Rotella 5w/40 or 15w/40

holligl

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My first time using Rotella T6, but I'm confused as several folks recommend the 5w/40, even though it is not on Yamaha's recommended list. I've been running Castrol Activo 4T 10W/40 for some time, but the Rotella seems to be locally available at a significantly lower price, but it's either 5w/40 or 15w/40. I generally avoid temperature extremes. Which weight is right?
 

~TABASCO~

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My first time using Rotella T6, but I'm confused as several folks recommend the 5w/40, even though it is not on Yamaha's recommended list. I've been running Castrol Activo 4T 10W/40 for some time, but the Rotella seems to be locally available at a significantly lower price, but it's either 5w/40 or 15w/40. I generally avoid temperature extremes. Which weight is right?


Ive run Rotella for more than 10 + years... (full synthetic). Ive run the 5 & 15.. no issue.... Its sometimes hard to find "specific" oil over the last several years.... I get what they might have, if they have it at all.... Ha-Ha
 

holligl

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Thanks, I can find both locally, about $25 after rebate. If you could pick between 5w and 15w, which would you choose?

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Eville Rich

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I don't run T6 in my S10 but do in other equipment. In my view, having the thinner oil at startup is better as the oil should move around faster, especially when it's colder. Currently I run T6 in my Grizzly 700, which I use for snow plowing, my lawn/utility tractor and my wood splitter ( that gets neglected something awful). Ran it in cars in the past but not now due to lower viscosity requirements.

If you live in a warm climate, then I'm sure the 15W is probably fine. But so will be the 5W.
 

scott123007

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The 40 is what is important, so once warmed up, they are both the same. The 5 or 15 is the Winter Pour Viscosity, so if your climate is closer to freezing temperatures at start up, then the 5 would be better. If morning temps are in the 40's and up, the 15 would be fine.
 

holligl

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The 40 is what is important, so once warmed up, they are both the same. The 5 or 15 is the Winter Pour Viscosity, so if your climate is closer to freezing temperatures at start up, then the 5 would be better. If morning temps are in the 40's and up, the 15 would be fine.
Thanks, something I did not know, but do now!

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OldRider

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5W40 is going to be synthetic and 15W40 is regular oil. I use the 15/40 in my tractor and mower and the S10 gets Honda HP4.
 

lund

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Your first number is the "cold oil rating", second number is the "hot oil rating".
Alot of people say it the first number is the winter rating, which is missleading, it is just the cold start rating, once the motor is up to temp. no matter the time of year the rating becomes the second number(the hot number).
Here are things to think about when choosing. How do you operate the bike, the S10 motor is not a race engine and operating at constant high RPMs was not what it was designed. Second rating of 40 and 50 is more for extreme application like racing where a heavy shock load protection is needed. Using oils rated like 20/50, 15/40 in the S10 unless racing in extreme conditions is not required. (extreme means high rpms and not dirty conditions)
A 0/40, 5/40, 15/40 is the most extreme I recommend for street ADV application but the hot number "40" will make your motor run a little hotter.
Like I said, unless your riding at an extreme pace all the time, 40 and 50 hot ratings are not needed.
Personally I use a 10/30 in my own bike, simply because the lower hot rated number 30 makes the engine run cooler by 1-2 degrees.
The use of full synthetics, is another story..
 

WJBertrand

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None of Yamaha’s recommendations in the owners manual include a 5w- anything. I’m thinking Yamaha engineers know more about what lubricants to use than recommendations by forum members who may be, but are probably not, tribologists.


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Jlq1969

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I think that to simplify the issue of oils to the maximum, with 3 parameters it would be enough:
1) First essential condition, indisputable, undeniable and that does not deserve the slightest doubt, that it be a JASO standard.
2) that it be multigrade...
3) grade 60 is out of specification...
So, everything else, that is between 0 and 50 would be within the specifications (always taking into account the ambient temperatures of the normal place of use, when choosing the degree
 

whisperquiet

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I’ve run Rotella T6 in 5w40, 15w40, Rotella 15-40 non-synthetic, and Yamalube 10-40 non-synthetic for as long as I can recall. Quite often, I will mix half of the fill quantity with 5-40 and half with 15-40 when using Rotella which in my non petroleum engineering state of mind equals a perfect blend of Rotella T6 10-40 synthetic.
 
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