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Oil API ratings

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by tabaka45, Nov 16, 2017.

  1. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    my xj700 calls for “SE” oil. I generally thought that motorcycle oil rated SE or higher would be fine, but now I’m not so sure. I stopped by Walmart to get some oil, synthetic is what I use, and found Valvoline rated SF, SG, SJ, JASO MA2; Mobil 1 rated API, SH, JASO MA/MA2; and Castrol Actevo part synthetic rated SL, JASO MA2. I just read an article on the web that said not to use “SL”. What say you?
     
  2. Door dude

    Door dude Active Member Premium Member

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    Everything iv'e read is that synthetic oil does not play well with the wet clutch system. I don't know for sure iv'e never used it.
     
  3. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Se, sh, etc and sl ever few years they change that so sl is the most current rating.
    The important part is JASO ma/ma2
    For wet clutch motorcycle engines.
     
  4. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    I've been having a difficult time finding JASO ratings on oil, even on motorcycle specific Castrol oil. I wonder if it's not a Canadian thing...
     
  5. Craig B

    Craig B Active Member

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    Last edited: Nov 17, 2017
  6. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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  7. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Torco oil has JASO rating but it's not cheap
     

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  8. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    I can find the stuff, but most have no JASO ratings on the bottle. Makes me second guess myself at the store. Never seen the Torco around here.

    Hmm. Amsoil Metric is sold in a quart bottle. Irony or ignorance?
     
  9. Craig B

    Craig B Active Member

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    Or in a 4L Jug. Or a Pail or a Drum.
    Whats your point?
    I find the one quart (litre) containers quite handy considering the bikes only require approximately 3 quarts/litres.
     
  10. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    My point is that quart isn't metric. That bottle is 946ml. 1 litre would be metric. I was attempting comedy. I am aware that the product is marketed towards metric bikes. I pretend stupid sometimes, but I ain't dmub.
     
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  11. Craig B

    Craig B Active Member

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    Ahhhh gotcha.

    That one went right over my head. lol
     
  12. kosel

    kosel Active Member Premium Member

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    It seems a lot of oils intended for diesel use meets JASO MA/MA2 requirements. Out of curiosity...Why?
     
  13. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    As I understand it diesel oil has no "energy saving" friction modifiers and is heavier on the zinc than normal oil. Both apparently good for motorcycle engines and wet clutches.
     
  14. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    The Rotella oil by shell is a diesel oil that is quite popular with bikes on this and other forms. High quality and low priced. Available in quart and/or litre bottle.;)
     
  15. tabaka45

    tabaka45 Well-Known Member

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    I used Amsoil last time and have had absolutely no problems. For that reason I will probably use a synthetic oil again since the change intervals can be doubled. However, if I used non-synthetic, I think it would be Rotella. But, I have come to the conclusion that if it is JASO MA/MA2 rated it's ok to use, synthetic or non-synthetic.
     
  16. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    all sorts of ratings and prices for our bike oil but the reason i use mobil is it has a nifty pop up spout on the bottle. :)
    doesn't really matter on the bike because i'm being kind of careful but the mower and lawn tractor not so much
     
  17. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Amsoil is twice the price or more of Rotella. So, even if the oil change interval is doubled, it works out to about the same, or more.

    I've had very good luck with Rotella over the last 3 years. I can buy it on sale at local farm stores or discount stores by the gallon at certain times of the year.

    My mid season oil change only takes 15 minutes since I only change the filter every other oil change.
     

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