Is motorcycle oil different than regular motor oil, and if so how? Thanks!?

Add DrSmith's answer to KB's answer and you get the full story.





Here is Mobil 1's answer to your question:





';Motorcycle oils and passenger car oils are very similar, with the exception of a couple of areas that are key to motorcycle operation. The first area concerns common sumps, or the use of motor oil, to lubricate and cool the transmission. As you know, in a passenger car the transmission is lubricated by an ATF fluid, which has frictional properties required for transmission operation. In a motorcycle, where the transmission may be lubricated by the engine oil, an engine oil that does not have the same level of friction modification (for fuel economy) of a typical passenger car engine oil will provide better transmission performance in terms of transmission lock-up and slippage. So motorcycle engine oil does not contain the friction modifiers of a passenger car engine oil. The second area of concern for motorcycle engine oils is that they tend to shear (breakdown viscosity) more quickly than a typical passenger car. Mobil 1 motorcycle oils are designed to provide exceptional protection against viscosity loss.';Is motorcycle oil different than regular motor oil, and if so how? Thanks!?
In general, no, the oil is no different, but it is completely dependent on what type of engine you have and what the oil is being used for. If it's engine oil only, then no difference, but if it has other functions/uses then it would be very different. Check an owner's manual for the correct information or call a motorcycle shop/store and tell them the make and model of your motorcycle and they can tell you more specifically what oil you need to be using.Is motorcycle oil different than regular motor oil, and if so how? Thanks!?
Basically, no.


If you want the best lubricity, better than synthetics, Shell Rotella-T
Meny motorcycle engines share oil supply with the transmission The load pressure from the gears can cause oil to break down( lose viscosity) fast like within 1000 miles
Yes regular oil has friction modifiers in it that can cause oil bath clutches (like most motorcycles have) to slip. Motorcycle oil does not have this.
Yes most regular oil has friction modifiers in it that can cause clutch damage. you can check on the back of the oil bottle in the service star. it will say energy conserving if it has friction modifiers in it. if it doesn't it is ok to use. most light car oil like 5w-30 10w-30 etc is energy conserving. most heavier wight oils aren't energy conserving 10w-40, 15w-40 etc.
I never put motorcycle oil in my bikes. Any good brand name automobileoil without moly is as good, if not better, than motorcycle oil. Moly causes wet cluthes to sometimes slip, so skip it.
The difference in regular motor oil and motorcycle oil is motorcycle oil is a heavier weight oil. Also, certain motorcycles require a different type of oil for different parts of the engine and drive chain. A harley for example can have upto 3 different types of oil used. If done regularly, putting conventional motor oil in a motorcycle engine could cause damage.
Motorcycle oil is formulated to withstand the higher revs that a motorcycle is subjected to and to also deal with the wet clutches. Bikes have twice the redline that most cars have, creating a much more stressed environment for the oil. It will maintain viscosity longer and will not break down under the shear forces in a motorcycle engine.
Well except for special applications like in your first answer, I'd say not so much. Barring you're running your bike in the Daytona 500 in over 100 degree heat. There are only so many refineries and a lot of different brands come from each refinery. But everybody has their own opinion on what oil to use. Straight or multi-viscosity, synthetic the one thing I think all will agree on is regular oil changes. I usually use Castro 20-50 in my motor with Lucas oil making up a percentage for what I figure is a little extra protection. If you change your oil often even the cheaper oils won't have time to break down. On the bike I change my oil and before I button things up I pull the plug and let her run while I pour an extra quart or two into the oil bag just to try and flush out as much of the old oil as I can. Want a above average oil try Torco. Expensive and hard to find but Torco, Castro or any other change it often, I don't like to let it go to 2500 miles, and it won't be oil breakdown you lose your motor over. Just my opinion. And here I'm assuming your talking mainly motor application. Like the first answer said different applications different weights and additives. Again main thing for any of it is the prescribed intervals of oil change if not more often.
KB is right on.