Oil change miles, times, etc

[Golfr]

Have a ‘97 Gl 1500 with MotorTrike conversion. Have been using Rotella T4 15w-40 changing at 2800 to 3200 miles. Bike has 86500 miles. What change recommendations if I go with Rotella T5 or T6?
Thanx in advance.

[blupupher]

How you ride (distance per ride, how aggressive, temps, year round or not etc.) make more of a difference than what oil you use.

For me personally, I change oil every 5,000 miles regardless of the oil I use due to my riding habits, plus it is easy to remember when the oil change is due.
I am currently running Supertech 15w-40 diesel oil.

[DenverWinger]

I'm using Rotella T6, Being full synthetic I'm not afraid to go 50% more miles than published interval on any vehicle where published interval is spec'd for Dino oil.

That said, I change at end of every season on the bike. Average 5000 miles / season, sometimes as little as 3000, sometimes as much as 8000. This season looks to be on low side of average due to working from home and no 40 mile daily commute.....

[Golfr]

Thanx guys for experienced info. I appreciate it

[Snowmoer]

One year or when I reach the milage change interval that is in the owner's manual. Oil has come a long way in improvements from the recommendation of a 2000 mile change from the 70's that a lot of people are used to. I will run my 1800 8K miles on T6 before a oil change. That is the milage Honda calls for on Dino oil.

Just a FYI, Rotella T5 is not wet clutch certified. T4 Dino and T6 Synthetic are. You need to look at the back of the jug for this.

[blupupher]

...

Just a FYI, Rotella T5 is not wet clutch certified. T4 Dino and T6 Synthetic are. You need to look at the back of the jug for this.

Rotella T4/T6 are not JASO MA/MA2 "certified" either, but they do "Meet the performance requirements of: ... JASO MA/MA2" per the bottle.

T5 is perfectly fine for wet clutch motorcycle use (as are T4 and T6).
I have used several different HDEO ("diesel oil") oils on several wet clutch bikes without any problems.

[Golfr]

Thanx for sharing. I thought I had read the bottle correctly. Just wanted verification. Be blessed

[offcenter]

I change mine every 6,000. Just seems like a good number.
I use Mobil 1 High mileage 10w40.

[Golfr]

Thanx for response. Be blessed

[Snowmoer]

...

Just a FYI, Rotella T5 is not wet clutch certified. T4 Dino and T6 Synthetic are. You need to look at the back of the jug for this.

Rotella T4/T6 are not JASO MA/MA2 "certified" either, but they do "Meet the performance requirements of: ... JASO MA/MA2" per the bottle.
Rotella.jpg

T5 is perfectly fine for wet clutch motorcycle use (as are T4 and T6).
I have used several different HDEO ("diesel oil") oils on several wet clutch bikes without any problems.

Ok, I should have said meets performance requirements. Splitting hairs.

Take a look at the bottle of T5, It is not showing JASO MA/MA2. If it does now, then they changed it. I was going to use T5 a few years ago when I could not find T6 It did not have the rating, so I passed. I searched more and got lucky and found a jug of T6.

[joeincalif]

I used T6 on my past bikes but since since I bought my 1800 VTX I can't find the T6 so I have used T5, I change oik every 3,000 miles anyway. Old school I guess.

[Golfr]

Thanx for info. Helpful.

[blupupher]

...

Ok, I should have said meets performance requirements. Splitting hairs.

Take a look at the bottle of T5, It is not showing JASO MA/MA2. If it does now, then they changed it. I was going to use T5 a few years ago when I could not find T6 It did not have the rating, so I passed. I searched more and got lucky and found a jug of T6.

Was just trying to make it clear that there is a difference in JASO MA/MA2 certified and meeting requirements of JASO MA/MA2, especially if you are worried about warranty purposes. Not an issue for use in a wet clutch bike between the two.
For the 1500, it is not an issue at all since there is no warranty left.

I know many here also use Mobil 1 10w-40 HM, and that has no JASO cert or meets requirement of JASO, and as I said, I have used many oils that have no mention of JASO or "safe" for motorcycles, but knowing what to look for works fine.

[Wingsconsin]

I used to send my oil in to Blackstone labs for analysis -
Once I sent in a sample at 4500 miles (Rotella T6) and it came back as perfect and they said run it farther
So the next change I sent in was at 9700 miles (Rotella T6) and they said it could go farther
I think in the owners manual it is recommended to change every 8000 (?) on regular standard dino oil .

SO - to keep it easy every 5000 miles (I check the odometer and divide) I change oil & filter

Buy the oil at Wal*mart and the OEM filters with a new crush washer at the local dealership

EASY I like easy