Synthetic Oil ??

[rmoss]

I have a 2020 dct with only a little over 5000km on it. I bought it new in May 2020. Changed the oil in Nov 2020 and used Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic oil.
I got sick and never rode the bike at all in 2021 and have only been out 2 times so far this year. So far no problems but I'm hearing people having issues using Synthetic oil.
So my question is , Should I switch back to Honda oil.
Thanks

[jinx]

I changed the oil on my 2021 DCT Tour at the 4000-mile service and used Honda full synthetic HP4S. Have 8000 miles on the bike now with no problems. I plan on staying with the Honda HP4S as long as I have the bike.

[rmoss]

Thanks Jinx.
I'll leave the Rotella T6 in the bike and give it a try.
Unfortunately I fell off my ebike and broke my collarbone 3 weeks ago

So I'm laid up again. Hopefully I'll be back riding in 4 weeks.
Bob

[Sassy]

Yes there are a lot of posts and threads on oil. I think what your running is general accepted as a good choice.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Honda does not recommend using synthetic oils in 6th gen Wings. To confirm check the Owner's Manual.

[jinx]

That is a misleading statement. Honda does not say not use synthetic oil. From the manual, read the last line.
P. 246 of the manual

Recommended
engine oil
API Service Classification SG or higher
except oils labeled as energy conserving or
resource conserving on the circular API
service label, SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903
standard MA, Pro Honda GN4 4-stroke oil
(USA & Canada) or Honda 4-stroke oil, or an
equivalent motorcycle oil


Are you saying HP4S does not meet Honda's requirements ? They just don't specifically recommend it along with a lot of other oils that meet their requirements.

[GoldWingrGreg]

That is a misleading statement. Honda does not say not use synthetic oil. From the manual, read the last line.
P. 246 of the manual

Recommended
engine oil
API Service Classification SG or higher
except oils labeled as energy conserving or
resource conserving on the circular API
service label, SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903
standard MA, Pro Honda GN4 4-stroke oil
(USA & Canada) or Honda 4-stroke oil, or an
equivalent motorcycle oil


Are you saying HP4S does not meet Honda's requirements ? They just don't specifically recommend it along with a lot of other oils that meet their requirements.

If you think synthetic do well, wouldn't you think Honda would recommend theirs ??? Here's some history ... because they once did, and now don't !!! From 2001-03 in their Owner's Manual (OM) for 5th gens they recommended GN4. Then they came out with their semi-blend. In 2004 the lables of their semi-blend used to say "Engineered for GoldWings" with a full page picture of the oil bottle in their 2004 OM adjacent to the page your quoting above. At that time, it was the oil Honda recommended ... GN4 was no longer recommended. In 2007 when they came out with their full synthetic, Honda quit recommending their semi-blend, and they were then recommending their full synthetic. Again, GN4 was not mentioned at all !!! But that changed in 2010. From 2010-current, the only oil they now recommend is their GN4 conventional oil. I'm sure they've found that their synthetics work well in their other products, just not in their GWs.

For 5th gens, their GN4 continues to be the best oil for them. Probably as time goes on, the same will prove true with 6th gens.

At my shop,when 5th gen trikes come in for transmission repair burnt clutch discs are often found. When asked what oil, the owner will always mention their favorite synthetic.

[jinx]

I am not going to argue with you. But no where does Honda recommend not using synthetics that meet their requirements.

So have a good day. I'm done. And will continue to use HP4S for my 2021 DCT Tour just like I did for my 2017 Goldwing.

[samelbe]

I have a 2019 DTC and it has 70,000 miles on it and I pull a Leesure Lite Camper most of those miles. I only use Mobile 1 10W-40T Racing oil in it it is a Syn. oil. Change about 6 to 8 thousand miles. I have over 600,000 mile on motorcycles and that is the only oil I use.