Many Road Star owners seem to be using what they call: Mobil 1 "Red Cap".

Perhaps I am over-thinking this, but I want to use motorcycle-safe oil.

By, "Red Cap" do they simply mean Mobil 1 synthetic AUTOMOBILE oil WITH THE RED PLASTIC CAP? In other words, "RED CAP" does not seem to be part of the oil name, but the way the bottle is capped.

This oil is currently available in Canada at WalMart for $28.00 CDN.

As an automobile rated oil it contains the anti-wear additive SuperSyn as well as Polyalphaolefins. Is this motorcycle clutch compatible?

Mobil 1 also makes 3 Motorcycle-specific grades of oil (for Sport, V-Twins and Off-Road). Am I safe to assume that this is just a marketing ploy to charge more?

To summarize, I would simply like confirmation that Mobil 1 "Red Cap" Automobile oil (as described above) is what many of you are safely using.

Thanks in advance,

Dave<br><br>Post edited by: DPHammer, at: 2004/10/07 13:00

Yes .... it's the Mobil with the red plastic cap. Other weights have blue or green caps.

It is not called &gt;Red Cap&quot;.

I've been using it for a couple of years and usually buy it from Can Tire for about $23 on sale

Doc

Doc,

Thanks for the reply.

So, the anti-wear additive SuperSyn and the Polyalphaolefins found in Mobil 1 are nothing to worry about? They are not the type of evil additives that cause clutch plate slippage?

Dave

The oil grades with other colour caps do contain additives that will affect the clutch. Do not use them.

As far as I know they have not changed the &quot;Red Cap&quot; formulation. But then again, I usually buy 4 at a time on sale and still have some containers from spring last year.

Doc

I have personally observed 3 different bikes develop slipping clutches with 14K+ miles on Mobil 1 Red Cap. I will no longer use this oil.

Jim

I'm on my second change with red cap, and have noticed, it isn't slipping now, but if I just barely touch my clutch lever while riding it will cause it to slip. My clutch cable is adjusted correctly, has not been moved since changing to the red cap, and didn't do this before the red cap.. so I've had my wonders too. I think next change I'm going to the Amsoil or royal purple..

Funny thing is, I developed a slipping clutch after intalling Amsoil.
It was a weak spring, not the Amsoil.
Coincidence.

OEM springs suck.

Doc,

There now seem to be several more compelling reasons not to use Mobil 1 &quot;Red Cap&quot; than to use it!

To be safe, I'm going to winterize my R* with Rotella T &quot;Dino&quot; Oil. With only 4,300 km on her, it is probably too soon to convert to full synthetic anyway.

I have yet to find a Canadian source for Shell Rotella T Synthetic. Can anyone advise where it can readily be found in South Western Ontario?

Perhaps this would be a good time to ask if anyone has had any adverse affects (i.e. clutch slippage) using Rotella T Synthetic?

Thanks in advance,

Well, I found Rotella T 0W40 Synthetic for special cold weather applications, but this cannot be the Rotella T Synthetic that some R* owners are using, can it?

Can anyone shed some light on the specifics (i.e. exact name/grade and availability in Canada).

Any good or bad issues with this oil?

Your comments would be appreciated.