I put Shell Rotella T6 in my RS! Is it safe? | 2016 BMW R1200RS Maintenance | 6-Jun-2021
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 พ.ย. 2024
- I have heard several people on the web forums saying that they used Shell Rotella T6 in their bikes and they had "no problems", "works just fine", and "it's much cheaper than motorcycle oil". At the same time I did not find any negative reports from using this diesel oil. So when I was ready to put some short-duration oil in my RS, I was interested in a cost effective solution. But first I had to do some research into this Rotella T6. Check out what I learned.
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Thanks,
Grumpy Goat
/ grumpy%20goat
LINKS
Shell Rotella T6 5W-40: tinyurl.com/4c...
Castrol 06113 Power RS 5W-40 4-Stroke Motorcycle Oil - 1 Quart, (Pack of 6): tinyurl.com/p6...
BMW Motorrad Advantec 5W-40 Motor Oil: tinyurl.com/ez...
Dimple Magnetic Engine Oil Drain Plug: www.beemerbone...
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All content and opinions offered on this Channel are my own. Where products are reviewed, they would have been purchased my me for my own use, unless stated otherwise. I have not been sent any products in exchange for reviews, favourable or otherwise.
T6 is primarily a diesel oil that also happens to meet the 4 cycle, motorcycle standards of JASO MA2. It's not approved, certified or recommended for, any particular brand. There are a large number of testimonials from riders on the many forums. These riders have put hundreds of thousands of miles on there various brand bikes using T6 without oil related issues.
I bought my RS in '18 with 500 miles on it. Since then, the only person who's ever turned a screw on it is ... yours truly. I'm now at 63,000 miles and have only ever used Rotella T6 full synthetic. Good stuff. Sidebar: thanks for all of the videos you've made! They've helped my maintenance efforts quite a bit.
Great - what an excellent testimony for Rotella T6. I may also switch to it for both bikes all the time.
Congrats on 63k miles on the RS and also working on it yourself. Great to hear that my videos are useful ... that was my whole intent (aside from reminding me how to do it myself; I have referred to my own video in the past to refresh my memory before doing a job again.)
here the list of "licensed MA2" oil. The shell rotella T6 is not reported. www.jalos.or.jp/onfile/pdf/4T_EV_LIST.pdf
@@folagana yep--
My BMW dealership uses Shell Rotella T6 from 55 gallon drum. So that is what I use in my S1000RR.
I use it in r1, my cousin who used to work on motorcycles and now owns a Mercedes Benz and BMW mechanics shop recommended shell oils for my motorcycle and car. Also few of my friends use it in their track bikes with no issues...... So far so good.
I have ran over 20000 miles on my 2012 yamaha FZ8 on the Rotella T6 oil, I ride my motorcycle pretty much semi-hooligan lol. I have done many miles over 140mph, I have also ridden it very aggressively. My clutch is still good, and my engine still runs like a champ
It’s all I use on my 2017 R1200R. Since mile 3.
Made from natural gas, and if you look up the specs on the new BMW Advantec (also made from natural gas) you would be hard pressed to find a difference. Also Shell is the only refiner of natural gas oils…. And the BMW oil is made by Shell…
Interesting. As a matter of fact, this oil is a popular choice for some air cooled Porsches, too.
HA! Love the "is it safe" reference! Great video, but my ( air/oil cooled R1200GS ), BMW owner's manual specs min. "W" winter weight 32* or above of 15w. I keep my cars and bikes forever no matter how many miles I put on them, I'm thrifty or cheap but not on maintenance. I use the Schell Rotella T6 15w-40, it is hard to find at the auto parts stores, but Walmart here has it in stock for $23.44 . For our warmer climate that is good. The BMW manual shows 5W-40 is for " -- 4* F and above".
All the best to ya!
Used t6 in all my bikes, track and street use. Even sent the oil out for an oil analysis after two trackdays. Said I could run it up to four trackdays without a change and the engine was wearing clean as a whistle on my 05 zx6r. If an oil is performing on track at no less than 10k rpm for hundreds of miles, it's a no brainer for street use.
I agree. I had no issues with it at all.
