Semi Synthetic Vs. Full Synthetic

I heard somewhere that full synthetic oil is too slippery for a wet clutch and could cause it to, well, slip. I was told to switch to a semi synthetic. Is this true at all?

Not true at all.Just make sure it is not the engery conserving type. A lot of people on here use Amsoil. I use Mobil1 full synthetic 20/50

Not true at all.Just make sure it is not the engery conserving type. A lot of people on here use Amsoil. I use Mobil1 full synthetic 20/50 +1. I personally don't see a use for semisynthetic oil in either a car or a motorcycle engine. The only thing it's really good for is for use in engines that spend a long time not running in harsh exterior environments, such as aircraft engines, since full synthetics drain more completely from the metal surface over long periods of time and therefore don't offer quite as much corrosion protection. Go with a good quality full synthetic motorcycle oil. I do.

A semi and fully are all coming from the same base stock. Neither is too slippery for your clutch, unless they have some sort of friction modifier in it. If you want to know what type of oil to run, check your owners manual and look for the API rating. It should be looking something like "S12" and it will let you know what type of additives it has in it.

yes, on my street bikes i have used full synthetics and it definitely can cause some false neutrals depending on your riding style and yes, full synthetics do contain friction modifiers, especially the double ester variety. they are designed to protect an engine that spends most of its life running at 90% to 100% of redline i only use full synthetic on my race bikes on my street bikes i use Semi-synth, i.e. motul 5100. on a street bike that spends most of its like between 4-8k its just throwing money down a hole to use full synthetic and for bench racing. most importantly, change your filter/fluids often

on my street bikes i use Semi-synth, i.e. motul 5100. on a street bike that spends most of its like between 4-8k its just throwing money down a hole to use full synthetic and for bench racing. I would agree with that only if you plan on keeping your bike for a year or two and only put a few thousand miles on it. But then, you might as well save even more money and just use standard oil. Bike engines are stressed hard enough that a full synthetic can make a big difference in how long they last even if they aren't operated at their limits.

I would agree with that only if you plan on keeping your bike for a year or two and only put a few thousand miles on it. But then, you might as well save even more money and just use standard oil. Bike engines are stressed hard enough that a full synthetic can make a big difference in how long they last even if they aren't operated at their limits. running full synthetic oil on a street bike, is like running 100 octane to put around time. is 100 octane better for your motorcycle, yes...under the right conditions same thing with full synthetic, street riders just aren't in the oils element. they are better off changing their oil 4 times with semi in the same period of time that they would have kept the fullsynth i keep my bikes numerous years and have used motul 5100 semisynth blend hondas, ducatis, kawasakis and suzukis using full synth on the street is like using brembo brakes, dunlop 211gps and VP racing fuel - for posers

That's kind of laughable, the idea that using the best quality oil is for posers. But to each his own. I don't see the benefit to throwing oil and money away in excessively frequent oil changes, but I do see the benefit of the small cost differential to go to full synthetic oil from either standard or synthetic blend oil. That's my opinion, anyway.

That's kind of laughable, the idea that using the best quality oil is for posers. But to each his own. I don't see the benefit to throwing oil and money away in excessively frequent oil changes, but I do see the benefit of the small cost differential to go to full synthetic oil from either standard or synthetic blend oil. That's my opinion, anyway. +1 Tee :thumbup:

synth is better wasting oil is not.

running full synthetic oil on a street bike, is like running 100 octane to put around time. is 100 octane better for your motorcycle, yes...under the right conditions same thing with full synthetic, street riders just aren't in the oils element. they are better off changing their oil 4 times with semi in the same period of time that they would have kept the fullsynth i keep my bikes numerous years and have used motul 5100 semisynth blend hondas, ducatis, kawasakis and suzukis using full synth on the street is like using brembo brakes, dunlop 211gps and VP racing fuel - for posers youre an idiot, i would call you a poser. 100 octane is not better for your bike EVER, unless youre running a compression ratio that calls for it. seeing how the higher octane fuels burn slower, needing more compression to ignite at the correct rate. that could lead to pre det, plug fouling, holes in pistons, fried rings, catastrophic failure. full synth has advantages and disadvantages, just like syn blends, and regular petroleum. it doesnt matter if you ride the streets or think youre a racer that rides track days. it doesnt matter what oil type anyone uses under any conditions, change it per the owners manual of the bike and their wont be any problems. as long as its wet clutch approved. i would say brembo brakes on the street would be a good idea, along with braided lines, you may avoid that collision that ended your life.

