Synthetic Or Mineral Oil: What's Better For Your Motorcycle? | MC Garage
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2016
- Looking for a strong opinion? Ask a motorcyclist what oil they use. Is mineral oil good enough, or is synthetic the only way to go? In this video from the MC Garage, we’ll discuss the differences.
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What Makes Up Motorcycle Oil
A mineral or synthetic designation refers to the base oil that makes up about 75 to 80 percent of each liter of oil. The other 20 to 25 percent of the bottle are additives like anti-foaming, viscosity modifiers, and friction modifiers. Nearly all additives are synthesized in a lab, but they’re not considered when categorizing an oil. It’s the base oil that makes the difference, and the American Petroleum Institute has split them up into five groups based on their characteristics and composition.
Group I, Group II, and Group III oils are all derived from crude oil that’s pumped out of the ground, while group IV and Group V oils are synthetic, meaning they’re concocted in a lab from chemically modified materials. Group IV is reserved for a specific type of chemistry called Polyalphaolefins, or PAOs. Group V includes a pretty wide range of chemistries, but the most popular Group-V synthetics are esters.
So, the base oil determines if the oil is classified as a mineral or synthetic, but what do those terms mean for your engine, and what are the pros and cons of each?
Mineral Vs. Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
Mineral oil has been around for decades and it can offer great lubrication performance. By far the biggest appeal of mineral oil is its price. Since it takes less work to become a finished product, it’s pretty affordable stuff.
The drawbacks of mineral oil stem from the fact that it’s refined from crude oil. That means mineral oil contains a variety of different molecules as well as some lingering contaminants like sulfur. Basically, that means mineral oil is less chemically stable than synthesized oil so it’s more easily oxidized and acidified and can break down more quickly under extreme use. And by “extreme” we mean high loads, high engine speeds, and high temperatures. Think motocross bike being ridden at full tilt on a scorching summer day.
Just as the cons of mineral oil revolve around its impurities, the benefits of synthetic oil revolve around its purity. Synthetic oil consists of uniform molecules that are specifically tailored to serve as a performance lubricant. That means it does a better job of reducing wear and holds up better under extreme use. The cons? There’s really just one: Price. Synthetics are difficult to produce, and the cost reflects that. We’re talking $15 a liter versus about $6 a liter for this mineral oil.
What About Semi-Synthetic Motorcycle Oil?
Torn between the two? Semi-synthetic oil is a mixture of mineral and synthetic oils. It offers some of the benefits of synthetic oils without all the cost. The thing is, there is no set minimum percentage for synthetic content, so semi-synthetic oils can range from as little as 5 percent synthetic on up to a straight 50-50 blend. For the most part, though, semis use about 15 percent synthetic oil.
So the bottle will say what base oil it’s made from, right? Not likely. The only time you really know you’re getting the good stuff is when you see “ester” on the bottle. Ester isn’t your great aunt, it’s a family of badass molecules that have some impressive properties like polarity and super-strong film strength. And since it’s the most expensive stuff to make, manufacturers are always eager to slap “ester” on the label.
The Best Motorcycle Oil Is The One You Use
When it comes down to it, there’s a lot of marketing that goes into oil and it can be difficult to really know what you’re buying. Our advice? Buy oil from a reputable, established company and steer clear of no-name bargain brands.
The type of oil you use can be a tough choice, but when it comes down to it changing your oil regularly is just as important as what oil you use.
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00:25 What Is Motorcycle Oil Made Of
00:53 What Is Mineral Motorcycle Oil
01:40 What Is Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
02:04 What Is Semi-Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
02:14 What Makes A Motorcycle Oil Good - Авто та транспорт
quick and straight to the point without unnecessary
Unnecessary Bullshit
I hate when you are watching a video about a recipe or wrenching. And they BS for 10 mins about their life story or that kinda stuff.
Respect to this guy for not wasting out valuable time
They both work fine, the best oil is clean oil, and the correct grade...
Yeah but synthetic will take the abuse you throw at it without degrading as much as mineral oil
20k on a bike to save 5 bucks on oil. Synthetic is the 0nly way to go
Synthetic is definitely the way to go, if you can afford it.
Also, changing the oil on time is actually the most important part of the whole ordeal!
@@menotyou7762 if you regularly change your fluids and not beat the crap out of your bike, either is fine.
Hey guys is there such thing as changing oil to often? On a motor bike
This guy is good and knows his stuff. I've Been a motorcycle mechanic since 1980 and retired now and recently the proud owner of a 2019 xsr900 .
I'm having my 1st change oil on my bike and I'm glad I dropped by here. Thank you so much.
