Is Running Diesel Oil in Your Spyder such a good idea?

[jcthorne]

Friend of mine runs it in him and his wife's bike. I called several dealers in the Phoenix area, and they both told me DO NOT run diesel oil in a Spyder, because if you have a warranty, and you have an engine problem and take it in to a dealer, the first thing they are told to do is to send the oil out to be analyzed, and if it shows anything other than the recommended oil, the warranty will NOT cover anything on repairs.

Shell Rotella T6 IS the recomended spec oil. Also after having an engine failure due to oil pump drive bearings failing (a manufacturing defect) BRP did indeed ask for maintenance records and tested the oil. The Shell Rotella T6 was perfectly acceptable and they quickly authorized the $12k cost of the engine replacement.

 

[troop]

Technically speaking, Shell Rotella T6 does not meet BRP required specs. BRP manual clearly states:
Use a 5W40 4-stroke SAE synthetic engine oil meeting or exceeding the following lubricant industry specifications: API service classification SJ,SL, SM or SN. Always check the API service label certification on the oil container, it must contain at least one of the indicated standards.
Shell Rotella T6 container API service label shows only API service CK-4. Shell clearly identifies Rotella T6 as a heavy duty diesel engine oil. Therefore, all of its certifications are for diesel engines (CH/CI/CJ/CK) and not for automotive/motorcycle oils ( SJ/SL/SM/SN).
Shell does however state that it "meets the performance requirements of JASO MA/MA2".
Again, gets back to my last post about showing me an oil related catastrophic engine failure...

 

[EdMat]

Do you plan to ride your Spyder WELL past 100,000 miles? If so, you might want to get picky about what oil you use. Otherwise just use an oil that meets the specs.

 

[Cobranut]

Shell Rotella T6 5W40 meets all BRP lubrication specs including JASO MA2 for motorcycle wet clutch applications. Its NOT just a diesel oil and is a full synthetic that just happens to be tested to meet several specifications.

The rotella t4 in the video is a very different oil and does NOT meet the specs. Not recommended.

Thanks. I was referring to the T6.