Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 Oil - Ouch!

Changed my oil/filter today. The Mobil 1 Vtwin oil at Autozone has risen to $8.89/quart. It was $7.99 last year. I guess that's still cheaper than the Triumph Mobil 1 but I'll have to keep a lookout at Walmart for a better price. FYI, used the Bosch 3300 filter they are now back on the shelf at my local AZ.

That's cheap compared to us Northerners. It's $13.99 a litre here in Canada at Canadian Tire. They don't stock it at Walmart in my area.

PS could you send some of your fellow Triumph brothers a few quarts for the road

Heck, even with shipping it may still be cheaper! Good reminder to me not to complain!

In Australia Mobile 1 is $65 retail for 4 litres (= approx 16.2/quart).... count yourselves lucky!

What difference if any is there in the Mobile V-twin and MX4T oils??

What difference if any is there in the Mobile V-twin and MX4T oils??

The big difference is that only the V-twin version is bought by owners of Harleys, both real and counterfeit.

The oil change kit that Brent sells,

http://www.newspeedmaster.com/html/oil_change_kit.html

Seems to be a good buy.

That is a good price but shipping might take it over the edge. (4 qts Mobil 1 & Bosch filter was $43 in MD with tax included). Add another $5 for the K&N filter if desired.

Actually, it appears from the Mobil 1 data sheet the two oils are pretty much identical in application, except of course for viscosity. The Motul webpage is hard to navigate so I can't contrast the oils (but Motul oil is considered first rate)
http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lubes/PDS/NAUSENPVLMOMobil1_Motorcycle_Oils.asp

Quote:

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The big difference is that only the V-twin version is bought by owners of Harleys, both real and counterfeit.

The oil change kit that Brent sells,

http://www.newspeedmaster.com/html/oil_change_kit.html

Seems to be a good buy.

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i'm sticking with shell's 10w40 rotella from wow mart. i tried it and i like it. and it's around $17 a gallon.

According to the manual, a Semi-synthetic 15W/50 should be used. what's the deal with using different grades?

You want to use a synthetic or semi synthetic oil in the 10W-40 or 15W-50 range (Hotter weather, use the higher number). 20W-50 will also work. Synthetic oils are used because they do not loose their viscosity over time in harsh environments like regular oil. A 15W-50 regular non synthetic oil will rapidly become straight 15 weight because of the gears in the transmission which rapidly chop up the viscosity enhancers. This lowered viscosity will no longer be able to prevent metal to metal contact in your bearings eventually causing main or con rod failure. Viscosity enhancers have the ability to increase the viscosity of the oil as it warms up and the reverse as it cools helping with cold weather starts. These enhancers become chopped up in the gear train of the motorcycle. Synthetic oils do not need enhancers. Very simply put (Because I don't know the full story) synthetics can change their viscosity through chemical action triggered by temperature giving better coverage over a higher temp range that air cooled engine typically goes through. They cost more but are needed. If your engine had a separate gear case like the Harleys, you could use a good quality dino multi grade oil with little fear of viscosity breakdown. Because the gearcase and engine are combined, you need some form of synthetics to keep your engine alive.

PS - Synthetics last a lot longer in your engine than regular oil. Probably the only reason for changing synthetic oil is because it becomes contaminated with carbon.

Motul oil is available on amazon.com, recommend Pure One oil filter, the K&N filter has been assessed as "low grade filter with nut welded to unit" http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_auto/1...p;x=14&y=23
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_auto/1...p;x=15&y=20

Thanks for that lesson in oils there Gregger.

Today I went looking for Mobil 15W/50 Semi Synth, but could only find it in fully synthetic (they dont do semi). As Ray said on the phone, fully synthetic oils could cause the clutch to slip.

What should I do? Go for the fully synth of choose another brand of oil in the semi synth. Is Motul a good make, I rang a bloke from ebay said he could get the type I want for £18???

My manual says semi or full synthetic. I use the full syn Mobil One and my clutch is fine and dandy.

cool... i'll get some of that then... thanks for the prompt reply

Per my link to the Mobil 1 spec chart, the V-twin oil is fully synthetic and is designed to be used in a wet-clutch like our unit-motors. But to be honest, folks are running non-wet clutch oil (and standard conventional motor oil, not synthetic) and it appears to be doing fine (Shell Rotella diesel oil).

I have just payed £42 +4.95 p&p for the mobil 1 fully synthetic. Nothing but the best for my baby!!

Glad you brought up the transmission issue because that is the main difference between our combo crankcase-engine oil sump as compared the the HD. This is why we need the expensive Oil. I use the dealers supplied Mobil 1 Racing 4T fully synthedic 4 stroke engine oil SAE 15W-50 grade oil. it kills me but I want to depend on my bike at all levels of engine output and performance.

I get Mobil 1 High Performance Synthetic 15/50 from Wal-mart. 5 qt container is $21.99. Plus you just pour it in w/o having to open 4 separate qts. I used a K&N oil filter again. It usually takes 15-20 minutes, if I don't spill the old oil.

+1 on that!!

Haven't priced yet this year but I was getting the Amsoil 20/50 motorcycle oil from Napa for $7.99 before my commercial discount.

Amsoil
+1