Shell Helix 10w-40 JSO SG+

[Copycat73]

£17.99
with a JSO SG+ accreditation

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/engine-oils-and-car-fluids/engineoils/10w40-engine-oil/?521772251&0&cc5_245&utm_source=bm23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Map3&utm_content=Up+to+50%25+Off+Shell+Engine+Oils+Inside+&utm_campaign=Mar17+-+SHELL+-+Flash01
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[workboots]

good find, also, few pounds cheaper on there sister site.

https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/cp4l/p/accessories-engine-oil/engine-oils/engine-oil/10w40-engine-oil/?521772251&0&cc5_245

[Val]

Years ago I have tried using Shell Helix. The worst engine oil ever. Terrible knocking.

It may be better now.

I use Sikolene now which is the same price as Shell. Pretty sure its way better

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-846-silkolene-super-4-10w-40-semi-synthetic-4-stroke-motorbike-oil.aspx

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-990-fuchs-titan-syn-mc-10w-40-high-performance-semi-synthetic-engine-oil-formerly-fuchs-titan-xtr-10w-40.aspx
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[RhynoCZ]

I use MOTUL 5100, always cheap, used in 3 motorcycles in 6 years now, never had a problem.

A big name doesn't have to mean a good product. Also, bigger the name is, more counterfeits are being made.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[weasley]

WTF is "JASO SG+"? Google seems to mostly return results linked to Shell Helix. I am not aware of a JASO SG+ specification (let alone accreditation), so am unable to get excited about an oil with it on the label (since there appear to be few/no others).

I suspect they mean JASO T903, which is a motorcycle 4T specification. One key requirement for JASO T903 is that it meet at least API SG.

That said, I'm sure it's a good oil for a good price. Other oils for other prices are suitable and available.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Copycat73]

[Rogerborg]

[weasley]

[Copycat73]

[weasley]

It looks like a half-decent, mid-range car oil that will no doubt be fine in a bike. I just don't like made up specifications.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[talkToTheHat]

API S? Standards are for oils used in cars. Up to and including API SG friction modifiers weren't really a thing, later standards (I think we are up to SN now) are often incompatible with wet clutched due to friction modifiers.

JASO standards were created as an additional standard for oils and specifies friction properties. An API SG or later quality is required to meet JASO M standards.

JASO MA denoted the oil is suitable for wet clutch use. This standard was later split into MA1 and MA2, MA2 being required for vehicles with a catalytic converter and having better clutch performance than MA1. Oils that have some parameters within MA2 and others within MA1 are denoted MA. It is OK to use MA2 in a bike that requires MA or MA1, but if MA2 is specidied, MA2 must be used.

JASO MB oils are specifically for use in engines that do not have a wet clutch. They do not provide adequate friction for a wet clutch to operate. As such they are mostly for Harleys, BMW boxers and similar.

Use shell advance ax7 or advance ultra in motorcycles. Helix is for light haulage and heavy american pickup trucks. Advance ultra is nearly clear, slightly honey coloured, and appears to pour well compared to other 10w40 oils, it's JASO MA2 and the clutch feel with it in is really good, best of anything I have tried, minimal drag with a very controllable slip region and a very positive transition into full grab.

Motul 5100 is very smelly, mostly of pineappleish esters and is honey coloured. It does not pour as well, and does not have the clutch feel of advance ultra. My local independent uses it. It's still something I use by choice.

Plenty of cheap mineral oils meet api SG and might be ok, the 535 will allegedly run on just about anything, but I note its the people on the virago forum using helix that complain more about clutch slip. Its probably more critical in a bike with more power than a virago.

Personally I'd trust the tribologists and use oil certified to my application rather than try to save a few pennies, so if it doesn't say JASO MA, it doesn't go in my bike. That's about the extent of my time as an undergrad automotive engineer - knowing just enough to read a spec sheet and pick the correct oil for the application and a really good appreciation of the mess made by getting it wrong.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Copycat73]

informative ... and should be pinned ..


would seem oil is not recommended for wet clutches
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[talkToTheHat]

For clarity as I was rambling last night

For wet clutch bikes, look for JASO MA standards compliance.
Newer and high performance bikes may require JASO MA2
JASO MA1 is not as good as MA2 but cheaper. It is OK to put MA2 in a bike that specifies MA1

An oil cannot be JASO MA1 and MA2, but an oil where some properties fall in MA1 and others in MA2 will be described as JASO MA. This is OK to use in a bike that requires MA1 but not in a bike requiring MA2

Some owners manuals will specify any JASO MA oil, MA, MA1 and MA2 are all good.

JASO MB oils are specifically for motorcycles with a dry clutch. Use only where specified. Think Harleys and BMW boxers.

Bikes made before the JASO standard may specify API SG (or earlier, mine will run on SE for it is a tractor ). Cheap SG oils will still work, but beware oils meeting later API standards, specifically anything that claims to reduce friction as this may not be suitable for your clutch.
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Bandit. does. everything.