A Look Inside the AMSOIL

Motorcycle Oil Study:

Four-Ball Wear Test
Motorcycles are very 1800 RPM and 150 degrees C respectively for each oil
popular vehicles that tested. Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 and
inspire tremendous SAE 50 oils.
brand loyalty. Many As seen in the graphs, both AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic
motorcyclists invest Motorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
a great deal of time (MCV) exhibited minimal wear scars of 0.40 mm, placing them
and energy into their at the top of their respective test groups. Competing motor-
machines and spare cycle oils showed wear scars up to twice as large. The wear
no expense when it protection provided by AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils is
comes to the protec- second-to-none, allowing motorcycles to perform better, last
tion and performance longer and require less maintenance.
of their investments.
With nearly five mil-
lion registered motor-
cycles in the United States and sales topping
750,000 units annually, the potential market for
AMSOIL Dealers is almost limitless.
The new AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study (G-
2156) is an excellent sales tool for Dealers seek-
ing to either break into the motorcycle market or
increase their sales. The study compares the
test results of 26 different motorcycle oils in the
most critical areas of motorcycle oil performance,
including wear protection, shear stability and
rust protection, helping consumers make edu-
cated decisions regarding which oil to use in
their motorcycles.
One of the most important functions of any
motor oil is wear protection. Because motorcycle
engines operate under more severe operating
conditions than automobiles, the ability of a
motorcycle oil to deliver adequate wear protec-
tion is especially important.
The ASTM D-4172 Four-Ball Wear Test is the
standard test used to determine a lubricant’s
ability to minimize wear in metal-to-metal contact
situations. Three steel balls are secured and
placed in a triangular pattern within a bath of
the test lubricant. With load, speed and temper-
ature kept constant, a fourth ball sits atop the
other balls and is rotated and forced into them for Although zinc has long been considered an excellent anti-
one hour. Following the test, the lower three balls wear additive, it is interesting to note that the oils with the high-
are inspected for wear scars at the point of con- est levels of zinc, Maxima Maxum 4 in the SAE 40 group and
tact. The diameters of the wear scars are mea- Golden Spectro 4 in the SAE 50 group, did not test in the top
sured and the results are reported as an average of their groups. These results indicate that simply formulating
of the three scars. The lower the average wear an oil with a high zinc level is not sufficient in minimizing wear.
scar diameter, the better the wear protection A coupon offer for one free Motorcycle Oil Study is included
properties of the oil. in each case of AMSOIL 10W-40 (MCF) and 20W-50 (MCV)
For the Four-Ball Wear Test portion of the Motorcycle Oil. It is also available for purchase.
AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study, the loads, speeds Stock # U.S. Can.
and temperatures were maintained at 40 kg, G-2156 2.00 2.60

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / MARCH 2006

AprilPgs81810 3/17/06 2:52 PM Page 11

A Look Inside the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study:

By comparing the test As seen in the photos and graphs, both AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic
results of 26 different Motorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) showed
motorcycle oils in the most no rust spots, placing them at the top of their respective test groups. Many
critical areas of motorcy- competing motorcycle oils failed the test. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils
cle oil performance, the provide unsurpassed rust protection, allowing motorcycles to perform
AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil better, last longer and require less maintenance. Order the G-2156 Motorcycle
Study (G-2156) is an excel- Oil Study to see all the results
lent sales tool for Dealers
seeking to either break into Results, Rust Protection, SAE 40 GROUP
the motorcycle market or
increase their sales. The
March issue of the Action
Motorcycle Oil Study News took a closer look
Stock # U.S. Can. at the specifics of the Four-
G-2156 2.00 2.60 Ball Wear Test and how
each of the oils fared. This
issue examines rust protection.
Rust protection is particularly important in motor-
cycle applications. Often used seasonally, then stored
and unused during the offseason, condensation and
moisture within the engine promote rust formation. In
addition, the combustion process and short trip driv-
ing create condensation and acids that further promote
corrosion and rust.
Rust is as abrasive as dirt, causing problems such
as scratching and pitting on cylinders, pistons and
bearing surfaces, leading to blow-by, lower com-
pression and reduced power and performance. When
rust forms on needle bearings, bearing failure results.
Rust also causes excessive wear on bearings,
camshafts, lifters and gear surfaces.
Motor oil has little or no natural ability to prevent
rust. It must be formulated with special rust inhibitors.
However, because rust inhibitors typically sacrifice Results, Rust Protection, SAE 50 GROUP
wear protection by competing with antiwear addi-
tives for the metal surface, many motorcycle oils are
formulated without rust inhibitors. AMSOIL Synthetic
Motorcycle Oils are formulated with breakthrough
technology that provides outstanding protection
against rust without sacrificing wear protection (see
Four-Ball Wear Test article in the March Action News).
The ASTM D-1748 humidity cabinet test measures
a lubricant’s ability to protect against rust and corro-
sion. A standard metal reference coupon is immersed
in the test oil before being placed in a humidity cabi-
net for 24 hours at 120 degrees F. Following the test
period, the coupons are removed and inspected for
rust. In order to pass the test, an oil may allow no more
than three rust spots less than or equal to 1 mm in
diameter. Oils allowing more than three rust spots, or
one rust spot larger than 1 mm in diameter, fail the test.
Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 and
SAE 50 oils. As seen in the graphs, failing oils were
divided into three categories: oils showing 1-10 spots, oils
showing 11-20 spots and oils showing over 20 spots.

AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / APRIL 2006 11

MayPgs82160.qxp 4/21/06 1:06 PM Page 10

A Look Inside the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study:

UPDATED The AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil
Study (G-2156) compares
the test results of 28 differ-
ent motorcycle oils in the
most critical areas of motor-
cycle oil performance,
making it an excellent sales
tool for Dealers seeking to
either break into the motor-
cycle market or increase
their sales. The March issue
of the Action News took a
respective test groups in both the Four Ball Wear Test and the FZG Gear Wear
Test, indicating that AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are the best choice for
superior protection of motorcycle engines and transmissions.
Order the G-2156 Motorcycle Oil Study to see all of the test results.
Results, Gear Wear Test, SAE 40 GROUP
13
MAXIMUM TEST STAGE - 13
Numbers in column indicate total wear
(millimeters) during failure stage or at the end
of stage 13
12

Test Stage Passed

Motorcycle Oil Study closer look at the specifics of

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(4)
the Four-Ball Wear Test, 11
Stock # U.S. Can.

(130)

(300)

(320)
G-2156 2.00 2.60 while the April issue cov-
ered rust protection. This

(320)
issue examines gear wear testing. 10
Many motorcycle engines share a common lubricant

(40)
sump with the transmission, requiring the same oil to
lubricate both assemblies. Because engines and trans- 9 AMSOIL Bel-Ray Maxima Valvoline Royal Lucas HP Golden Pennzoil Castrol Mobil 1 Motul Torco
MCF EXS Maxum 4 4-Stroke Purple Motorcycle Spectro 4 Motorcycle GPS MX4T 300V Sport T-4SR
missions place different demands on lubricants, an oil Max-Cycle
that provides good engine protection may fail to provide
adequate transmission protection. High sliding pres-
sures, shock loading and shearing forces applied by Pass Example: Failure Example:
motorcycle transmission gears place a great deal of AMSOIL MCF Castrol GPS
stress on a lubricant, and it is up to the oil’s viscosity and Passed Stage 13, Passed Stage 12,
Total Wear 0 mm Failed Stage 13,
chemical additives to protect the gears against wear. Total Wear in
The ASTM D-5182 FZG Gear Wear Test is used to Stage 13, 300 mm
determine a lubricant’s gear oil performance. Two hard-
ened steel spur gears are partially immersed in the test
lubricant, while temperature is maintained at a con-
stant 194 degrees F and a predetermined load is placed
on the pinion gear. The gears are rotated at 1,450 RPM Results, Gear Wear Test, SAE 50 GROUP
for 21,700 revolutions before being inspected for scuff- 13 MAXIMUM TEST STAGE - 13
ing. If the total width of wear on the pinion gear teeth Numbers in column indicate total
wear (millimeters) during failure
exceeds 20 mm, the test is terminated. If the total width stage or at the end
of wear is below 20 mm, additional load is placed on the of stage 13

pinion gear and the test continues for another 21,700

Test Stage Passed

12
revolutions. Each time an oil passes, it advances to a
higher test stage. The highest stage is 13, and results are
(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

reported as the highest stage passed by the oil. Wear is

(320)

indicated for the stage at which the oil failed. 11

Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 and
SAE 50 oils, and results indicate that 58.3 percent of the
(226)

(320)
(62)

SAE 40 oils and 75 percent of the SAE 50 oils passed

stage 13. Although Mobil 1 MX4T, Motul 300V Sport and 10 AMSOIL Mobil 1 Screamin Bel-Ray BMW Castrol Castrol Golden Golden Valvoline Royal Lucas HP Motul Pennzoil Yama- Torco
Torco T-4SR tested among the top SAE 40 oils in the MCV V-Twin Eagle EXS GPS V-Twin Spectro Spectro 4-Stroke Purple Motorcycle 300V Motor- lube T-4SR
Syn3 4 American Max-Cycle Comp. cycle 4-R
Four Ball Wear Test, they tested among the lowest in the 4
FZG Gear Wear Test. In addition, Motul 300V
Competition and Torco T-4SR tested among the top
SAE 50 oils in the Four Ball Wear Test, but also tested Pass Example: Failure Example:
among the lowest in the FZG Gear Wear Test. AMSOIL MCV Motul 300 Comp.
As seen in the photos and graphs, both AMSOIL Passed Stage 13, Passed Stage 12,
10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50 Total Wear 0 mm Failed Stage 13,
Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) placed at the top of Total Wear in
Stage 13, 320 mm
their respective test groups in the FZG Gear Wear Test.
Only AMSOIL MCF and MCV placed at the top of their

