Synthetic Oils
From BikeNomads
Contributed by : Sandeep K Ram(c) 2007
I contacted Motul Indias depot in B'lore and found out that they are
actually selling a fully synthetic oil and a mineral based oil too .
Curious to know why they were selling synthetic oil here , I decided
to do some digging.
The whole synthetic oil bad for indian bikes saga is going to end now and TODAY ...because after extensive research on the web I finally found out that this is just a myth and the reality is entirely different . Read on ...
You have a dry clutch and a wet clutch .
A dry clutch is one which doesn't make use of a coolant to keep it cool . It is cooled by nothing other than air flowing around it . None of the bikes in India use a dry clutch - at least AFAIK . The dry clutch bikes are quite noisy while changing gears, a case in the point being the dukes - an example of hi perf bikes using dry clutches.
A wet clutch is immersed in a coolant - in most of the cases this is
the engine oil itself ..as is the case in our Indian bikes. The idea
of the oil used in wet clutch multiplate system is to cool and not
lubricate the clutch ...this is very important. Also to be noted is
that wet clutches use multiple clutch plates and hence the name wet
clutch multiplate setup ...
This is where the trouble starts . Some ppl have tried out synthetic oil in their motorbikes . A synthetic oil has a more uniform molecular structure than a mineral based oil and hence offers more uniform lubrication. ..i.e less friction .
The argument being made is that since the synthetic lube offers even less friction to movement , it causes the clutch plates to "slip" . Continued usage of such oils wil cause damage . The last sentence is a FACT . If you use a oil which causes your clutch to slip , you will end up with damage.
But nowadays were are getting synthetic oils designed especially for motorbikes and Motul is one of the companies that has designed a 100% synthetic engine oil keeping in mind the requirements of bikes such as those we use in India.
This is specifically designed for higher capacity bikes like the ZMA and Pulsar 180 since the rating is 15 W 50 . It is branded as Motul 300 V and is their best selling oil for motorbikes in India .
The mineral based oil is called Motul 3000 4T and they are available in 20W40 and 20W50 grade . They cost around 130 Rupees for a litre. The synth oil costs Rs 510 per litre.
In case of the synth oil , the viscosity is such that it ensures that the oil performs its primary job of keeping the clutch cool and not lubricating the clutch.This is the criteria for wet clutch synth oils - that they should cool the clutch but not lubricate them - thus prevent clutch slippage. And at the same time they act as a lube also - but for the engine .
This is a link obtained from the India site about Motul oils available in the region
Please note that in that list only Motul 300V factory line (100% synth 15W50) and Motul 3000 4T (20W40/50) are currently available off the shelf.
To further clear and settle this matter - here is the link for comprehensive info on synth oils and wet clutch bikes -
The info on that page is given by AMSOIL - a global oil co .
This is just an example of a company designing synth oils specifically for motorbikes. Unless a synth oil says it is meant for motorbikes , pls do no use it . Most of the time , ppl who have used synth oils in their bikes would have used Mobil 1 or some such top brand and reported clutch damage.
Well its not the oils fault or the manufacturers fault - those synth oils were meant for cars and not for bikes ! So you can't say that synth oil is not meant for wet clutch bikes . Synth oils have been designed for our wet clutch bikes and you can definitely use synth oils for your Bike - PROVIDED - it says " for motorbikes" on the back of the can .
I hope this busts the myth about synthetics in bikes. I can vouch for this without any hesitation since I have used Motul 300V for last two weeks in my P180CL after an unexpected oil leak on a highway . So far there have been absolutely no problems with the clutch . The engine is butter smooth - revs freely to 10.5K and there is no unnecessary engine/gearbox heating etc etc - all those probs which other ppl have reported are non existent . So let us all be more aware of this matter and stop hesitating from giving our bikes a little better .
If anybody from B'lore is interested in going for Motul pls follow the foll directions to get to the depot -
At Minerva circle junction - to the left of the signal there is Nandhini Deluxe hotel . To its left is the goodyear showroom . On the first floor of the same building is Cherry agencies - who stock Motul oils. Mind you - you cannot turn left at Minerva circle so you have to come in the other direction - which is from VV puram circle to minerva to be able to stop in front of the goodyear showrrom . .. or park somewhere near minerva and walk - its 2 min away .