I meant to post in the other thread about a full synthetic causing clutch slippage. The only way that would happen if you are using a full synthetic with MOLLY in it. Normal BIKE full synthetic will not do that. I would and have used a semi synthetic oil when the right full syn wasn't available. I have been using the Mobil one MX4t 10w40 since 2000 in all my bikes. No clutch slippage, my engines have run cooler and shifted smoother. There are many mis-conceptions about synthetic oil out there.:headshake

which full synthetic oil do you guys think is the best? or is it one of those things where you've stuck with what works for you... i've heard good things about amsoil, mobil one, and that lucas stuff.

run what you want or what some one else says to run. or stick to oem oil. itll sure cut down on stupid oil arguments.

which full synthetic oil do you guys think is the best? or is it one of those things where you've stuck with what works for you... i've heard good things about amsoil, mobil one, and that lucas stuff. You have 166 posts and you have to ask that question?

I have been running Motorex semi-synthetic and it worked fine for me. I think I might be switching to full synthetic, since I do ride my bike kind of hard, even though it is a street bike. I just don't know if it is worth the extra $12.

run what you want or what some one else says to run. or stick to oem oil. itll sure cut down on stupid oil arguments. :clap:

run what you want or what some one else says to run. or stick to oem oil. itll sure cut down on stupid oil arguments. Yeah, and then what would we have to do? :D

Ive been using Silkolene Electrosyntec 10w40. Works great. no clutch slippage and really smooth operation. I was wondering if its worth the extra money to use full synthetic. I ride pretty hard, but I dont haul ass everywhere. I dont spend most of my time over 9-10 rpms on street. If just cruising I usually shift around 8. Ive just never felt the need to use full syn...and Ive heard if you go full syn...you dont go back, so Ive never switched.

I heard somewhere that full synthetic oil is too slippery for a wet clutch and could cause it to, well, slip. I was told to switch to a semi synthetic. Is this true at all? Not true at all... As long as the oil has a JASO MA or MA 2 Rating you will not have clutch problems caused by that oil. If the oil does not carry either of those JASO Ratings, I would not recommend running it.. +1. I personally don't see a use for semisynthetic oil in either a car or a motorcycle engine. The only thing it's really good for is for use in engines that spend a long time not running in harsh exterior environments, such as aircraft engines, since full synthetics drain more completely from the metal surface over long periods of time and therefore don't offer quite as much corrosion protection. Go with a good quality full synthetic motorcycle oil. I do. Well, seeing that most piston powered aircraft are air cooled and run with an almost constant load, I would call that a pretty harsh environment. Saying Synthetics drain more completely from the metal surface" is too generic a statement and not true. ALL Synthetics are not alike. To guard against that exact problem, AMSOIL uses a PAO Base Stock with Esters. The Esters Polarize the oil and actually make it cling better to metal surfaces. In the MotorCycle Specific oils, They also add Additives for Anti-Rust and Corrosion. Please check the MotorCycle Oil Test Report in our Sig A semi and fully are all coming from the same base stock. Neither is too slippery for your clutch, unless they have some sort of friction modifier in it. If you want to know what type of oil to run, check your owners manual and look for the API rating. It should be looking something like "S12" and it will let you know what type of additives it has in it. Actually, there are different Base Stocks.. Some oils that call themselves "Fully Synthetic" such as Castrol, Valvoline, Rotella "T" and others are Hydro-Cracked Group III Base Stocks. AMSOIL and Mobil 1 MX4T use PAO's (Group IV) with Esters and Motul 300V is an Ester based product (also Group IV). The API Rating you would be looking for would be SG or SH and not any higher.. The higher ratings will have Friction Modifiers in them. yes, on my street bikes i have used full synthetics and it definitely can cause some false neutrals depending on your riding style and yes, full synthetics do contain friction modifiers, especially the double ester variety. they are designed to protect an engine that spends most of its life running at 90% to 100% of redline i only use full synthetic on my race bikes on my street bikes i use Semi-synth, i.e. motul 5100. on a street bike that spends most of its like between 4-8k its just throwing money down a hole to use full synthetic and for bench racing. most importantly, change your filter/fluids often Most "True" Synthetics will actually have the effect of Fewer False Neutrals, easier to find neutrals, smoother shifting, cooler oil temps etc... These include AMSOIL, Mobil 1 MX4 T and Motul 300V. I disagree about using a Full Synthetic on a Street Bike is a waste of money. The benefits lited above plus More HP, Better fuel mileage, less wear and through the use of Oil Analysis, establishing an extended drain interval. I am at 10,000 interval on my bike. By doing so, my immediate cost per mile is lower. I would agree with that only if you plan on keeping your bike for a year or two and only put a few thousand miles on it. But then, you might as well save even more money and just use standard oil. Bike engines are stressed hard enough that a full synthetic can make a big difference in how long they last even if they aren't operated at their limits. I Agree. running full synthetic oil on a street bike, is like running 100 octane to put around time. is 100 octane better for your motorcycle, yes...under the right conditions same thing with full synthetic, street riders just aren't in the oils element. they are better off changing their oil 4 times with semi in the same period of time that they would have kept the fullsynth i keep my bikes numerous years and have used motul 5100 semisynth blend hondas, ducatis, kawasakis and suzukis using full synth on the street is like using brembo brakes, dunlop 211gps and VP racing fuel - for posers My remarks are above for this... run what you want or what some one else says to run. or stick to oem oil. itll sure cut down on stupid oil arguments. Some people think an oil thread is stupid, most will find some good information. For those that think they are Stupid, I would Highly Recommend that the READ the Thread Title and avoid it. Bob Schultz .

