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Make sure it's JASO MA certified and not JASO MB certified. JASO MB isn't suitable for wet clutch use. Here are a few articles to read. The source link is listed above each excerpt.

SOURCE

The Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) has created their own set of performance and quality standards for petrol engines of Japanese origin.

For 4-stroke gasoline engines, the JASO T904 standard is used, and is particularly relevant to motorcycle engines. The JASO T904-MA and MA2 standards are designed to distinguish oils that are approved for wet clutch use, and the JASO T904-MB standard is not suitable for wet clutch use.

For 2-stroke gasoline engines, the JASO M345 (FA, FB, FC) standard is used, and this refers particularly to low ash, lubricity, detergency, low smoke and exhaust blocking.

These standards, especially JASO-MA and JASO-FC, are designed to address oil-requirement issues not addressed by the API service categories.

SOURCE

JASO MA
Japanese standard for special oil which can be used in 4-stroke motorcycle engine with one oilsystem for engine, gearbox and wet clutchsystem. Fluid is non-friction modified.
JASO MB
MB grade oils are classified as the lowest friction oils among motorcycle four-cycle oils. Not to be used where a JASO MA grade oil is required.

SOURCE

All quality motorcycle specific oils should also carry the JASO Motorcycle Specifications, which are either the JASO-MA specification (no friction modifiers) or the JASO-MB specification (with friction modifiers).

Another good link to read:

ThumperFaq: 4-Stroke Oil
 
Shell Rotella T - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Appears to be JASO MA from this article.
I've used this oil in my motorcycles with no troubles, but I still use amsoil synthetic motorcycle oil as my main engine oil for all my machines.
The good thing about the Rotella T is the price of it, so if your a serious mudrunner, or in allot of dusty conditions all the time where your cleaning your air filter after every ride, its a good deal so you can change your oil often without breaking the bank. Dirty synthetic oil will do more damage to an engine than clean conventional oil.
 
Shell Rotella T - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Appears to be JASO MA from this article.
I've used this oil in my motorcycles with no troubles, but I still use amsoil synthetic motorcycle oil as my main engine oil for all my machines.
The good thing about the Rotella T is the price of it, so if your a serious mudrunner, or in allot of dusty conditions all the time where your cleaning your air filter after every ride, its a good deal so you can change your oil often without breaking the bank. Dirty synthetic oil will do more damage to an engine than clean conventional oil.
By reading that article, it appears that the Shell Rotella 10W-30 isn't JASO MA certified, but it says the 15W-40 and the synthetic T6 5W-40 is JASO MA certified. Seems like I read somewhere that none of the 10W-30 conventional oils are JASO MA certified, but I don't remember where I read it.
 
Here is the link where I read that none of the 10W-30 oils are JASO MA certified. It also says that none of the 5W-20 is JASO MA certified.

Here is an excerpt from the link:

"Some oils contain friction reducing chemicals. These oils are unsuitable for motorcycles. All 5W20 and 10W30 non-motorcycle engine oils have these friction reducers. Oils with an operating weight of 40 or greater are not required to have friction reducers. These oils are unlikely to cause clutch slippage."

SOURCE

It says that conventional 10W-40 oils aren't required to have friction modifiers, but it doesn't say that all 10W-40 doesn't have friction modifiers and this would explain why I haven't had any clutch slippage when I used Castrol 10W-40 automotive oil. Note that when I tried to use Pennzoil 10W-40 automotive oil, my clutch did start slipping by the following day, so evidently Pennzoil 10W-40 does contain friction modifiers.
 
Does Honda actually manufacture their line of oil, or is it just a label and made from someone else? I've even heard that Mobil makes it for them, but we all know how that is, we like proof.
 
Does Honda actually manufacture their line of oil, or is it just a label and made from someone else? I've even heard that Mobil makes it for them, but we all know how that is, we like proof.
It's just a label, but I don't know who manufactures it. I think Mobil does make the Honda automotive oils, but I'm not sure about the motorcyle/ATV oils.

ADDED: I'm looking at a bottle of GN4, now, and it just says "DISTRIBUTED BY: American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Torrance, CA 90501. Made in the USA from Domestic & Imported Components."
 
All i ever use is Castrol 4 stroke 10W40, or 5w40 its been a bit since i changed my oil, because i just got my bike back when i started posting on here haha....works good in the bike i dont have any shifting issues that i know of. bike works great!
 
Here is another question, how much do the 86 250 engine hold ??
Welcome to the forums. If you're talking about the '86 Fourtrax 250 utility model, it holds 2.2 quarts.
 
I've got a 2012 Rancher AT. the manual lists 10w40 as the highest range on the oil. is it ok to use the rotella triple 15w40 in this quad? seems to be pretty difficult to find the 5w anywhere local. also, i'm in east TN so, temperate weather climate.
 
I've got a 2012 Rancher AT. the manual lists 10w40 as the highest range on the oil. is it ok to use the rotella triple 15w40 in this quad? seems to be pretty difficult to find the 5w anywhere local. also, i'm in east TN so, temperate weather climate.
The Rotella 15W-40 is regular oil, the 5W-40 is the Rotella T6 synthetic which I highly recommend, it's at walmart and others about $23 for gallon jug - it's dark blue
 
I'm not a synthetic oil snob like some people at the same time synthetics are usually a "thinner" viscosity oil. Using a 15w-40 oil is a "thicker" oil and you may see upper engine wear using it versus 5W oils. The majority of engine wear occurs during start up. The thinner oils reach the top of the engine sooner therefore securing good lubrication quicker on start up even in temperate climates. Once they are warmed up then it's no longer an issue. I highly recommend the thinner regular oils (5W) or a synthetic. If for some reason you just have to use 15W-40 then I would recommend an oil heater prior to starting your bike. You can use a search engine and find easily....just type in atv oil heater.
 
well, i was weary of the 15w-40 already because it's above the recomended range in the manual anyway (stops at 10w-40), i'm not sure why i didn't look at the synthetic but it looks to be twice the price at walmart than the non synthetic. though they also show a 10w-30 in the rotela tripple online, but no price or store availability
 
I use Amsoil 4-stroke Full Synthetic 0w-40. It works to substitute it for 5w-30, 5w-40 and 10w-40 oil. Because it is synthetic, it offers protection down to -30 degrees F during the winter. The best (in my opinion) all season Oil you can buy.
just my thought I have a2013 foreman I have used gn4 10 40wt but have switched to vavoline 10 40 for 4 strokes had as many miles as gn4 seems the valvolene came out pretty clean plus its about 1.25 qt cheaper at least here in Pittsburgh any way if you decide to go synthetic remember don't mix brands and don't go back and forth stay with one cause synthetic has a high amt of detergents which causes foam and in time will cause slippage if it dnt come with synthetic don't waste money go with a good brand sae oil for wet clutches hope this helps:icon_gd:
 
Download your service manual and it will tell you what weight oil to use under your driving conditions. Personally I reccomend using the GN4 for break in, then switch over to a full synthetic such as Mobil1. Esp if you are in the south and ride during the hotter weather.

But whatever you do make SURE the oil you choose has the right JASO ratings for motorcycles and wet clutches.

Wow 33 thousand views !!! Thats gotta be a record :)
 
Shell Rotella T6, awesome oil. Walmart has for around $21 a gallon and they do a $5 rebate several times a year. I run it in all my stuff.
 
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