Paging Rotella T guru's

oldbikerdude
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 135
Joined: Mon Nov 20, 2017 9:40 am
Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by oldbikerdude »

I swear by the Rotella T4, 15W40.
Note to remember, as previously mentioned, it is JASO MA approved oil.
Been running it in my 86 Goldwing for at least 10 years, and will use it in the CBX as well.
The 10 liter jugs are a good deal at our local TSC stores.
Bike is now ready to go.
Couldn't help myself today, had to pull the bike outside and get a pic, didn't run it though.
IMG_5172.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Larry Zimmer
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
ICOA Web Post/Pix/Video Archive Mgt
Posts: 2195
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2003 2:32 pm
Location: Brighton, MI
Location: Brighton, Mich
Contact:

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by Larry Zimmer »

Ditto! It's the only JASO MA2 approved available besides the liquid gold that they call motorcycle oil. (That I know of)
Larry Zimmer
cbxlarry@sbcglobal.net

CBX-tras
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:29 pm
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by CBX-tras »

I'm not trying to start another oil thread but, I hate to break everybodies bubble.

I learned this past Summer that Shell has removed the zinc additives in Rotella T. Look it up.

To me, there was nothing better for our bikes.

After a great deal of research, I've found and recommend Maxima Racing Semi-Syn. Has 2x the zinc.

This will satisfy the folks that like synthetics while protecting the components that want/need the zinc (cams, starter clutch, drive clutch, etc).

See here:
https://maximausa.com/series-300-semi-syn.html

JoeInTUS
Forum Regular
Forum Regular
Posts: 117
Joined: Sun Jul 12, 2020 4:01 pm
Location: Tucson, AZ
Location: Tucson, AZ

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by JoeInTUS »

Thanks for that info on Rotella zinc content. As a long-time user of Rotella I looked into it further.

According to the Safety Data Sheets on the Shell website:

Rotella T6 15W-40, SDS dated 07/24/2018: No ZDDP

Rotella T6 5W-40, SDS dated 04/07/2020: No ZDDP

Rotella T Triple Protection 15W-40, SDS dated 01/11/2016: 1-2.4% ZDDP (closer to 1% based on the oil analysis I could find)

and for comparison:

Maxima Semi-Syn 10W-40/20W-50, SDS dated 01/28/2020: < 3% ZDDP

So it looks like Shell removed the ZDDP from the synthetics but kept it in the conventional oil (or they have not updated the SDS).
Joe S
Tucson, AZ

CBX-tras
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:29 pm
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by CBX-tras »

From what my machine shop knows, they removed the zinc in 2018 or early 2019.

They learned the hard way. Passing this along so we don't too.

If you find something better, I'm all ears.

User avatar
Jeff Bennetts
Posting God
Posting God
Posts: 2408
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:38 am
Location: Ohio, USA
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by Jeff Bennetts »

Anyone needing some ZDDP, Summit Racing has many brands to choose from. You used to be able to buy 4 ounces for $5.00, enough to treat an oil change but it’s gone up 150% since then. :face:
F51426B6-8AE0-48CC-8EBE-8AC75E6F8345.jpeg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

CBX-tras
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:29 pm
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by CBX-tras »

Jeff Bennetts wrote:
Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:48 pm
Anyone needing some ZDDP, Summit Racing has many brands to choose from. You used to be able to buy 4 ounces for $5.00, enough to treat an oil change but it’s gone up 150% since then. :face:

F51426B6-8AE0-48CC-8EBE-8AC75E6F8345.jpeg
Jeff, good to know. After looking at their site, I'm considering trying this. Need some anyway for my flat tappet 455 Olds.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-1-10w40

User avatar
shiskowd
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 139
Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2020 5:21 pm
Location: Calgary/AB/Canada
Location: Calgary/AB/Canada

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by shiskowd »

CBX-tras wrote:
Fri Feb 05, 2021 6:41 pm
I'm not trying to start another oil thread but, I hate to break everybodies bubble.

I learned this past Summer that Shell has removed the zinc additives in Rotella T. Look it up.

To me, there was nothing better for our bikes.