Thanks Mr. Schultz. I did find this information helpful. I mean its not going to change anything as I've used amsoil from day one but the insight is invaluable.

Thanks Mr. Schultz. I did find this information helpful. I mean its not going to change anything as I've used amsoil from day one but the insight is invaluable. Mr. Schultz was my Father. If he answers, we are both in trouble.. Glad you use AMSOIL. Hope you will give us chance to earn your business. Where is "Near Chicago" ? I lived in Chicago and then moved to Antioch in '71. Still have relatives all over the Burbs. Bob Schultz

Well, seeing that most piston powered aircraft are air cooled and run with an almost constant load, I would call that a pretty harsh environment. Saying Synthetics drain more completely from the metal surface" is too generic a statement and not true. ALL Synthetics are not alike. To guard against that exact problem, AMSOIL uses a PAO Base Stock with Esters. The Esters Polarize the oil and actually make it cling better to metal surfaces. In the MotorCycle Specific oils, They also add Additives for Anti-Rust and Corrosion. Please check the MotorCycle Oil Test Report in our Sig I'm not in disagreement with you, I'm just saying that was the rationale used by Shell and a couple of other companies to discontinue their fully synthetic aircraft oil, so the best I can get is a semi-synthetic Aeroshell blend. If Amsoil made a TSO'd piston aircraft engine oil I'd use it.

I'm not in disagreement with you, I'm just saying that was the rationale used by Shell and a couple of other companies to discontinue their fully synthetic aircraft oil, so the best I can get is a semi-synthetic Aeroshell blend. If Amsoil made a TSO'd piston aircraft engine oil I'd use it. Usually a company will withdraw something like that due to Insurance Premiums. That is why AMSOIL Discontinued their Aircraft oil. Although, we have many Experimental Aircraft running our oils as they do not require the Certification. The AMSOIL MotorCycle Specific Series oils would be a great choice for your bike as they are formulated Specifically for that application. Who knows, it may be similar to our AV oil with the addition of Specific Clutch Performance Additives. I will probably try our new RD-50 Racing oil in my bike, but I don't have a wet clutch to worry about either. Bob Schultz

Mr. Schultz was my Father. If he answers, we are both in trouble.. Glad you use AMSOIL. Hope you will give us chance to earn your business. Where is "Near Chicago" ? I lived in Chicago and then moved to Antioch in '71. Still have relatives all over the Burbs. Bob Schultz I apologize! I live in Orland Park, like 40mins southwest of chicago

I apologize! I live in Orland Park, like 40mins southwest of chicago No Apologies necessary... That "Mr." Stuff just makes me feel my age...LOL I am just Bob