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / MAY 2006

JunePgs82480.qxp 5/17/06 3:10 PM Page 10

A Look Inside the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study:

The AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study (G-2156) compares the test quickly, with most of the affected oils
results of 28 different motorcycle oils in the most critical areas of dropping a viscosity grade within the
motorcycle oil performance, making it an excellent sales tool for first 30 cycles of shearing. In addition, it
Dealers seeking to either break into or increase their sales in the is interesting to note that two of the oils
motorcycle market. Previous issues of the Action News examined with the highest viscosity indices, Torco
engine wear, gear wear and rust protection testing. This issue takes T-4SR in the SAE 40 group and
a closer look at shear stability. Yamalube 4R in the SAE 50 group, Order the G-2156
Mechanical activity within an engine creates shearing forces that exhibited the largest drops in viscosity in Motorcycle Oil Study
can negatively affect a lubricant’s protective viscosity. Even lubri- their respective test groups during shear to see all of the test
cants that provide consistent viscosity through a wide tempera- stability testing. results.
ture range (high viscosity index) are susceptible to shearing As seen in the graphs, both AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study
forces that reduce viscosity and load carrying ability. Engines oper- 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF) Stock # U.S. Can.
ating at high RPMs and those that share a common oil sump with and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil G-2156 2.00 2.60
the transmission are particularly subject to high shear rates. In fact, (MCV) placed at the top of their respec-
gear sets found in motorcycle transmissions are the leading tive test groups in the Viscosity Shear Stability Test, indicating that
cause of shear induced viscosity loss in motorcycle lubricants. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are the best choice for supe-
The ASTM D-6278 Viscosity Shear Stability Test is used to rior protection of motorcycle engines and transmissions.
determine a lubricant’s shear stability. After measuring its initial
viscosity, the oil is subjected to shearing forces in 30 cycle inter- Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 50 Group 1
vals. Viscosity is measured and compared to the oil’s initial vis- 21.5
cosity following 30, 90 and 120 cycles. The lower the degree of 20.5
SAE 50
AMSOIL MCV
Viscosity - cSt @ 100° C

change, the better protection the lubricant provides against shear- 19.5
ing forces. 18.5 Golden Spectro 4
Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 and SAE 50 oils, Screamin Eagle Syn3
17.5
with each grade split into two or three groups to make the graphs BMW

16.5
easier to reference. The flatter the line on the graph, the greater Bel-Ray EXS

the shear stability of the oil. The results showed significant vari- 15.5
Out of indicated viscosity grade
Lucas HP Motorcycle
SAE 40

ances in shear stability protection. Within the SAE 40 group, 14.5

41.6 percent of the oils dropped one viscosity grade to an SAE 30, 13.5
0 30 90 120

while 43.8 percent of the oils in the SAE 50 group dropped one vis- Number of cycles

cosity grade to an SAE 40. The viscosity loss tended to occur

Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 50 Group 2
Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 40 Group 1
21.5
17 Mobil 1 V-Twin
SAE 50
SAE 40

20.5
Viscosity - cSt @ 100° C

16
Viscosity - cSt @ 100° C

Golden Spectro 4 Torco T-4SR

19.5
15
Bel-Ray EXS AMSOIL MCF
18.5
14 Golden Spectro American 4
Motul 300V Sport 17.5
13
16.5
12 Valvoline 4-Stroke
SAE 30

Royal Purple Max-Cycle 15.5

Royal Purple Max-Cycle
11
SAE 40

Out of indicated viscosity grade

Torco T-4SR
14.5
10 Out of indicated viscosity grade
13.5
9 0 30 90 120
0 30 90 120
Number of cycles
Number of cycles

Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 40 Group 2 Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 50 Group 3
17 21.5
SAE 50
SAE 40

16 20.5
Viscosity - cSt @ 100° C
Viscosity - cSt @ 100° C

15 Castrol GPS 19.5

Mobil 1 MX4T
14
18.5
Maxima Maxum 4 Motul 300V Comp.
13
17.5
Pennzoil Motorcycle
12 Castrol GPS
Valvoline 4-Stroke 16.5
SAE 30

11 Pennzoil Motorcycle
Out of indicated viscosity grade
15.5 Castrol V-Twin
10
SAE 40

Out of indicated viscosity grade

14.5 Yamalube 4-R
SAE 20

9 Lucas HP Motorcycle

8 13.5
0 30 90 120 0 30 90 120

Number of cycles Number of cycles

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / JUNE 2006