MC Garage always putting out useful content to keep riders educated, good job guys!
love the garage series...Keep it coming
straight forward an non-nonsense explanation. I love this channel!
the videos are very simple and information. top of the line!!! keep it up Ari and your team!
Always informative videos from the MC Garage. I always use synthetic in my Bikes
Same here, cost be damned! =P
Great videos, you always explained it clearly and on point. also how something works, advantages/disadvantages and everything!
Good video, and clear information from Ari. Good job. I'd like to add one thing from the field (I am a motorcycle technician with 10+ yrs. experience) on MC's behalf. Read your owner's manual!!!! The oil the machine was designed to use will be listed there. As for brand, it's all preference, just make sure it meets the ratings your motorbike needs to operate properly. Thanks for being brave and saying you use mineral bases in your street bike too Ari. 😉
Great info guys ! Really jazzed about the success of your channel.
We realy like your videos, they are just simple to understand and very helpful. Thank's!
I’ve been using Rotella T6 full synthetic no problems so far and it’s so affordable.
These videos are SO helpful. Thank you 🙏
I love this channel. Really useful information.
I run full synthetic in everything from the lawn mover and snow blower to our suv's and motorcycles including a motor swapped pitbike. motorcycles are very demanding on oil from the wet clutch breaking down then the oil filter getting clogged and having to drain that same oil out fast enough to keep the flow going, I like adding marvel mystery oil as an extra piece of mind for fuel pumps and injectors and it hasn't dirtied any internal sensors
Just what I was looking for. Thanks!
My experience: both my CB500F and CBR600RR both shifted better & stayed cooler after switching from GN4 mineral to full synthetic.
I've been using Delo 400 MGX 15W-40 on my CB500F for the last 15k kms. Used Motul fully syn for 30k kms before that and to be honest, I don't feel any difference between them. My oil change interval is 5k kms.
Which full synthetic did you use? Did you use hondas?
@@JohnnyBoy919 Honda HP4S for the 500F and Amsoil MCT for the 600RR
@@mattf2535 Do you think it's good to use the HP4S for a first oil change? I'm thinking of changing my 23' CbR500R oil at just 300 miles, as I'm doing a little bit of a semi-harsh break-in.
MC Garage. I really liked this comparison. Perhaps you could do something similar for fuels? There's lots of theories about supermarket vs premium and it would interesting to hear your take.
Thank you for your great knowledge of information. You're the best coach when it comes to motorcycle 🏍️ advice.
Love me my MC Garage. Keep it up, guys.
Nicely done and very professional. Thanks.
The "diversity" of molecules in mineral oil also has the advantage of better adhering to a not-so-uniform metal surface (at the molecular level with all sorts of nooks and crannies). This is why using mineral oil (of the right viscosity) can often lead to a quieter ride. But, you don't get that "quiet" for free -- now because it's absorbing all that vibrational energy the conventional oil gets "pushed" and "worked" even harder! So, don't be surprised that will also "break down" more often as well.
THIS CHANNEL IS AWESOME.
Hey great video as always. If you haven't already can you do a video on checking alignments and bearings?
Nice video straight to the point
Such good information!
Thanks #MC this is what i was looking for
I run what the manufacture tells me to. I guess I have no imagination but none of my machines have ever let me down.
Very savvy. Good man
Please do the “science” on engine motorcycle oil vs auto and diesel truck engine oil. I see many people put diesel motor oil in sport bikes! Some say they don’t care because they will sell the bike and they don’t keep it long enough, how can this attitude affect the second or third owner? Thanks and great job on the vids! Keep them coming.
Forty years ago I went to school for my Industrial Mechanic certification. And we required 8 hours of oils and lubricants study. Way back then we learnt that synthetic oils were the best. I’ve used them ever since and have never once had an engine fail on me.
good stuff
Great stuff thanks.
change oil is important what ever oil that you use,, he is right thats a big yes....
That is for 4t.When we talk for 2t,mineral oil are good for some small bikes that go about 5-6k rpm because they can't propertly burn synthetic oil.For some bigger 2t bikes you need to use synthetic because they have higher rpm and produce very high temperature.And yea,for scooters is best to use semi-synthetic because they have too high rpm for mineral but don't produce soo much temperature to burn synthetic.
keep making this.
Full synthetic is my go-to!
no mineral is the best
@Ray Charles no your life
many many thanks... bro....!
Here in Canada, we run pure Maple Syrup in our bikes, none of that fake ass Synthetic Maple Syrup...SWEET ride.
No bacon grease at all?
