Editing What Motor Oil Should You Use?
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Never has there been an issue as hotly debated as what motor oil to use in a motorcycle. Forget helmet use, forget brand-loyalty, forget counter-steering. If you want to see an inflammed ruckus with much YELLING and many exclamation points!!!!!! ask about motor oil in a motorcycle forum. | Never has there been an issue as hotly debated as what motor oil to use in a motorcycle. Forget helmet use, forget brand-loyalty, forget counter-steering. If you want to see an inflammed ruckus with much YELLING and many exclamation points!!!!!! ask about motor oil in a motorcycle forum. | ||
It seems like such a simple question. And perhaps there is a simple answer: Use the motor oil that '''you''' feel meets | It seems like such a simple question. And perhaps there is a simple answer: Use the motor oil that '''you''' feel meets your needs. | ||
But how do you decide which motor oil that is? | But how do you decide which motor oil that is? | ||
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We'll cover the basics of motor oil below. But this article is only one of many you can and maybe should read if you want to make a fully informed decision. So, here's a quick list of some good resources available online concerning motor oil in general, and motor oil for motorcycles. | We'll cover the basics of motor oil below. But this article is only one of many you can and maybe should read if you want to make a fully informed decision. So, here's a quick list of some good resources available online concerning motor oil in general, and motor oil for motorcycles. | ||
* | * All about oil: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html | ||
* | * API Grades: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/API.html | ||
* | * More API: http://new.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/index.cfm | ||
* | * Synthetic Oil Life Study: http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html | ||
* | * Oil Testing Lab: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ | ||
==Basic Information== | ==Basic Information== | ||
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The API publishes a [http://new.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/upload/EngineOilGuide2006.pdf pamphlet] explaining the donut. | The API publishes a [http://new.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/upload/EngineOilGuide2006.pdf pamphlet] explaining the donut. | ||
''Energy Conserving'' motor oil will increase a vehicle's mileage. However, the common wisdom in the motorcycling community is that the additives used to achieve this higher mileage is detrimental to a wet clutch, which most motorcycles sold in the U.S. have. | '''Energy Conserving''' motor oil will increase a vehicle's mileage. However, the common wisdom in the motorcycling community is that the additives used to achieve this higher mileage is detrimental to a wet clutch, which most motorcycles sold in the U.S. have. | ||
There is no objective evidence to support this notion. But, there are plenty of oils that are not rated "Energy Conserving," so it's probably best to err on the side of caution and not use "Energy Conserving" motor oils. Plus, it's mostly a non-issue. The vast majority of such oils are 5W-30 weight, and few if any motorcycles use that low of a weight of oil. | There is no objective evidence to support this notion. But, there are plenty of oils that are not rated "Energy Conserving," so it's probably best to err on the side of caution and not use "Energy Conserving" motor oils. Plus, it's mostly a non-issue. The vast majority of such oils are 5W-30 weight, and few if any motorcycles use that low of a weight of oil. | ||
The ''API Service'' is the first letter of the code in the top of the donut. | The '''API Service''' is the first letter of the code in the top of the donut. | ||
*"'''S'''" - gasoline service | *"'''S'''" - gasoline service | ||
*"'''C'''" - diesel service | *"'''C'''" - diesel service | ||
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===SAE Weight=== | ===SAE Weight=== | ||
The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil. The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its | The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil. The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its viscosity, or how "thick" it is. 30-weight oil is less viscous than 40-weight oil. | ||
In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures. Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures. | In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures. Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures. | ||
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===Synthetic v. Conventional=== | ===Synthetic v. Conventional=== | ||
===Motorcycle Oil v. Automotive Oil=== | ===Motorcycle Oil v. Automotive Oil=== | ||
===OEM Oil=== | ===OEM Oil=== | ||
==Vast Motor Oil Conspiracy== | ==Vast Motor Oil Conspiracy== | ||
* Free Market Competition: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Competition.html | |||
* Economics of Collusion: http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/monopoly/cartels.htm | |||
* Prisoner's Dilemma: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/PrisonersDilemma.html | |||
==More Information== | |||
Some of these are repetitions of links earlier in this article. They're all gathered here for convenience, with a few added in for even more information. |