPMs than car engines. Using car oil wont immediately destroy the bike, but will definitely cause excessive wear and tear on the engine and transmission.
You may use car oil, but I would not recommend it. Car oil have this anti-friction additive to it that is very slippery. Your motorcycle oil does not have anti-fiction additive, the clutch need to be cool and if you add anti-friction to it. The clutch will be useless. Although, I have used automotive oil on my BMW, because it has dry clutch and doesn't not need the clutch to be cool by oil.





Hope that help you out a little.