10-10-2023, 10:43 AM
The plot thickens... Lol
The entire Rotella line just went through a redesign.
T4 15w40, T6 5w40, and T6 15w40 all continue to bear the JASO MA/MA2 letters on the jug, along with the disclaimer, "Meets or exceeds.." the list of standards, one of which is the aforementioned JASON MA/MA2 standard.
This is important because after 2020 the JASO MA2 certification specifies LESS THAN 1000 PPM of zinc, and all of the current batch of Rotella flavors have more than that amount.
So as of 2021, they don't actually "meet" the JASO MA standard, they exceed it...
The T5 10w40 and T5 15w40 recently got the JASO MA letters on the jug too, but I read that Shell didnt actually change the formula, they just added the letters.
If your bike has a catalytic converter AND it was made after 2020, this might be something to look at, but it's unlikely to be an issue.
However, what's interesting is that the "new" flavor of T6 10w30, while it has a pic of a motorcycle on the bottle, it does NOT have the JASO MA letters on the bottle...
Conversely, the new T5 jug (the flavors are the same, 10w30 and 15w40, just the graphics on the jug chamged) has the JASO MA lettering on the label... But no cute motorcycle pic!
Since I was using Rotella T in bikes many years before JASO was even a thing, I'm not one to believe motorcycle oil needs the JASO stamp of approval. But I do admit that it's very convenient.
I was nervous about trying T5 10w30 in my CB1100 before it had the JASO letters on the label, but I took a chance and it's been working well for me so far... It was funny that they added the JASO letters only after I had put it in my CB1100!
2000 miles in and the T5 10w30 is still shifting silky-smooth.
Im inclined to believe the T6 10w30 will be good too.
The last year for the CB1100 in North America was 2017, and at that time the Rotella add pack did meet the JASO MA standard. I find it implausible that Honda would design a retro bike like the Eleven with a requirement for a standard that didnt yet exist...
In other words, while the new T6 10w30 may not "meet" the JASO MA standard, it probably exceeds it, and for bikes made before 2020, it shouldn't matter anyway.
The entire Rotella line just went through a redesign.
T4 15w40, T6 5w40, and T6 15w40 all continue to bear the JASO MA/MA2 letters on the jug, along with the disclaimer, "Meets or exceeds.." the list of standards, one of which is the aforementioned JASON MA/MA2 standard.
This is important because after 2020 the JASO MA2 certification specifies LESS THAN 1000 PPM of zinc, and all of the current batch of Rotella flavors have more than that amount.
So as of 2021, they don't actually "meet" the JASO MA standard, they exceed it...
The T5 10w40 and T5 15w40 recently got the JASO MA letters on the jug too, but I read that Shell didnt actually change the formula, they just added the letters.
If your bike has a catalytic converter AND it was made after 2020, this might be something to look at, but it's unlikely to be an issue.
However, what's interesting is that the "new" flavor of T6 10w30, while it has a pic of a motorcycle on the bottle, it does NOT have the JASO MA letters on the bottle...
Conversely, the new T5 jug (the flavors are the same, 10w30 and 15w40, just the graphics on the jug chamged) has the JASO MA lettering on the label... But no cute motorcycle pic!
Since I was using Rotella T in bikes many years before JASO was even a thing, I'm not one to believe motorcycle oil needs the JASO stamp of approval. But I do admit that it's very convenient.
I was nervous about trying T5 10w30 in my CB1100 before it had the JASO letters on the label, but I took a chance and it's been working well for me so far... It was funny that they added the JASO letters only after I had put it in my CB1100!
2000 miles in and the T5 10w30 is still shifting silky-smooth.
Im inclined to believe the T6 10w30 will be good too.
The last year for the CB1100 in North America was 2017, and at that time the Rotella add pack did meet the JASO MA standard. I find it implausible that Honda would design a retro bike like the Eleven with a requirement for a standard that didnt yet exist...
In other words, while the new T6 10w30 may not "meet" the JASO MA standard, it probably exceeds it, and for bikes made before 2020, it shouldn't matter anyway.