[cgflightmech]

Has anyone else experienced any problems using castrol 10w40 sythetic blend? I used it in my 04 Shadow Spirit 1100 and after the 3rd oil change the clutch began to slip. This is not energy conserving oil and according to the Honda Maintenance Manual this oil should have been just fine to use. But when I contacted castrol (after the problem), they said that the standard 10w40 synthetic blend should not be used in motorcycles because it could cause clutch problems even though it is not energy conserving. They recommended their 10w40 V-Twin motorcycle specific sythetic blend oiil. I don't understand why the Honda Maint Manual would say it's fine to use any 10W40 sythetic blend oil if it is not. Seems to me that Castrol should put "not for use in motorcycles" on their containers. Or Honda should not recommend it. Any one else have any thoughts on this?

 

[MarkC]

I've seen enough signs with the Castrol Syntech oil to turn me off from the their blended oil.
If you contact any oil that makes a motorcycle specific oil and ask inquire about a problem using their automotive oil in your motorcycle, you WILL be told that the oil you are using shouldn't be used in a motorcycle and that they recommend you use their motorcycle oil, they get a couple of extra dollars out of each bottle of oil because it has the little picture of a motorcycle on the bottle.
I'm not a big fan of synthetic oils, I mean what the idea anyway? is the dash of synthetic oil going to make the crude counter part better?? or is the crude adding something to the synthetic to make it work better?? Is it the best of both??.
Anyway, I would just give up on the Castrol line of synthetic or synthetic blended oils all together!
Try Amsoil, or Golden Spectrol or just go back to a good crude oil. Anyway, if the oil is causing you some clutch problems then changing oils should correct the problem, just go easy on it after the change for a couple of hundred miles and you should be fine.
MarkC

 

[litnin]

Where did you see that it says in a Honda shop or owners manual
that it's fine to use any synthetic blend that's not energy conserving?

Every Honda motorcycle shop manual that I have says

Recommended Engine Oil:
Honda GN4 or HP4 4-stroke oil or equivalent motorcycle oil with an
API service classification SF or SG Viscosity: SAE 10W-40

The GN4 is conventional and the HP4 is the synthetic blend.

The newer manuals are calling for 10W-30, but I've never seen one
say that any synthetic blend, non energy conserving is fine.

 

[tugrivercopper]

man i love this site it's so nice toget info like this being a newbie......i wish i could just contribute more!!

 

[Geralt]

Ammmm.... just bought a Castrol GPS 10w40 with all the trimmings and adulations on the bottle. It says "for four stroke motorcycle engines", it has a motorcycle engine on it, it "said" to have newest technologies blablabla...

You guys scare me. What can be wrong with that?!

Read for yourself

 

[MarkC]

Ammmm.... just bought a Castrol GPS 10w40 with all the trimmings and adulations on the bottle. It says "for four stroke motorcycle engines", it has a motorcycle engine on it, it "said" to have newest technologies blablabla...

You guys scare me. What can be wrong with that?!

LOL! well, I don't think we meant to scare anyone. From time to time a report of clutch problems will pop up with this oil or that oil, that still don't mean that another person will have the same trouble using that oil. Energy conserving oils got more frequent reports of clutch problems.
MarkC

 

[Geralt]

Energy conserving oils got more frequent reports of clutch problems.MarkC

But this one is not energy conserving. Also it's not Power Racing. :?
It can't be bad?! Or can it? I searched for Castrol intentionally. I wanted to buy it.

 

[litnin]

Ammmm.... just bought a Castrol GPS 10w40 with all the trimmings and adulations on the bottle. It says "for four stroke motorcycle engines", it has a motorcycle engine on it, it "said" to have newest technologies blablabla...

You guys scare me. What can be wrong with that?!

Read for yourself

Going strictly what the original poster said, they did not use this oil, they
used regular Castrol synthetic blend.
They specifically said they called Castrol and Castrol told them to use
the "motorcycle oil" synthetic blend.
That tells me they used regular off the shelf automobile oil... Not the motorcycle specific oil that you have listed here.

The oil you have listed here is probably fine.

 

[Geralt]

Hmmm... looks like you're right.
Automotive oil is not good for the bike. That's obvious.
I should've red the post more carefully.

 

[MarkC]

Hmmm... looks like you're right.
Automotive oil is not good for the bike. That's obvious.
I should've red the post more carefully.

