4 Ball Bearing Test

Motorcycles are verypopular vehicles thatinspire tremendousbrand loyalty. Manymotorcyclists investa great deal of timeand energy into theirmachines and spareno expense when itcomes to the protec-tion and performanceof their investments.With nearly five mil-lion registered motor-

cycles in the United States and sales topping750,000 units annually, the potential market forAMSOIL 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 orincrease their sales. The study compares thetest results of 26 different motorcycle oils in themost critical areas of motorcycle oil performance,including wear protection, shear stability andrust protection, helping consumers make edu-cated decisions regarding which oil to use intheir motorcycles.

One of the most important functions of anymotor oil is wear protection. Because motorcycleengines operate under more severe operatingconditions than automobiles, the ability of amotorcycle oil to deliver adequate wear protec-tion is especially important.

The ASTM D-4172 Four-Ball Wear Test is thestandard test used to determine a lubricant’sability to minimize wear in metal-to-metal contactsituations. Three steel balls are secured andplaced in a triangular pattern within a bath ofthe test lubricant. With load, speed and temper-ature kept constant, a fourth ball sits atop theother balls and is rotated and forced into them forone hour. Following the test, the lower three ballsare inspected for wear scars at the point of con-tact. The diameters of the wear scars are mea-sured and the results are reported as an averageof the three scars. The lower the average wearscar diameter, the better the wear protectionproperties of the oil.

For the Four-Ball Wear Test portion of theAMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study, the loads, speedsand temperatures were maintained at 40 kg,

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / MARCH 2006

A Look Inside the AMSOILMotorcycle Oil Study: Four-Ball Wear Test

1800 RPM and 150 degrees C respectively for each oil tested. Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 andSAE 50 oils.

As seen in the graphs, both AMSOIL 10W-40 SyntheticMotorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil(MCV) exhibited minimal wear scars of 0.40 mm, placing themat the top of their respective test groups. Competing motor-cycle oils showed wear scars up to twice as large. The wearprotection provided by AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils issecond-to-none, allowing motorcycles to perform better, lastlonger and require less maintenance.

Although zinc has long been considered an excellent anti-wear additive, it is interesting to note that the oils with the high-est levels of zinc, Maxima Maxum 4 in the SAE 40 group andGolden Spectro 4 in the SAE 50 group, did not test in the topof their groups. These results indicate that simply formulatingan oil with a high zinc level is not sufficient in minimizing wear.

A coupon offer for one free Motorcycle Oil Study is includedin each case of AMSOIL 10W-40 (MCF) and 20W-50 (MCV)Motorcycle Oil. It is also available for purchase.Stock # U.S. Can.G-2156 2.00 2.60

AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / APRIL 2006 11

A Look Inside the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study:

By comparing the testresults of 26 differentmotorcycle oils in the mostcritical areas of motorcy-cle oil performance, theAMSOIL Motorcycle OilStudy (G-2156) is an excel-lent sales tool for Dealersseeking to either break intothe motorcycle market orincrease their sales. TheMarch issue of the ActionNews took a closer lookat the specifics of the Four-Ball Wear Test and howeach of the oils fared. This

issue examines rust protection.Rust protection is particularly important in motor-

cycle applications. Often used seasonally, then storedand unused during the offseason, condensation andmoisture within the engine promote rust formation. Inaddition, the combustion process and short trip driv-ing create condensation and acids that further promotecorrosion and rust.

Rust is as abrasive as dirt, causing problems suchas scratching and pitting on cylinders, pistons andbearing surfaces, leading to blow-by, lower com-pression and reduced power and performance. Whenrust 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 preventrust. It must be formulated with special rust inhibitors.However, because rust inhibitors typically sacrificewear protection by competing with antiwear addi-tives for the metal surface, many motorcycle oils areformulated without rust inhibitors. AMSOIL SyntheticMotorcycle Oils are formulated with breakthroughtechnology that provides outstanding protectionagainst rust without sacrificing wear protection (seeFour-Ball Wear Test article in the March Action News).

The ASTM D-1748 humidity cabinet test measuresa lubricant’s ability to protect against rust and corro-sion. A standard metal reference coupon is immersedin the test oil before being placed in a humidity cabi-net for 24 hours at 120 degrees F. Following the testperiod, the coupons are removed and inspected forrust. In order to pass the test, an oil may allow no morethan three rust spots less than or equal to 1 mm indiameter. Oils allowing more than three rust spots, orone rust spot larger than 1 mm in diameter, fail the test.

Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 andSAE 50 oils. As seen in the graphs, failing oils weredivided into three categories: oils showing 1-10 spots, oilsshowing 11-20 spots and oils showing over 20 spots.

