Engine Oil

Discussion in 'Triumph General Discussion' started by In my own world, Mar 14, 2019.

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  1. In my own world

    In my own world Senior Member

    Dec 22, 2018
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    Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Car and Bike Engine oil?.
     
  2. Flashp

    Flashp Noble Member

    Dec 6, 2017
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    Hants
    Friction modifiers primarily. Wet clutches hate them.
     
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  3. In my own world

    In my own world Senior Member

    Dec 22, 2018
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    Was in Europarts today and both oils are the same spec, just the Bike oil was dearer.
     
  4. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
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    With car engines the clutch doesn't share the same oil; whereas on most bikes they do. This is a change of use which requires changed oil specs.
     
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  5. DH88UK

    DH88UK Member

    Mar 8, 2019
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    Hampshire
    Car oils are made to be as slippery as possible to reduce friction, not ideal properties for a wet clutch
     
  6. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
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    Same spec or same viscosity?.......not the same thing.

    Quote us an SAE Spec, API or JASO spec.
     
  7. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

    Nov 14, 2018
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    One of the problems here Callumity is that specifications such as SAE are very broad so two quite different oils can be classed same. A military specification is far tighter and specific.
    Otherwise I agree without a specification it is impossible to compare.
     
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  8. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
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    Yeah well the military tend to over specify and over service!
     
  9. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

    Nov 14, 2018
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    Can you over specify IF you know exactly what you want?

    Obviously they have the funding and/or the might to get what they want.
     
  10. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
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    Well sometimes the best is the enemy of the good because expensive stuff designed to outlast arduous combat use and obviate field maintenance gets poured away barely used and money IS an issue.

    There is more diagnostic oil testing these days - especially for aircraft and big propulsion units but, like bikes, a semi-synthetic will lubricate just as well as a fully synthetic for typical mileages and annual oil changes and cost less. The fully synthetic comes into its own in higher temperatures and longer service intervals.
     
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  11. In my own world

    In my own world Senior Member

    Dec 22, 2018
    277
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    West Sussex
    So its a no no the using car oil. Although ive never used car oil in a bike i just wondered what the difference was. I did think if it would have an effect on wet clutch plates
     
  12. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

    Feb 25, 2017
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    From Mobil US website:

    Motorcycle oils and passenger car oils are very similar, with the exception of a couple of areas that are key to motorcycle operation. The first area concerns common sumps, or the use of motor oil, to lubricate and cool the transmission. As you know, in a passenger car the transmission is lubricated by an ATF fluid, which has frictional properties required for transmission operation. In a motorcycle, where the engine oil may lubricate the transmission, an engine oil that does not have the same level of friction modification (for fuel economy) of a typical passenger car engine oil will provide better transmission performance in terms of transmission lock-up and slippage. So motorcycle engine oil does not contain the friction modifiers of a passenger car engine oil. The second area of concern for motorcycle engine oils is that they tend to shear (break down viscosity) more quickly than a typical passenger car. Mobil 1™ motorcycle oils are designed to provide exceptional protection against viscosity loss.
     
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  13. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

    May 1, 2016
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    Used all sorts of oil, car or bike even 20/50 in the A10 will no ill effects:)
     
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  14. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

    Dec 12, 2016
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    The problem with that statement is that its referring to ATF automatic transmission fluid (makes sense since its US) ATF is totally different to engine oil, other than the friction modifiers/additives mentioned previously there is no difference in car and motorcycle oils.
     
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  15. BigCLM

    BigCLM Senior Member

    Nov 30, 2017
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    Agree a no-no to use car oil on a bike. Bike oil needs to do 3 things (different from a car) . Lube engine, lube gears and wet clutch operation. And clutch will slip if car oil is used.
     
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  16. Kiwidave4

    Kiwidave4 Well-Known Member

    Nov 12, 2016
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    Also ran my VTR1000 on car oil - Castrol Magnatec! No ill effects. Ran my K75s Beemer on Magnatec for 20+ years too. Again no ill effects.

    There is no way an oil company is going to admit that oils are the same when they are charging extra for 'motorcycle' oil.
     
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  17. Eldon

    Eldon Elite Member

    Nov 14, 2018
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    I haven't used car oil in bikes so can't comment on that clutch issue but.....

    For years I have used atf in off road bikes. Other mates have discussed, and prefer, modern synthetic 75 gear oil. Strangely you (I) cannot use just any atf. I found this out by buying a gallon of cheaper stuff when my preferred Motul wasn't available. With off road bikes the clutch operation is significantly affected by your choice of oil and I always found Motul to give the best snatchiness and abruptness.
    On the Montesa 315s (1998 - 2002) the clutch has some paper plates (No not what you have at barbeques!) and a definite tell tale that the gearbox oil was going off was a squealing clutch when on significant load.

    Personally I don't always use the noted oil but I wouldn't use anything that I had doubts over concerning the clutch.

    A £10 saved on oil isn't going to buy me a set of clutch plates. You may or may not agree but that's fine as I'm not buying your plates :p
     
  18. BigCLM

    BigCLM Senior Member

    Nov 30, 2017
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    Dilligaf, help me understand your disagreement. Clutch slippage? I know of clutch slipping issues w/ car oil. Car oil does not belong in a bike with a wet clutch.
     
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  19. dilligaf

    dilligaf Guest

    I disagree with it because I’ve used car oil in motorcycle engines in the past and never had any problems with it :)most notably 1200 Bandit :)and Fazer 1000 :)
    And two kwaka GT 750s:)
    This has been when I’ve been hard up (most of my adult life) and have been unable to afford oil bottles with a picture of a motorbike on the side :p
     
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  20. Tricky-Dicky

    Tricky-Dicky Crème de la Crème

    Dec 12, 2016
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    When it comes down to it the clutch type and friction plate materiel is going to determine whether its going to slip when using car spec oil IE with extra friction additives, so some will be fine while others will slip other than that it makes no difference.
     
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