I have only used Rotella T6 on my 1200GSW . No issues
The dealer said that my 2004 ZX6R was going need a new clutch at 15,000 miles if I kept using the Rotella T6. Well its at 63,000 miles with the same clutch and tranny and still shifts well.
Good to hear. I also didn’t have any adverse effects. But I went back to my Castrol motorcycle oil as I had a good price. No regrets using the Rotella T6.
I'm currently using it in my 02 IS300 no issues so far.👍
I just changed the oil to T6 and now I have an oil leak in the valve cover gasket within 100 miles of changing oil. This is the 2nd V-Twin I’ve changed from “unknown” oil after buying a bike used to T6 and almost immediately I get oil leaks. The first was 2008 HD Sportster, got a valve cover leak almost immediately, then over winter the drain hose from the tank sprung a leak just from sitting. Only 8k miles on the HD. Now I just changed oil in 2006 Moto Guzzi Breva 1100, rode it 100 miles. I came out to the bike today and there’s a leak on the right head. I have used T6 in countless motorcycles with ZERO issues, but I’m 0/2 on V-twins when it comes to oil leaks. I’m going to change the oil tomorrow on the Guzzi again and get rid of that T6.
Since my first service on my bought new '17 R1200R, this is all I have used. On my 2nd oil change NO problems.
I use it on my SV650 twin with no problems. Thousands of miles and several trackdays.
Your gasket is almost about to leak
"S" means Service, "C" means Commercial according to Rotella website. All of the "C" Rotella's exceed the "S" specifications. If the oil says MA2, and MA2 is compatible with your motorcycle OEM/owners manual, then not only is the T6 safe, because it is a "C" rating for commercial gas and Diesel engines with the MA2 rating, the T6 will be superior to many motorcycle only oils. As always, read the labels.
Thanks for the comment.
It’s 2023 December 16 and I’m still using Rotella oil for my motorcycle
There is now the picture of a bike on the jug, so I'd guess its o.k.
I actually contacted the Rotella Engineering Dept on this topic and they actually emailed me back saying it has all the Necessary additives and formulas to run fine and protect my GSXR eng & clutch ,,,That was like 2017-18,,,,I'd post it if I could
Paul - Do you have a scanned copy of this email clearly from a Shell mail account? If so and if you are willing to share a redacted copy, I could do it for you.
@@GrumpyGoat I'll look it up,,,It basically says the T6 meets JASO MA and MA2 specs for wet Clutch
I have a 2010 CVO streetglide with 319,000 miles on it and its only ever used Shell Rotella T-6 since new, I used to be a diehard MX4T oil user but one of the guys in our IronButt Club recommended the Rotella T-6 and its all I have used since
Good testimonial. No one can argue with that sort of mileage.
That's incredible..!
Yeah sure
I sure could use some advice on buying a used RS. I’ve owned two in the past a 78 and then 99. I’m looking at buying a 2016 to 2018 RS. What do you think? By the way I live in the same area as you apparently because I recognize most of the roads. You’ve got great videos.
Chuck, if you are in the market for an RS that’s great. I strongly suggest you go to my RS forum and join up. You will merry lots of RS owners who can offer excellent advice to you. Here is the link: rswasserboxer.com/R1200RSforum/index.php
If you can get a 2018 I would recommend that over a 2016 because they added anti judder in the transmission, I believe in 2017, which allegedly makes it slightly smoother. Other than that there is no difference.
Iv run t6 it in a old 1999 shadow for the last few years that I use as a daily rider and no complaints
Truth be told, T6 is probably leaps and bounds better than any of the Bike brands out there!…better than BMW oil or Honda, or Polaris, or Bombardier or Yamaha or any of them!..it’s designed for incredible pressure and heat!…my 2000 Suzuki 500 Kingquad has had Esso XD3 and later Mobil 1 Delvac 1300 both 15w40 since it’s third oil change and the engine ran cooler and a has been running strong for the past 24 years!..diesel oil with the JASO designation is far superior to motorcycle gas engine oil!!..I have a few friends who have Polaris products and they all blew up their engines using Polaris oil…they switched to Rotella T6 and never have engine problems anymore!…you can use any diesel oil as long as it has the JASO designation!!…I have had good luck with it for over 20 years!…edit…as a side note I would change the oil every year regardless of mileage…apparently these synthetic oils have a tendency to go acidic over time which can harm your engine…
Great comment and good tips. Thanks!