Well, most automotive oils that are 10W-40 or higher is fine! except for the ones that are intended for high mileage engines, DO NOT PUT THESE IN YOUR BIKE :!:

The only thing I meant with the energy conserving statement was that in the automotive oils the energy conserving oils get the most reports of clutch problems in motorcycles.
I knew that the oil listed in the title post wasn't an energy conserving oil.
I don't see any reason for the Castrol synthetic blend 10W-40 to cause the clutch to slip??. But there isn't probably ANY oil that can be listed that somebody hasn't had a problem with, so one bad report about an oil alerts me, but it don't alarm me! but if the same problem starts to show up with the same oil, then will post that on the forum and recommend people to not use that oil in their motorcycle, and post links to the topics with the issues.
I could post a complaint about the Honda GN4 oil, my bike didn't like it (not clutch problems) but for the most part other people are okay with it!

Litnin and I both watch oil topics on the forum as do many others, I trust if Litnin see's a consistency (problem-matic) issue with a certain oil it will get caught!.

The problem I ran across with the castrol syntech was it didn't look to keep deposits suspended very well, maybe not at all.
MarkC

 

[cgflightmech]

synthetic blend

I am having my clutch replaced as we speak. The shop can't say whether or not the plates need replacing because of wear or whether it was from the oil. However I am having them switch me back to Honda GN4 from the Castrol Synthetic Blend.

 

[cer1]

Ammmm.... just bought a Castrol GPS 10w40 with all the trimmings and adulations on the bottle. It says "for four stroke motorcycle engines", it has a motorcycle engine on it, it "said" to have newest technologies blablabla...

You guys scare me. What can be wrong with that?!

Read for yourself

Going strictly what the original poster said, they did not use this oil, they
used regular Castrol synthetic blend.
They specifically said they called Castrol and Castrol told them to use
the "motorcycle oil" synthetic blend.
That tells me they used regular off the shelf automobile oil... Not the motorcycle specific oil that you have listed here.

The oil you have listed here is probably fine.

Please note that is an inline engine pictured on the bottle not a V-twin.

 

[Geralt]

Please note that is an inline engine pictured on the bottle not a V-twin.

Noticed that, but It's four stroke motorcycle engine oil
So it doesn't suit? Damn, now I'm totally confused...

Besides. I'm afraid that "Castrol V-Twin" type oil is not being sold in Europe?

 

[litnin]

Please note that is an inline engine pictured on the bottle not a V-twin.

Noticed that, but It's four stroke motorcycle engine oil
So it doesn't suit? Damn, now I'm totally confused...

I think he was just making a joke.

It doesn't matter.

 

[Geralt]

Please note that is an inline engine pictured on the bottle not a V-twin.

I think he was just making a joke.
It doesn't matter.

Very funny cer1...

I almost began selling the oil in the other forum. Half price.

The oil is for motorcycle 4T engine. It is 10w40.
Bike doesn't leak and it has only 1300 miles on it.
I'm going to use it. Can't see not a single reason why I shouldn't.

 

[trjam]

stick with Amsoil and let your engine live.

 

[MarkC]

stick with Amsoil and let your engine live.

I wish life was that easy!
but what if your bike don't like Amsoil?
MarkC

 

[trjam]

well my friend, I have tried them all. Dont ask. But for any Shadow with less the 5000 miles, switching to Amsoil they will benefit from it. I think ones that dont like it are older ones. My second choice would be Golden Spectro 4. I know you may feel different, but me and 3 other Shadow owners have decided these are the top 2 for newer Shadows. And no, I am not a salesperson, just a frequent oil changer.

 

[MarkC]

well my friend, I have tried them all. Dont ask. But for any Shadow with less the 5000 miles, switching to Amsoil they will benefit from it. I think ones that dont like it are older ones. My second choice would be Golden Spectro 4. I know you may feel different, but me and 3 other Shadow owners have decided these are the top 2 for newer Shadows. And no, I am not a salesperson, just a frequent oil changer.

Okay, I'll show you my list , you show me yours?
My bike had 13,500 miles on it when I got it home, its whole life the only diet for oil was Honda GN4 10W-40 and Honda OEM filters.
I got the home and changed oil,

GN4 and a Honda filter, then I switch to,
HP4, then back to,
GN4,
Yamalube,
Chevron Delo,
Shell Rotella-T 15W-40
YamaLube,
Mobil Delvac,
Shell Rotella-T 5W-40 Synthetic
Amsoil,
Mobil 1 15W-50 Gold Cap,
YamaLube,
YamaLube,

I may have missed a couple alone the way.
My bike now has 20,000 miles on it.
13 oil changes in 7,000 miles - you might have to check my math but is that about 538.46153 miles per oil change?

I would be VERY interested in knowing what problems you had with what oils in your search for King Oil?

I pumped that HP4 out and a friend of mine that has a 2001 Sabre is still running it in his bike, I even bought him a new filter, that was over a year ago. The HP4 was REALLY bad in my bike, it only made about a hundred miles, if that!
MarkC

 

[trjam]

I dont want to show you mine and I darn sure dont want to see yours. :roll:

All I am saying is that the newer ones with less miles do well with synthetic. But in no way am I implying I know more then you.