Bet it doesn’t smell as good like Castor bean oil, but a sweet close 2nd 🥈
I've always used castrol 4t 10w40 synthetic ( the gold container)
The mineral is the best u idiot
@@leftmorningstar6954 Why?
The best oil to use is the one you will use frequently or at least on the service intervals.
Been running Motul full syn in all my bikes since 2003.
awesome videos.
The main difference is just how frequently you want to change your oil. If the marketing behind full synthetics promises longer oil change intervals, then that "additive" package will have to obey those rules too. This means that mineral or semi-synthetic oils can have additive packages that make the bike feel better for the first 1000 miles but break down quickly afterwards, but the full synthetic will be restricted to only those additives that can stick around for as long as the base oil itself. So, what really determines the "best quality" oil for your bike, when taking the "whole oil + additive combination" into the picture, is simply how long you want to go in between changing your oil.
Said no petroleum engineer ever.
@@x-man5056 Said someone who thinks they know all petroleum engineers lol
Amsoil has been shown in independent dyno runs to increase hp by 2-3 on the R1 over traditional oil. There's also a longer change interval. Good enough reason for me to continue using it.
Only a fool don't use amsoil and bypass systems...
Question: in Wet multiplate clutch gearboxes, does it make a difference in gearshifts if mineral or synthetic is used?
Hope you can give us videos on maintenance based on Honda scooters
I use Harley Davidson's Screaming Eagle SYN3 synthetic 20W50 oil 👌🏽
Thanks again for your knowledge question Best motorcycle grade oil for winter months
Great sir 👌👍👍👍
I used motul synthetic 5100 in my 07 xr400 motard. The clutched slipped. changed to castrol power 1 gps semi syn and no more clutch slip. I use the castrol in my yamaha wr450f 09 and the motul in my husky 09 te510. both have been great. i get 1500km in my husky, the Yamaha I service every 350km. That the difference of an offroad bike and a road bike.
I agree i notice when i used repsol mineral oil in my gsxr 600 the engine gets very hot really quick
Thank you 🙏.
BEL-RAY MC1 is the best 2 stroke oil on the US market today! US SUZUKI recommends this oil to minimize any oil related issues with YOUR new race bikes!
rotella t6 in everything
I prefer 10w50 maxima in my hd vtwin, works great.
88 Honda Goldwing I try use Rotella T4, T5, T6, Chevron 400, AMSOIL 10/30, but the best for my clutch was Bell Ray 10w40 mineral.....
Hey avid fan here from phillipines i have a ns200 rouser is it ok to use the motul oil cause im in a tropical country thanks more power to your show and its help me alot from your video
God I miss these videos.... Not the dude talking abiut carbs non stop.
Make a Video on correct choice of Engine Oil for Royal Enfield UCE engines
synthetic oil can cause a slipping clutch when upshifting. Pretty common with the cbr600rr 2003+ and some other supersports. The best way is to ask other riders which oil they like the most , sometimes semi synthetic oil is the way to go :)
Make sure you are using motorcycle specific synthetic oil , I learned that the hard way when I was motorcycle noob :( .
of course
Ditto. I have a zx14 and had to go back to mineral oil as it had the same clutch slip issue. Ari....next vid go more in depth!!!!
originalb4 Are you sure you checked that the oils JASO standard is to the bikes satstisfaction?
When buying oil for your motorcycle its important to make sure that the API and JASO values of that oil are up to standards, else problems like those occur.
Laktoweiz. I raced enduro bike's for years and either Motul full syn or Amsoil mcf have no friction modifiers and will perform perfectly with any wet clutch!
Fully synthetic in my B-King, semi-synthetic in my MT-01.
Like he said- the benefit of synthetic is more gradual breakdown - but isn't this only better for pro-longed use - which is why i use mineral oil (cheaper) but i change it after every trackday. For my car i use synthetic because it only has 4K rpm and it goes for 10K miles.
Dear Ari, pls advice if car oil can be used in moto bike or scooter system? Much appreciated 🙇🏻
Can you make a video on what is the difference between standard and dual channels ABS on bikes.
Hi. Is it true that if you run synthethic you have more time between valve adjustments? Or that doesn't correlate?
15 honda shadow shaft drive.
amsoil 10w30... been using it for EVER ON MY 919RR AND MY R1 ... i get it at wholesale price 8.96 a quart
I have a 2000 zrx1100 and years ago I switched to semi-synthetic motorcycle oil. The cam chain started making noise (there was no noise before the oil change) but the bike did shift smoother. I replaced the cam chain tensioner (the engine had around 20,000 miles on it) and the chain still made noise. I then switched back to mineral oil and within a mile or so of riding, the noise went away and never came back (it now has 36,000 miles on it). Evidentially some engines just do not like synthetic oil!
