It would appear that M1 is changing or has changed their formula. M1 is now made with a group III dino base stock as a major component. Apparently, it's no longer a fully synthetic motor oil!

Bob Is The Oil Guy

This is 20+ pages, but there's some very good information here.

I still have some M1 in my basement. But I think as soon as I use it up, I'll be switching to Amsoil or Redline. My track car will never see M1.

 

I know for a fact that only the top Mobil 1 synthetic is a pure synthetic. All the others are blends. I am not sure about Mobil 1 V Twin but is ranked #2 of all the synthetics tested that are formulated for Motorcycle use. By the Way a lot of folks use Redline and seem to be happy with it but it is not formulated for use in Motorcycle engines. My personal preference is AMSOIL and I use it in everything i own.

You pays your money you takes your choice.

 

According to Mobil's website, their motorcycle oil is fully synthetic. Some folks have run the car oil version but I prefer running their V-twin oil. Check it out here....

http://www.mobil.com/USA-English/Lub...cycle_Oils.asp

 

Looking at the info on this link, I'm waving a BS flag on you.

http://www.redlineoil.com/products_m...1&categoryID=1

I'm taking the liberty to understand that "American V-Twin" would include HD V-twins.

Personal opinion, I think Redline makes the best oil for a V-Twin. Don't care what others use but was just straightening up the record on the previous Redline statement. I think highly of Mobil 1 V-Twin oil also but like the 20W60HD for my hot climate.

 

This is a lot like arguing about religion. Everyone "knows" which oil is best, and all the other oils are acid. Amzoil says this, Redline says that, etc. Anyone's data can be (and are) made to say anything they need said in order to sell oil. Welcome to capitalism. Unless you, personally, work in the oil-testing lab, you can't possibly have any idea which oil is "best". I know I certainly don't. What I do know is that Mobil was the first to widely market full-synthetic oil. If memory serves, Mobil 1 came out around 1970 or 1971. Thats when I started using it. I've used it ever since and have always been thrilled with it. There may well be others by now that are just as good, or even better. But since there is no way that I (or anyone else outside the testing lab) can ever know which one(s) is(are) "best", I'll continue using what I do know works very well.

This is in spite of what Harley pulled on me just today. I went to House of Harley (H.O.G. Chapter #1) in Milwaukee to pick up my fall storage Mobil 1 V-Twin oil change, and guess what? They no longer sell Mobil 1 V-Twin or anything else in a bottle that doesn't say "Harley-Davidson" on it. The parts guy hinted that they had been "leaned-on" by H-D to quit selling competing oil products! I thanked him, pointing out that, since the only reason I ever made the 20+ mile trip to his dealership was to buy my Mobil 1, I would no longer have to make the trip to his dealership. Unfortunately, since he wasn't the owner, he wasn't as upset as I'd hoped he would be...

Has anyone else heard of this new H-D "policy"?

 

Like you, I've been using M1 for years with excellent results. It's a full synthetic, works well, easy to find, and priced right. No reason to change brands and search for that special something that's "better". It's worked well for years. Which oil works best in your particular riding environment? Who knows, stick with what works. Couldn't agree with you more.

BUT, and here's the rub, it's apparently no longer the same product. Past history and past experiance are out the window. Although the label looks the same, it's a new oil - an unknown product. Am I willing to spend $6 a qt for a dino blend? No, I'm not. Just like I wasn't willing to do so a year ago, 5 years ago, or 10 years ago.

 

As I understand it, they added some new friction reducers to the new formulation, not a big deal. It was enough that I switched from Mobil 1 in my sport bike because of the wet clutch, but I have friends that still run it and have no problem. I use the Mobil 1 VTwin 20w50 in my Harley. The only questions you need to ask is; is it still synthetic, yes...is it still heavy duty diesel/turbo rated, yes it is.

 

I saw that post on BITOG so I called Mobil today and they said M1 and all their synthetic oils are 100% PAO based. I think the guys on the other forum have an axe to grind or are Amsoil junkies bashing other oils again. What they don't realize is that GM specs M1 for the Corvette and they test all spec lubricants constantly.....I doubt Mobil would want to screw up that account....plus Mercedes, Porsche, Acura etc.

 

When I read through all the BITOG stuff the one single thing that stands out is the gas chromatography that showed the M1 had mineral, meaning dino, oil in it in a greater amount than could be attributed to the additive package carrier. Notwithstanding what some Mobil phone answerers say, that is the "smoking gun" and can not be refuted or laid aside, unless the testing is shown to be invalid. No one did that.

I use and calibrate a gas chromatograph daily. It only reports what is there, as long as it is maintained. The daily calibration procedure tells me instantly whether it is OK, or whether it has a problem. If the gas chromatography says there is dino oil in that particular sample, it is there.

None of this means that M1 is somehow a bad oil. I've touted it as long as I've been on this board, and have been happy with it's performance in my bike, an Evo with about 120k miles on it. But I am disappointed, though not surprised, that Mobil has seen fit to change its formulation. They have that right; it's there oil. But it dang sure feels like deception. Oh well, I guess I'll stick with the Havoline 20w-50 dino oil at $2/qt, and which has shown better wear prevention than the M1 in similar bikes.

 

Skip........well get some M1 and dump it in that chromatograph and let us know what you find out.