[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[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

 

[MarkC]

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.

I know that! but if you tried any oil that caused you some problem's I would like to know about them!
I watch oil topic's looking for problem oils, or problem with a certain oil. I'm glad to find another oily person on the forum, REALLY!
MarkC

 

[MarkC]

You did good, LOL!
MarkC

 

[MarkC]

stick with Amsoil and let your engine live.

I'm afraid there is no local dealer here for Amsoil.
Castrol, Shell, Mobil, Valvoline, Elf.... everything you ever wished, but no Amsoil.
Oh, are you sure it's soooo good and unique? :twisted:

Amsoil can be ordered direct! right to your door!
The most common place to find Amsoil is one of those independent motorcycle shop's.
MarkC

 

[MarkC]

Mark,

Any thoughts on the Castrol 4T oils? They're motorcycle specified on the bottle.

Radar

No, not really. I've never used that oil, and I haven't seen a lot of post on the forum about others using it.
I will say that's its a modern oil, so it should be a high quality oil.
MarkC