The test road looked like FM455 in Texas.
@@rts3613 Don’t recall what it was. That doesn’t sound familiar. I’ll have to watch the video myself. 😂
@@GrumpyGoat Are you in the North Texas, DFW area? FM455 runs from Denton to the McKinney area. It's one of the few driver/rider roads in the area.
@@rts3613Nope I’m in Houston
My bike calls for Motorex 10w-50 powersynt 4T. Should I use Rotella T6 5w-40 or 15w-40?
I would put the weight specified in the manual for the conditions you typically ride in. You want to make sure you have adequate lubrication at both temperature extremes where you live.
Yeeess🥶🥶🥶🥶💀🥶🥶👹👹👹😈😈
Still using this oil? Any problems with your bike's engine since using it? Planing to use this for my s1000xr.
No, I went back to the Castrol Synthetic oil I always used as the price was good. But never had any problems with this oil when I used it.
I herd they changed the formula. Now it doesn’t protect engine parts only best for wet clutch is that true?
I don’t know and I did not hear that. Still working fine in my RS.
@John America Do you have a personal experience to share?
Hi there, what is your experience after 1 year?
Marcio, it has been more than 1 year since that oil was put in (and removed) but there was *ZERO* difference in the bike and its performance using Rotella T6 and my usual Castrol Synthetic motor oil, both while the T6 was in the bike or afterwards. The bike is still running great, and the bike has 60k miles on it now and going strong.
@@GrumpyGoat I always trust in your opinion. I'll keep Motul for Tracer and I'm considering Rotela for the 2018 KLR 650 5K I bought in December. Thank you
chemical engineer working on industrial site including lubricant. If Rotella T6 is API SL compliant, use it. Otherwise no. Typically diesel engine oil are not suitable for gasoline end more specifically motorbike.
Thanks for the input. From what I have found out, in order to be JASO MA2 compliant, you first have to meet API SL standard, so that suggests that Rotella T6 should be compliant with both.
Besides, not all API SL oils (e.g. car oils) can / should be used in motorcycles, so that suggests that meeting SL is not the only criterion.
@@GrumpyGoat See the link, just for your info. You cannot be sure it is SL. I do not recommend to use diesel engine oil on motorcycle even for many other reasons. Unfortunately your test cannot be representative and it is wrong to ensure people it is suitable for a motorbike. Your oil must be SL and (not or) MA2. Sorry for my assertiveness but there are a lot of legends on oils... www.penriteoil.com.au/assets/tech_pdfs/What%20is%20the%20Difference%20between%20JASO%20MA%20and%20JASO%20MB.pdf
@@GrumpyGoat Sorry, I forgot this link: www.jalos.or.jp/onfile/pdf/4T_EV_LIST.pdf list of licensed MA2 oils. Look at it
@@folagana I agree it has to be SL (or later) and MA2. I also agree that I have not be able to see a statement for Rotella T6 saying that in addition to MA2 it also meets SL or better. It just says CK-4.
I am glad to see your comments because this is what I was looking for when considering using Rotella T6, for balance.
I disagree that I am recommending to anyone that they use Rotella T6. My video is what I put in my bike. If others choose to do the same and our bikes get messed up then that is each on us, separately.
@@folagana I have to look at this PDF on a computer. Looking at it on the phone is useless.
None of the documentation you have provided says NOT to use the Rotella T6 with its alleged MA2 compliance and no stated SL compliance. The Penrite Oil PDF appears to omit Rotella T6, but that doesn’t mean that it is not meeting that standard.
I know there is a lot of questionable oil stories out there, and I am not interested in adding to them. Just trying to discern whether this oil is good for me. Maybe it is maybe it isn’t. I need real unbiased proof from an independent organization that it is unsuitable and when I get that I will be the first to put up a revised video retracting what I said. I have no issue with that.
T4 , T5 and T6are all great oils for wet clutch motorcycles
T5 is not jaso MA2 rated