I have to make one comment here....not sure what its worth though.
Any mobil 1 (or any oil for that matter) that has "Energy Conserving" in the logo
label (SAE logo on back) - contains FRICTION modifiers.
IIRC, thats not cool for any 'wet' clutches.
I do believe M1 15w50 does not contain this but most (if not all) of the other grades of M1 do have that logo on the back.
I used M1 15w50 and that worked fine, but I ended up using
Mobil 1 MX4T 10W40 instead. ($8/qt at Checker Auto) Since it was designed for motorcycles and won't contain anything that could interfere with the clutch.
I have posted the FAQ from Mobil's web page here. Its worth reading. Of course I may not have any idea what I am talking about, but felt better using M1 that was designed for bikes.
Am I wrong in thinking this is a better choice?
FAQ's
Can I use Mobil 1 15W-50 in my bike, just like I use in my car? Mobil 1 is Mobil 1, right?
Mobil 1 for cars and Mobil 1 for motorcycles are markedly different. Every oil is a balance of benefits. Mobil 1 Tri-Synthetic™ Formula for cars has been developed specifically to satisfy car manufacturers' needs for increased fuel economy and low emissions.That's why new cars come with friction-modified, low-phosphorus 5W-30 motor oil. The low viscosity and the friction modifiers help fuel economy. The low phosphorus levels help protect catalytic converters.
So how is Mobil 1 for passenger cars different from Mobil 1 for motorcycles?
First, let's be clear about Mobil 1's overall benefits compared to those of conventional motor oils, whether for passenger cars or motorcycles:
Superior long-term engine protection.
Superior high-temperature stability.
Excellent low-temperature starting.
Outstanding engine performance.
Low volatility/low oil consumption.
It's a little hard to generalize about the difference between Mobil 1 passenger-car motor oils and Mobil 1 motorcycle oils. That's because not all viscosities of Mobil 1 passenger-car oils have the same levels of zinc and phosphorus, and there are even greater differences among the three Mobil 1 motorcycle oils. In general, Mobil 1 motorcycle oils have:
Different base stock systems.
Different additive packages.
Different formulations to meet very specific engine requirements.
What are the overall advantages of Mobil 1 motorcycle oils?
In addition to the overall benefits listed above – specifically, high-temperature stability and low volatility/low oil consumption – Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oils also offer superior anti-corrosion performance compared to conventional motor oil, which is important in many parts of the country where bikes may sit in garages for several months of the year.
Compared to conventional oils, Mobil 1 motorcycle oils have superior wear protection, engine cleanliness, high-temperature protection and lower oil consumption performance.
Once you get past these general advantages, you have to deal with each specific motorcycle oil one at a time to understand the benefits.
Okay. Let's start with Mobil 1 MX4T. What does it offer that Mobil 1 for cars doesn't?
Mobil 1 MX4T is designed for sport bikes. Most of these bikes have multi-cylinder/multi-valve engines and use a common sump, which means the engine oil lubricates the engine, transmission and wet clutch. So unlike Mobil 1 for cars, Mobil 1 MX4T has no friction modifiers, which could lead to clutch slippage.
The motorcycle oil also has more phosphorus/zinc for enhanced wear protection at high engine speeds and high loads. Remember, most bikes don’t have catalytic converters, so higher levels of phosphorus are not a problem.
In addition, Mobil 1 MX4T uses different dispersant/detergent technology for better high-temperature performance and engine cleanliness. Mobil 1 MX4T is also offered in a different viscosity grade than Mobil 1 for passenger cars.
What about Mobil 1 V-Twin oil? How is that different from Mobil 1 for passenger cars?
Mobil 1 V-Twin oil is designed for air-cooled, large-displacement bikes. Because of their design, these engines can generate very high localized oil temperatures and high overall bulk-oil temperatures.
As you know, a typical air-cooled V-twin's rear cylinder gets a lot hotter than the front cylinder – it's a matter of airflow. When it's hot out and you're stuck in traffic, the oil temperature in your bike climbs rapidly. Above about 250° F, conventional motor oil is going to break down. Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil is good to above 300° F.
In addition, Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 is a higher-viscosity grade than Mobil 1 15W-50 for passenger cars. And Mobil 1 V-Twin has no viscosity index improvers, so the oil is very "shear stable." Simply put, Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil won't break down as readily as conventional oil.
Like Mobil 1 MX4T, Mobil 1 V-Twin has high levels of phosphorus/zinc and the same high-temperature detergent technology for superior wear protection and engine cleanliness, even at elevated oil temperatures.
With Mobil 1 V-Twin oil, you can go the full length of the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals with ease.
And Mobil 1 MX2T for two-cycle engines? What's the advantage of using that?
First, you should never use an off-the-shelf four-cycle oil in a two-cycle bike. It can lead to severe engine problems. And much of what we've presented about Mobil 1 MX4T and Mobil 1 V-Twin oil does not apply. Two-cycle engines have unique needs, and so Mobil 1 MX2T has some very unique engineering. Mobil 1 MX2T:
Exceeds all U.S., European and Japanese standards for two-cycle oils.
Is specifically engineered to protect against piston scuffing and engine seizing.
Provides excellent high-temperature stability, which minimizes exhaust-port blockage and spark plug fouling.
Minimizes exhaust smoke.
Mobil 1 MX2T has a global racing pedigree, and offers the perfect balance of lubricity, engine cleanliness and low smoke for high-performance two-cycle applications.
The owner's manual says I should change the oil every 5,000 miles or once a year. I change my oil every 2,500 miles or twice a year. So why do I need that kind of protection?
For peace of mind and added protection. You pay a lot for a bike these days, so why risk running your engine in ordinary oil? Just like Mobil 1 synthetic oil for cars, Mobil 1 synthetic motorcycle oil helps keep your engine clean – free from varnish and deposits – and smooth running mile after mile, no matter what conditions you ride in.
Mobil 1 benefits engine life and performance. In fact, the lubrication capability of Mobil 1 motorcycle oil helps maintain peak horsepower and acceleration throughout the life of your engine. And with Mobil 1 you can go the full 5,000 miles between oil changes.
So, if you want to ride your bike long and hard and not be concerned about the oil, choose Mobil 1 motorcycle oil.
-JD Bronson
Topic: Mobil 1 (Read 11869 times)