Hey all, im finally deciding to change oil in my Aprilia Shiver...
However, i've come across a bit of a conundrum. My manual says use AGIP 15w-50.
I understand the 15w, comes from the flow properties in colder temperatures (winter start-up), and the 50 refers to the flow properties at standard operating temperatures.
However, i'm not a big fan of being bent over for expensive oils.
I understand the the JASO-MA standards and the fact motorcycle oils contain much higher levels of ZDDP (automotive oils dont, because ZDDP (a zinc phosphate) destroys catalytic converters over time), however ZDDP creates a last resort barrier in the event that oil doesnt make it somewhere, and metal to metal occurs. I also know that I cannot use automotive oils because they contain "friction reducing additives" that in turn makes any bike with a wet bathed clutch slip like a mo-fo. It makes it interesting that bikes, unlike cars, mix their clutch, transmission and engine oils as 1. Then i run into shear properties and foaming properties. I atleast know some of my shit.
However, 15w-50 is a extremely rare viscosity of oils.
Heres the million dollar question: What harm would running a different viscosity of oil do to a motorcycle? Say 10w-40? I ride in a warmer climate for the time being, so im curious if the flow properties for higher temps on the oil would cause anything funky to happen.
The thing i dont understand, and the internet does a piss-poor job of explaining it, is what is potential problems of running a different oil viscosity?
I had thought about shell Rotella-T 15w-40, since it is a diesel oil, has higher ZDDP levels (diesel oils dont get lumped with general automotive) and shell even went through the trouble of getting it JASO-MA certified.
Thoughts, suggestions, help? Also, if you say "just order your damn AGIP 15w-50 from AF1Racing", just die. Most motorcycle, and automotive mfgr's just have a contract with a specific oil brand when they sell the vehicle. They play musical chairs with oil companies all the time. (Take Ducati for example, they now, very recently, "only recommend" some obscure, expensive fucking offshoot of some type of shell oil)
However, i've come across a bit of a conundrum. My manual says use AGIP 15w-50.
I understand the 15w, comes from the flow properties in colder temperatures (winter start-up), and the 50 refers to the flow properties at standard operating temperatures.
However, i'm not a big fan of being bent over for expensive oils.
I understand the the JASO-MA standards and the fact motorcycle oils contain much higher levels of ZDDP (automotive oils dont, because ZDDP (a zinc phosphate) destroys catalytic converters over time), however ZDDP creates a last resort barrier in the event that oil doesnt make it somewhere, and metal to metal occurs. I also know that I cannot use automotive oils because they contain "friction reducing additives" that in turn makes any bike with a wet bathed clutch slip like a mo-fo. It makes it interesting that bikes, unlike cars, mix their clutch, transmission and engine oils as 1. Then i run into shear properties and foaming properties. I atleast know some of my shit.
However, 15w-50 is a extremely rare viscosity of oils.
Heres the million dollar question: What harm would running a different viscosity of oil do to a motorcycle? Say 10w-40? I ride in a warmer climate for the time being, so im curious if the flow properties for higher temps on the oil would cause anything funky to happen.
The thing i dont understand, and the internet does a piss-poor job of explaining it, is what is potential problems of running a different oil viscosity?
I had thought about shell Rotella-T 15w-40, since it is a diesel oil, has higher ZDDP levels (diesel oils dont get lumped with general automotive) and shell even went through the trouble of getting it JASO-MA certified.
Thoughts, suggestions, help? Also, if you say "just order your damn AGIP 15w-50 from AF1Racing", just die. Most motorcycle, and automotive mfgr's just have a contract with a specific oil brand when they sell the vehicle. They play musical chairs with oil companies all the time. (Take Ducati for example, they now, very recently, "only recommend" some obscure, expensive fucking offshoot of some type of shell oil)
