Editing What Motor Oil Should You Use?
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Never has there been an issue as hotly debated as what motor oil to use in a motorcycle. Forget helmet use, forget brand-loyalty, forget counter-steering. If you want to see an inflammed ruckus with much YELLING and many exclamation points!!!!!! ask about motor oil in a motorcycle forum. | Never has there been an issue as hotly debated as what motor oil to use in a motorcycle. Forget helmet use, forget brand-loyalty, forget counter-steering. If you want to see an inflammed ruckus with much YELLING and many exclamation points!!!!!! ask about motor oil in a motorcycle forum. | ||
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We'll cover the basics of motor oil below. But this article is only one of many you can and maybe should read if you want to make a fully informed decision. So, here's a quick list of some good resources available online concerning motor oil in general, and motor oil for motorcycles. | We'll cover the basics of motor oil below. But this article is only one of many you can and maybe should read if you want to make a fully informed decision. So, here's a quick list of some good resources available online concerning motor oil in general, and motor oil for motorcycles. | ||
* | * All about oil: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html | ||
* | * API Grades: http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/API.html | ||
* | * More API: http://new.api.org/certifications/engineoil/categories/index.cfm | ||
* | * Synthetic Oil Life Study: http://neptune.spacebears.com/cars/stories/oil-life.html | ||
* | * Oil Testing Lab: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ | ||
==Basic Information== | ==Basic Information== | ||
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===SAE Weight=== | ===SAE Weight=== | ||
The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil. The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its | The API donut also tells you the SAE weight of the motor oil. The "weight" of a motor oil is essentially its viscosity, or how "thick" it is. 30-weight oil is less viscous than 40-weight oil. | ||
In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures. Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures. | In multi-weight oils, such as 10W-40, the first number is the oil's "weight" at low temperatures, and the second number is the oil's "weight" at high temperatures. Multi-weight oils have mostly displaced single-weight oils in the market place because they give better lubrication at start-up, especially in cold weather, than single-weights, and yet give the same protection at higher, operating temperatures. | ||
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Honda does not own an oil refinery. Nor does Harley-Davidson, BMW, or any of the other motorcycle manufactures. The motor oil sold under their brand names is produced by an oil company, which makes lots of motor oil. | Honda does not own an oil refinery. Nor does Harley-Davidson, BMW, or any of the other motorcycle manufactures. The motor oil sold under their brand names is produced by an oil company, which makes lots of motor oil. | ||
Considering the volume of oil that is sold as OEM, it's reasonable to assume that the oil in OEM bottles, is the same as the oil sold in other bottles. It would be cost prohibitive to develop, manufacture and package a motor oil formulation to be used exclusively as an OEM motor oil. | Considering the volume of oil that is sold as OEM, it's reasonable to assume that the oil in OEM bottles, is the same as the oil sold in other bottles. It would be cost prohibitive to develop, manufacture and package a motor oil formulation to be used exclusively as an OEM motor oil. | ||
So, OEM motor oils are no better and no worse than other motor oils available on the market. The advantage of OEM motor oils is that you can be confident they are appropriate for your motorcycle. You can bet your bottom dollar that Honda, for example, won't be selling a Honda motorcycle motor oil that damages Honda motorcycles. | So, OEM motor oils are no better and no worse than other motor oils available on the market. The advantage of OEM motor oils is that you can be confident they are appropriate for your motorcycle. You can bet your bottom dollar that Honda, for example, won't be selling a Honda motorcycle motor oil that damages Honda motorcycles. | ||
On the other hand, OEM motor oils tend to be more expensive. Does eliminating the guess-work in selecting a motor oil justify the | On the other hand, OEM motor oils tend to be more expensive. Does eliminating the guess-work in selecting a motor oil justify the additinal cost? That's up to you. | ||
==Motor Oil Analysis== | ==Motor Oil Analysis== | ||
==Vast Motor Oil Conspiracy== | ==Vast Motor Oil Conspiracy== | ||
* Free Market Competition: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/Competition.html | |||
* Economics of Collusion: http://www.tutor2u.net/economics/content/topics/monopoly/cartels.htm | |||
* Prisoner's Dilemma: http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/PrisonersDilemma.html | |||
==More Information== | |||
Some of these are repetitions of links earlier in this article. They're all gathered here for convenience, with a few added in for even more information. |