The only problem I have with your comment is you say at the end some engines don't like synthetic oil but you didn't use synthetic. Semi synthetic is different than full synthetic.
MC Garage, How many KM does Semi Syn oils able to last before it needs to change ? Based on 60% town 40% highway use, per day around 40-60km clocked. Thanks!
I use the used oil from my car… let it set for a month or two then slowly add until it starts changing color. Same deal I then use in my 1951 Chevy truck. Like I always reuse ATF and gear oil too reuse for machine and hydraulic oil after sitting for at least 3 months. No problems in over 50 years. What brand etc? Bought a bunch 24 (30 gal.) barrels of Kendall GT in the late sixties for a real deal.. that broken down it was 20 cents a qt. Or a $24 a barrel. Still have all the used oil in the used barrels… so maybe it could be refined into new oil… though Kendall is long out of business… probably got enough new to get me to 100 years old. So not worrying about needing to refine / recycle into new right now.
To my knowledge, the friction modifiers in synthetic oils are removed so as to be used in a wet clutch application. What is left besides the base esters that would make synthetics so much better in cars when used in bikes?
You called it. .esters inherently have the highest film strength and temperature resistance...
I use 20w50 aviation mineral oil its awesome
Is it true that you shouldnt run snythetic oil in an engine that only ran on mineral oil before?
Thanks for your help
@mcgarage
I have a 98Honda CBR900RRW fireblade, would mineral oil be better for this bike or semi synthetic. It has wet clutch system. Please respond. Thank you.
Suzuki Ecstar full synthetic 👌🏾👌🏾
Which oil is prefered for slow revving motorcycles like the royal enfield bullets??? mineral or synthetic?
There is such a thing as too slippery. One job of MC oil is to reduce friction, not virtually eliminate it. If the oil is too slippery, it can cause problems (such as clutch slippage). In cars, using synthetic in a high mileage car might cause it to leak some oil when it wasn't previously leaking oil using conventional (mineral) oil.
hi ... need to know more about Motorcycle Oil leak causes and solutions...
what is the best motorcycle engine oil to use after overhaul engine?
Mineral or Semi Syntethic oil?
Are there motorcycle specific oils? Or can you use car engine oils on bikes too? I've got a whole bunch of engine oil i use on ny cars sitting around. If I can use that for my bike when I change the oil, I will.
And what about Technosyntetic oils? Like Motul's 5100 ?
I have a 2018 Ninja 400 with 8,000 miles. Been putting in full synthetic since first oil change. I was told that I should not be using synthetic at all, until much, much later in the bikes life. Is this true? Did I screw up and use the wrong oil?
Is it true Rotella diesel oil can be used in motorcycles? If yes, how do I know which weight? My Triumph takes 20W-50.
yamaha main dealer advised not putting in synthetic in my xvs 1100 because it would make the clutch slip. shocked the dealer would only sell me the cheaper product and not the more expensive i took there advice
Is synthetic oil good on a tropical or warm country?.. Tnx for the answer
What's the oil drainage interval of mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic oil?
hi can you please tell me that what engine oil is best for 4-Stroke OHC Single Cylinder Cooled by Air 70 cc motorcycle engine
Motul ❤️🤘
Hello MC Garage, I have 2 litres spare of oil,1is mineral and the other is synthetic.both of them is unused and sealed what will be the problem I mix those oils,and use it to my bike ..? thank you..
Actually if you are not sure which motor oil will work "best" in your engine, a synthetic blend might be a good thing to try. Making good compromises is the basis for good Engineering. For example, don't gear your bike too tall or too low, don't use a tire too wide or too narrow... similarly, don't use a motor oil that is too slippery, or old technology when your bike can take something better. Remember means between extremes (true generally speaking).
The Belray EXP feels a bit sticky, not slippery, but agree in general with what you are saying here. Plus, you don't need $100 oil in a $50 bike either. But if you have a newish bike and you want to do the best you can do to keep the motor "like new", don't scrimp on oil. Ester synthetic for street, touring, and sport bikes is a huge YES.
So in an application where there is no pressurized circulation from a pump and a filter - say in a rear end / differential full synthetic is superior.
But when there is a pump and the oil circulates and eventually passes through a filter a synthetic blend is superior because it can suspend particles (combustion by-products like carbon, wear items like small metal particles, even dirt, etc.) and carry them suspended in the oil until it passes through the filter medium and is caught.