After a great deal of research, I've found and recommend Maxima Racing Semi-Syn. Has 2x the zinc.

This will satisfy the folks that like synthetics while protecting the components that want/need the zinc (cams, starter clutch, drive clutch, etc).

See here:
https://maximausa.com/series-300-semi-syn.html
In Canada, of course, we need to change the name slightly - wondering if it has the same composition. The description is similar, both ester based.
Maxima.JPG
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
2022 KTM 890R, 1982 Pro-Link, 1979 CBX 'Z, 1975 Moto Guzzi 850T
Long Sleeping '79 CBX Restoration > viewtopic.php?f=102&t=11699

hondaman160mph
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 12:27 pm
Location: Elk River Minnesota
Location: Elk River Minnesota

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by hondaman160mph »

What's the ZDDP content in Honda GN4 10/40 oil?

CBX-tras
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:29 pm
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by CBX-tras »

As far as I know.....NONE.

hondaman160mph
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 12:27 pm
Location: Elk River Minnesota
Location: Elk River Minnesota

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by hondaman160mph »

The ZDDP content of Honda GN4 10w40 oil is hard information to find, or at least I haven't found it. One source says 1053ppm.
You would like to think that oil from the worlds largest motorcycle manufacturer would be acceptable to use in their motorcycles, maybe it isn't.
On a very unscientific note, in 1974 I installed a Ferracci cam in my cb750. The cam has so much lift I had to grind
reliefs in the head to allow the
cam to rotate. 47 years later after tens of thousands of miles it's still running strong on Honda GN4 10w40 oil changed about every 1500 miles
ZDDP 4 oz. bottle is available here also for $16.14 https://coilsandoil.com/collections/oil ... lus-single

CBX-tras
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 1:29 pm
Location: Clinton Twp, Michigan
Location: Clinton Twp., Michigan, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by CBX-tras »

When I bought my first CBX about 30 years ago, I took it to the local dealer for a valve adjustment (I knew it needed to be done, just didn't have the tools or experience. Felt it's better left to the experts). They're response was that they didn't work on the old "shit". That statement launched my CBX career.

The main reason Shell and others removed the zinc from their formulation was/is emissions, now that most every internal combustion vehicle has some sort of catalytic converter and zinc deposits would ruin them.
I sincerely doubt that Honda has ANY zinc in their oil since they're required by law to have clean burning motors. Most with EFI and cats, sprag drive starter clutches, roller rockers and have eliminated things within the motor that NEEDS the zinc to function, long term. So, they don't need no stink'in zinc.

Moral of my story: Things change, fuels, oils, tire compounds, etc. Where things are (and how) made. Even the wheat in your breakfast cereal or bread isn't the same as in the '60s. Things change and we have to adapt to keep going in the direction we want to.

User avatar
Jeff Bennetts
Posting God
Posting God
Posts: 2408
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 8:38 am
Location: Ohio, USA
Location: Ohio, USA

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by Jeff Bennetts »

CBX-tras wrote:
Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:59 pm
Things change and we have to adapt to keep going in the direction we want to.
+1

EMS
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 10151
Joined: Wed Mar 05, 2003 7:55 am
Location: North East OH, ICOA 3904

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by EMS »

When I bought my Porsche 914-6GT two years ago, I started using "Kendall" oil because the PO told me that's what he had been using in the car.
They have a product that is called Kendall 4T Synth MA, which is a "small engine" i.e.: motorcycle oil. It is specified at 1250ppm zinc.
Since Mobil1 20W50 is no longer available, this is what I have been using in my vintage bikes. Although it is a synthetic, there are still no leaks and the clutch doesn't slip either.

hondaman160mph
ICOA Member
ICOA Member
Posts: 303
Joined: Sun Aug 17, 2014 12:27 pm
Location: Elk River Minnesota
Location: Elk River Minnesota

Re: Paging Rotella T guru's

Post by hondaman160mph »

Lucas motorcycle oil zinc values. $10.00 a quart for 10w40 from Dennis Kirk
6e439e5cf729745998c6e89b072e2ebbcf9f4617.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

Post Reply

Return to “OILS: Specs, Opinions, Preferences, and more”