anyone using Shell Rotella T in their old Honda?

305 · Post by **305** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:15 pm

with the recent removal of zinc from motor oil , and the problems that caused with older flat tappet engines , i have switched all my cars with flat tappets to shell rotella T 15w-40

my concern in using it in my ca77 is with the wet clutch...googling gave many different opinions for and against...but no real answers.

what do you know about it?

4shorts · Post by **4shorts** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 7:31 pm

My GoldWing got a wet clutch and I have used it in it. I've moved on to Moble 1 Red Cap full syn 50w50 and have used it now for three years in the bike. I have never had any slipage of the clutch and I pull a trailer with the beast so it's my opinion that it wouldn't have any effect on these old bikes either. I did put Moble 1 red Cap 15w50 full syn in the Dream. I've never heard of any oil killing an engine yet. Paul

305 · Post by **305** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 7:10 am

4shorts wrote: I've never heard of any oil killing an engine yet. Paul

actually , it has

4shorts · Post by **4shorts** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 9:53 am

305 wrote:
4shorts wrote: I've never heard of any oil killing an engine yet. Paul
actually , it has

Like I said "I haven't seen it". I should have went further and said "a good grade of oil"

305 · Post by **305** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:22 am

i should explain what i'm talking about. the amount of zinc in motor oil in recent years has been reduced by the EPA..Zinc is an anti-wear additive. small amounts of it gets pass rings and valves and apparently causes problems with catalitic convertors..thus the reaason for the reduced amounts of it in modern oils. even good grades of motor oils have had the zinc level reduced

that's fine with modern engines with roller cams/lifters...but in older engines with flat tappets it is needed to prevent rapid cam/lifter wear. this has caused many cam problems in older engines , even ones were the camshaft has been broken in

what has me concerned is the camshaft amd followers in my CA77 and CB77..and the possibility of wear

Shell Rotella T is a diesel truck oil that still has high levels of zinc. many of the aftermarket camshaft manufactorers recogemend it for use in street driven cars with their flat tappet camshafts...Comp Cams being one of them. everything i own with flat tappets now has shell rotella in it , except my hondas

another way to prevent cam/lifter wear is a product by GM...their Engine Oil Supplement (EOS) part # 1052367. i'm not sure about using THAT in and engine with a wet clutch

i guess i'm gonna switch to shell rotella in my Honda too...if the clutch acts funny , i have a spare set of clutches to replace them... i was wondering if anyone has tried it yet

Wrench_Whore · Post by **Wrench_Whore** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 4:20 pm

I've no problems running Shell Rotella in wet clutch motorcycles.

Good info on API motor oil ratings

CW

leonvjames · Post by **leonvjames** » Fri Mar 30, 2007 3:33 am

I have just changed my CX500 across to diesel oil, a Havoline product Delo400 I think, and after a weeks touring covering 3400kms I had no problems at all. Some good info about oils for motorcycles in All About Oil on a website, Google it, I have run my CB77 for 20 plus years on W80, an aircraft oil and have had no problems with it. motor is nice and clean when I have been into it on rare occasions.
Leon, long time, high milage CB77 owner