03-15-2015, 11:41 PM
If any of you have seen the other oil thread, you'll know I am an advocate of better oils as proven by UOAs. I have used Amsoil in a ton of bikes with superb results, had analysis done, and know a thing or two about lubricants. Recently though, I conceded.
I've been running Amsoil 5W-30 (as Honda suggests) in my CB. Since this change, I have had an alarming (but non-threatening) rattle coming from the oil pan when warming up. Didn't bother me, I just let it warm up and it went away. What is not negotiable though is the weeping I now have at the valve cover gasket. Yup. Around 3k miles and the gasket is leaking. I KNOW this is not right. My bike doesn't have an easy life (hot, traffic, beating on it, etc) but I have never pushed the bike beyond what the manufacturer allows, never gotten an overtemp light and have used a KNOWN good performer oil. Something about the weight of the Honda oil is lying. I'm nearly certain. It's VERY thin when cold as many of you can observe it dripping back quicker. Contrary to popular belief though, this is not beneficial. As long as you have adequate oil pressure, you want the oil to be sticking to non-pressurized, high wear items like your cams, wrist pins, transmission, etc. And when hot, it doesn't thin enough to weep through the valve cover. I will be doing a UOA on this oil to verify the weight though once I can get a few cycles through the engine.
I'm sad that I have to change oils due to a leak and rattle, but this could be the intended purpose of Honda using their oil. In the same way that certain Mobil oils test thinner than advertised, Honda oils may not have the same weight range as advertised. While I do not think any damage has been done to my engine, I can't tolerate what this oil is doing. To everyone I argued with, I'm sorry haha There was more to this than meets the eye.
I've been running Amsoil 5W-30 (as Honda suggests) in my CB. Since this change, I have had an alarming (but non-threatening) rattle coming from the oil pan when warming up. Didn't bother me, I just let it warm up and it went away. What is not negotiable though is the weeping I now have at the valve cover gasket. Yup. Around 3k miles and the gasket is leaking. I KNOW this is not right. My bike doesn't have an easy life (hot, traffic, beating on it, etc) but I have never pushed the bike beyond what the manufacturer allows, never gotten an overtemp light and have used a KNOWN good performer oil. Something about the weight of the Honda oil is lying. I'm nearly certain. It's VERY thin when cold as many of you can observe it dripping back quicker. Contrary to popular belief though, this is not beneficial. As long as you have adequate oil pressure, you want the oil to be sticking to non-pressurized, high wear items like your cams, wrist pins, transmission, etc. And when hot, it doesn't thin enough to weep through the valve cover. I will be doing a UOA on this oil to verify the weight though once I can get a few cycles through the engine.
I'm sad that I have to change oils due to a leak and rattle, but this could be the intended purpose of Honda using their oil. In the same way that certain Mobil oils test thinner than advertised, Honda oils may not have the same weight range as advertised. While I do not think any damage has been done to my engine, I can't tolerate what this oil is doing. To everyone I argued with, I'm sorry haha There was more to this than meets the eye.