Synthetic Oils:
“Slipperiness” in a Wet Clutch
Many people have the misperception that since synthetics are more slippery than petroleum oils (which do not reduce friction as well), that wet clutch packs in either their automotive or motorcycle transmissions will slip when using “super slippery synthetics”. This is just one of many myths about synthetics.
Synthetic oils are no more “slippery” than petroleum oil. AMSOIL Synthetic Oils simply have a more uniform molecular structure which reduces frictional resistance better than the irregular shape and size molecular structure of a petroleum oil.
Look at it this way. Wet sandpaper removes paint as well as dry sandpaper does. The slipperiness of the water does not impede the sandpaper’s ability to function. The same applies to the “slipperiness” of synthetic lubes in wet clutches.
If used dry, the sandpaper is soon filled with paint and no longer works- it slips across the surface without grasping the surface. If kept clean and free of paint, it continues to work. The lubricating/cleaning solution used can be water, soap, oil or any other liquid. The liquid’s slipperiness does not affect the performance of the sandpaper.
It is simply not an issue. However, just as rinsing the sandpaper keeps it cleaner longer so it functions better longer, so the AMSOIL Synthetic Oils keeps wet clutch plates cleaner longer so they function better.
AMSOIL Synthetic Oils will prevent deposit buildup on clutch plates, therefore keeping the face clean and able to do its job in preventing slippage.
And, since synthetics are superior cooling agents to conventional petroleum lubes, using synthetics will help wet clutches last longer, too.
Petroleum oils have low resistance to heat and allow varnish and glaze to form on clutch plates, which eventually leads to slippage and increased heat generation and eventually failure of the clutch pack.
Also, AMSOIL motorcycle oils are specifically formulated without any friction modifiers for compatibility with wet clutch packs. AMSOIL ATF lubricants are also designed with specific coefficient of friction values to meet the requirements of each and every specification that it not only meets, but far exceeds.
Now you know the facts. The next time your buddy mentions using AMSOIL Synthetic Oils and Wet Clutches as a potential issue, you can explain to him exactly why it is simply not an issue.
Be sure to check out the other Ten Myths of Synthetic Lubricants .
AMSOIL MOTORCYCLE OILS
AMSOIL synthetic 10W-40 and 20W-50 motorcycle oils give motorcyclists what they need: superior wear protection for high-stress motorcycle engines and transmissions and clutches that stay clean and deposit-free.
THE AMS OIL ADVANTAGE
Motorcycle manufacturers want the best protection possible for their equipment, calling for rugged oils that exhibit high-temperature deposit control additives. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are specially formulated with the best synthetic basestocks and high performance additives to provide tough lubricating protection for all four-cycle motorcycle and ATV engines in the most demanding operations.
AMSOIL Motorcycle Oils are formulated for both water-cooled engines and the unique demands presented by air-cooled V-twin motorcycle engines, including Harley-Davidson . Conventional petroleum oils break down and oxidize when faced with high temperatures, such as those experienced when idling in traffic, contributing to the formation of deposits, sludge and varnish. AMSOIL withstands oil breakdown and oxidation in high temperatures, holds contaminants in suspension and keeps engines running cool and clean.
Zinc and phosphorus additives are extremely important to engines faced with high-pressure conditions, especially motorcycle engines, which typically have steep cam slopes, creating high pressure between the parts. In motorcycles, friction modifiers (prevalent in automotive oils) have been attributed to engine start failures, a rough running feel, increased fuel consumption due to higher engine stall speeds and other
problems. AMSOIL Synthetic 10W-40 and 20W-50 Motorcycle Oils have beefier antiwear and detergent/dispersant packages with no friction modifiers, keeping motorcycles running smoothly and efficiently, while allowing for extended drain intervals of up to three times longer than manufacturers’ recommendations.
How do other Motorcycle Oils compare to AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils in wear protection?
WEAR PROTECTION
AMSOIL submitted five popular motorcycle oils to spectrographic analysis and Four-Ball Wear (ASTM D 4172) testing and compared the results to those of AMSOIL Synthetic 20W-50 and Synthetic 10W-40 Motorcycle Oils.
None of the popular motorcycle oils compared favorably to the AMSOIL products in wear additive content or wear protection . AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils contain significantly higher levels of zinc and phosphorus than competing oils, and while simply adding more zinc and phosphorus doesn’t insure good performance, AMSOIL has formulated motorcycle oils with the best additives in the optimal quantities to provide superior wear protection.
What about oil temperature and wear?
A Four-Ball Wear Test was conducted at 302°F/150°C, a higher temperature that would typically be associated with motorcycle oil operating temperatures in extreme high performance situations. AMSOIL products protect better in higher temperatures than any of the tested motorcycle oils do, leaving a wear scar up to 37 percent smaller.
Some motorcycle transmissions and engines share a common oil sump, so the engine oil must also provide wear protection to the transmission gears, which, according to Motorcycle Consumer News (Aug. 1998) are subject to high gear surface pressures and gear rotation speeds. The superior performance of the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oils in the Four-Ball Wear Test applies here too.
Motorcyclists will find no better oils than AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils. All Performance and test results are available upon request.
10W-40 High Performance Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
20W-50 High Performance Synthetic Motorcycle Oil
Synthetic Lubricants and Ten Common Myths
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