Clutch slipping... what oil

[Tom81]

After Oil change My clutch is now slipping. First time i've changed it so don't know what type it was before.

But now it is Motul Semi synthetic 10W40 API SE-SG. According to the manual this should be the right type.

but what types and brands of oil are you guys using??

Tom

[Tber]

on my 650r i use Amsoil 20W50 full synthetic motorcycle oil. No problems yet, but i only have 1000 miles on the motor and clutch

[yz250ftony]

Full synthetic is usually what makes yous clutch slip. Maybe the clutch is going out?(wearing out) Change the oil, use some straight oil(not synthetic).

[HondaXR650L]

Go with strait Honda motor oil, works great and is cheep, 12,000 miles and still going strong. I was told if your driving the "L" do not use synthetic oil, it is better for the engine in high milage bikes, but is harder on the clutch. At least that's what the Honda shop said.

[Shawn_Mc]

The Honda shop is just trying to sell oil.

As long as the oil you use doesnt have Moly in it, your fine. Thing is, a lot of oils have Moly in them these days. Go back and read the lable of the oil you put in there. See if its "Energy conserving" or has Moly in it. If its either go ahead and change the oil back out. If it doesnt. the clutch slipping is probably just a conisence. Make sure youve got some slack in the lever. You should have at least the thickness of a nickle between the lever and the perch, if not, that may be your problem, or what created the problem. Either way, replacing the clutch isnt tough.

[goblin127]

The only oil that would creat that problem is the one with the energy conserving on the bottom of that round label.

[mtrhd101]

Changing your oil to synthetic will NOT make your clutch go out.. It can however expose a clutch that was already borderline bad.. In other words if your clutch started slipping after you changed the oil, you already had a bad clutch.. Synthetic will not make a good clutch slip, just a bad one...

[captb]

The Honda shop is just trying to sell oil.

As long as the oil you use doesnt have Moly in it, your fine. Thing is, a lot of oils have Moly in them these days. Go back and read the lable of the oil you put in there. See if its "Energy conserving" or has Moly in it. If its either go ahead and change the oil back out. If it doesnt. the clutch slipping is probably just a conisence. Make sure youve got some slack in the lever. You should have at least the thickness of a nickle between the lever and the perch, if not, that may be your problem, or what created the problem. Either way, replacing the clutch isnt tough.

+1

I run Mobil 1 15-50 gold cap no problem in both my bikes.

[bootlegger2]

i use NAPA 10w30 and get my filter there also,oil is oil if you change it on a regular basis,sounds like the clutch was on the border line

[reconranger]

I am a biochemist by profession, and have done a lot of study on oils. I will never again run anything but an ESTER SYNTHETIC! The synthetics have huge advantages over petroleum, and the ester synthetics have distinct advantages over the PAO synthetics (like amsoil and mobil 1).

Maxima Extra or Ultra. These are motorcycle specific, API SG/JASO MA, and 100% ester synthetic. Ultra is ultra slick! It has an extra ester that Extra does not have. Otherwise they are the same formulation (but different weights). And in my truck, Redline which is also 100% ester synthetic.

Exactly which Motul are you using? Motuls synthetics are esters, and good stuff. Makes absolutely no sense to run a semi-synthetic though. I am betting you have other clutch problems, that aren't related to oil.

[Tom81]

I'm running the Motul 5100 Esther, semi synthetic 10W40.

Now I have disassembled the clutch and measured the old plates and springs. And They almost measure up to the new ones.. I don't get it.

[LotsOfBikes]

It is probably not the fault of your new oil.

Sometimes the interactions between different types of oil are not desirable.

You may want to clean off your clutch plates with brake cleaner. Let them fully dry. Then soak your plates in the oil that you will be running in your bike. Soak them all night indoors.

[reconranger]

Couldn't get on Motul's web site to comfirm, but as I recall they call 5100 a "blend", but I think they mean it is a blend of different diesters (so it is 100% synthetic??????). Here in the states, a blend is a mixture of petroleum and synthetic oils.

In any case, it is API SG/JASO MA and 4T so it should be great stuff.

[NuckingFuts]

Ive had similar occur on my street bikes using 5100. It only happens under hard accelerations and only for the 1st 300 miles or so. I stand by it though, my engines run cooler and my gear box is smooth as silk.