Full synthetic oils do not do as good a job suspending particles so the abrasive particles end up dropping out and gunking up the lower areas where oil is present rather than being filtered.
Rotella T6 for life! Can't beat $20/gallon :)
That shit blows. And has additives for diesel use.
@@darrenmcfeaters6683 no it doesn't. Thats what makes it an awesome bike oil.
I've heard that the quality of the oil depends mostly on the quality of the base stock and you can have high quality base stock from both mineral and synthetic oils, e.g. Rotella and such that are made for heavy duty vehicles may be mineral but they are a very good mineral oil and that's why so many people swear by Rotella/Rimula T6
People choosing Rotella T6 for a motorcycle isn't a bad choice, its going in the right direction it has a lot of same specific properties of motorcycle specific oil but it was designed for a heavy duty diesel engine operating at 2500 RPM not a small motorcycle engine screaming its head off at 14,000 RPM and working transmission duty at the same time.
Rotella was designed for diesel engines that can put out in excess of 600 Hp, but the big number is over 2000 lb/feet of torque! If Rotella can stand up to this kind of power, a motorcycle engine is no challenge. RPM is irrelevant.
RPM is not irrelevant. If you have a motorcycle engine thats running at 10k RPM vs a car or truck engine running at 2500 RPM your causing more abuse on the oil your creating more wear and heat because the motor is running 4 times faster. Everything plays into the big picture. And at the end of the day the oil was never designed to run in a transmission.
Bike engine runs at 14,000 RPM , and is generally at the top of it's power/torque curve. More heat produced, harder on oil. Diesel runs at 4000 RPM and is making most of it's power/ torque and heat, harder on oil. Regardless of any engines rpm limit, you run any engine near it's redline and you're being hard on it. And who runs a bike with a 14,000 rpm at that limit consistently?? Maybe if you race or like getting tickets! As for transmission shear, that is the big difference. What sets Rotella apart is the amount of Z.D.D.P it contains. Motorcycle flat tappet engines LOVE Z.D.D.P. I believe most "motorcycle specific" oils are at about 600-700 p.p.m. of Z.D.D.P. Rotella is 1100 p.p.m. of Z.D.D.P. I've been running Rotella myself for years, not because I'm cheap but because IMO it's the best. Every time I open my engine to set valves I'm amazed at how the cams are like new with zero scoring of any kind. I do change it every 3500 Km "filter every second oil dump".
motul 7100 or 5100 ? which one to choose. I'm curruntly on Motul 7100 10w-40 but sometimes it leaks from Piston head area. it's also same recommanded grade for my Motorcycle, but is it too thin or what? engine also overheats and runs better when cold but sluggish when its hot.
Motorcycle is TVS Apache RTR 180cc
Well said💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
Great information. I love all the videos that motorcyclist makes. I got a question that no one can give me a straight answer about exhaust, on aftermarket exhaust if you remove the db killers does it damage your engine or not?, and if it does what happens to it and why do they give you the option to keep or remove it?
Quieting baffle inserts are constrictions installed in the exhaust system to reduce noise levels, the byproduct of installation is increased pressure between the exhaust valve and the end of the tailpipe. More pressure in this area results in better running conditions (generalization). Essentially, installing performance exhaust doesn't damage a power train, lack of compensating for the reduced back pressure does. If the bike is fuel injected it must be re-tuned, if the bike is carbureted it must be re-jetted. Performance exhaust leans out combustion chambers, it must be compensated for.
Quieting baffle inserts are constrictions installed in the exhaust system to reduce noise levels, the byproduct of installation is increased pressure between the exhaust valve and the end of the tailpipe. More pressure in this area results in better running conditions (generalization). Essentially, installing performance exhaust doesn't damage a power train, lack of compensating for the reduced back pressure does. If the bike is fuel injected it must be re-tuned, if the bike is carbureted it must be re-jetted. Performance exhaust leans out combustion chambers, it must be compensated for.
i am from portugal , what oil do you guys recomend to my zx10R 2011?
Ari always looks baked when he does a video. His eyes look so red.
I was just going to mention that. We're also coming up on 420 likes ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Wow what a great answer ¶:-)
Personally I like the way you talk, keep it up !
I thought the same thing. Great video though. I actually a Yamaha parts counter guy caution me on the synthetic they sold in the store .
If he's high, he should stay that way. He does a great job of taking complex/controversial subjects and making them clear and comprehensible. Most people couldn't do it as well stone cold sober...myself included!
Dry eye syndrome? He doesn't act "baked".