Motor Oil Myths & FAQs - Synthetic vs Conventional

[Blind Squirrel]

 

[MrZappo]

Well, that settles it then.

 

[MrZappo]

Well, that settles it then.

 

[MCRIDER007]

Pretty good video but it didn't address the question that should have been asked "Is there any actual benefit of using synthetic oil over conventional oil in a non-racing environment?" Another good question would be "How many of the oils marketed as synthetic are actually Group 3 conventional oil?" and finally "does the use of synthetic oil extend the oil life between oil changes?".

 

[ionbeam]

and if the polymer chains in the synthetic oil is more resistant to shearing in a straight edge gear box which is lubricated by the engine oil instead of a separate gear box using gear oil.

 

[RossKean]

and if the polymer chains in the synthetic oil is more resistant to shearing in a straight edge gear box which is lubricated by the engine oil instead of a separate gear box using gear oil.

...and how does that change with the helical cut gears in the '16 vs straight cut in earlier FJR transmissions.

 

[ionbeam]

and if the polymer chains in the synthetic oil is more resistant to shearing in a straight edge gear box which is lubricated by the engine oil instead of a separate gear box using gear oil.

...and how does that change with the helical cut gears in the '16 vs straight cut in earlier FJR transmissions.

Better cutting action and even smaller snippets of polymer chains? If only we knew a chemist that had a capillary tube viscometer to measure the affect of shearing on various name brand oils.

 

[rushes]

Kind of off topic but I don't care.

A thought I had the other day about oil.

My first born son is getting ready to have his first born son. I will at some point decide which bike to pass down for him to keep forever.

Then I did some quick math and figured out when he is my age it will be the year 2071.

Will there be oil or fuel to fire it up?

Will there be any internal combustion anything?

Hmmm...

 

[ionbeam]

Kind of off topic...Will there be any internal combustion anything?

Fuel cell pushing amps into a superconducting 205 kW electric motor applying power directly to the wheel.

 

[N4HHE]

Pretty good video but it didn't address the question that should have been asked "Is there any actual benefit of using synthetic oil over conventional oil in a non-racing environment?" Another good question would be "How many of the oils marketed as synthetic are actually Group 3 conventional oil?" and finally "does the use of synthetic oil extend the oil life between oil changes?".

You provide an excellent example demonstrating how hard one has to work to try to make meaning out of the word "synthetic" which it does not convey.

Synthetic is nothing more than a manufacturing process that could produce a superior motor oil if the designer and manufacturer 1) know what constitutes a superior motor oil, and 2) actually desires to make a superior motor oil.

Synthetic as applied to motor oils has no more meaning than American, German, Japanese, Chinese, or Indian, as applied to motorcycle origin of manufacture. All make motorcycles with exactly the properties they choose. Can only make superior motorcycles if they know what constitutes a superior motorcycle.

Its just as much a mistake to walk into a dealer and demand synthetic motor oil as it is to demand an American motorcycle. You can generalize about Harley-Davidson, but not all motorcycles made in America will fit that description, not even all Harley-Davidsons. Or Victory. Or https://www.motusmotorcycles.com

 

[Walter]

I dont care if Rotella T6 is made from Muppet tears and fish heads its affordable and my bike purrs like a new born kitten on the stuff. lol JK good info thanks

 

[Fred W]

I dont care if Rotella T6 is made from Muppet tears and fish heads its affordable and my bike purrs like a new born kitten on the stuff. lol JK good info thanks

It's not.

That's the proprietary Castrol formula.