Motorcycle Oil StudyStock # U.S. Can.G-2156 2.00 2.60

As seen in the photos and graphs, both AMSOIL 10W-40 SyntheticMotorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) showedno rust spots, placing them at the top of their respective test groups. Manycompeting motorcycle oils failed the test. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oilsprovide unsurpassed rust protection, allowing motorcycles to performbetter, last longer and require less maintenance. Order the G-2156 MotorcycleOil Study to see all the results

Results, Rust Protection, SAE 50 GROUP

Results, Rust Protection, SAE 40 GROUP

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

Pass Example:AMSOIL MCFPassed Stage 13,Total Wear 0 mm

Failure Example:Castrol GPSPassed Stage 12,Failed Stage 13,Total Wear in Stage 13, 300 mm

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / MAY 2006


The AMSOIL Motorcycle OilStudy (G-2156) comparesthe test results of 28 differ-ent motorcycle oils in themost critical areas of motor-cycle oil performance,making it an excellent salestool for Dealers seeking toeither break into the motor-cycle market or increasetheir sales. The March issueof the Action News took acloser look at the specifics ofthe Four-Ball Wear Test,while the April issue cov-ered rust protection. This

issue examines gear wear testing.Many motorcycle engines share a common lubricant

sump with the transmission, requiring the same oil tolubricate both assemblies. Because engines and trans-missions place different demands on lubricants, an oilthat provides good engine protection may fail to provideadequate transmission protection. High sliding pres-sures, shock loading and shearing forces applied bymotorcycle transmission gears place a great deal ofstress on a lubricant, and it is up to the oil’s viscosity andchemical additives to protect the gears against wear.

The ASTM D-5182 FZG Gear Wear Test is used todetermine a lubricant’s gear oil performance. Two hard-ened steel spur gears are partially immersed in the testlubricant, while temperature is maintained at a con-stant 194 degrees F and a predetermined load is placedon the pinion gear. The gears are rotated at 1,450 RPMfor 21,700 revolutions before being inspected for scuff-ing. If the total width of wear on the pinion gear teethexceeds 20 mm, the test is terminated. If the total widthof wear is below 20 mm, additional load is placed on thepinion gear and the test continues for another 21,700revolutions. Each time an oil passes, it advances to ahigher test stage. The highest stage is 13, and results arereported as the highest stage passed by the oil. Wear isindicated for the stage at which the oil failed.

Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 andSAE 50 oils, and results indicate that 58.3 percent of theSAE 40 oils and 75 percent of the SAE 50 oils passedstage 13. Although Mobil 1 MX4T, Motul 300V Sport andTorco T-4SR tested among the top SAE 40 oils in theFour Ball Wear Test, they tested among the lowest in theFZG Gear Wear Test. In addition, Motul 300VCompetition and Torco T-4SR tested among the topSAE 50 oils in the Four Ball Wear Test, but also testedamong the lowest in the FZG Gear Wear Test.

As seen in the photos and graphs, both AMSOIL10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF) and 20W-50Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) placed at the top oftheir respective test groups in the FZG Gear Wear Test.Only AMSOIL MCF and MCV placed at the top of their

Motorcycle Oil StudyStock # U.S. Can.G-2156 2.00 2.60

10

11

12

13

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

AMSOILMCV

Mobil 1V-Twin

ScreaminEagleSyn3

BMWBel-RayEXS

CastrolGPS

CastrolV-Twin

GoldenSpectro

4

GoldenSpectro

American4

Valvoline4-Stroke

RoyalPurple

Max-Cycle

Lucas HPMotorcycle

(32

0)

(62

)

(22

6)

(32

0)

Motul300V

Comp.

PennzoilMotor-cycle

Yama-lube4-R

TorcoT-4SR

Test

Sta

ge

Pa

sse

d

MAXIMUM TEST STAGE - 13 Numbers in column indicate total wear (millimeters) during failure

stage or at the end of stage 13

9

10

11

12

13

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(4)

(13

0)

(30

0)

(32

0)

(32

0)

(40

)

AMSOILMCF

Bel-RayEXS

MaximaMaxum 4

RoyalPurple

Max-Cycle

Valvoline4-Stroke

Lucas HPMotorcycle

GoldenSpectro 4

PennzoilMotorcycle

CastrolGPS

Mobil 1MX4T

Motul300V Sport

TorcoT-4SR

Test

Sta

ge

Pa

sse

d

MAXIMUM TEST STAGE - 13Numbers in column indicate total wear

(millimeters) during failure stage or at the endof stage 13

Results, Gear Wear Test, SAE 40 GROUP

Pass Example:AMSOIL MCVPassed Stage 13,Total Wear 0 mm

Failure Example:Motul 300 Comp.Passed Stage 12,Failed Stage 13,Total Wear in Stage 13, 320 mm

Results, Gear Wear Test, SAE 50 GROUP

respective test groups in both the Four Ball Wear Test and the FZG Gear WearTest, indicating that AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are the best choice forsuperior protection of motorcycle engines and transmissions.

Order the G-2156 Motorcycle Oil Study to see all of the test results.

UPDATED

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

quickly, with most of the affected oilsdropping a viscosity grade within thefirst 30 cycles of shearing. In addition, itis interesting to note that two of the oilswith the highest viscosity indices, TorcoT-4SR in the SAE 40 group andYamalube 4R in the SAE 50 group,exhibited the largest drops in viscosity intheir respective test groups during shearstability testing.

As seen in the graphs, both AMSOIL10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF)and 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil(MCV) placed at the top of their respec-tive test groups in the Viscosity Shear Stability Test, indicating thatAMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are the best choice for supe-rior protection of motorcycle engines and transmissions.

10 AMSOIL ACTION NEWS / JUNE 2006


The AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil Study (G-2156) compares the testresults of 28 different motorcycle oils in the most critical areas ofmotorcycle oil performance, making it an excellent sales tool forDealers seeking to either break into or increase their sales in themotorcycle market. Previous issues of the Action News examinedengine wear, gear wear and rust protection testing. This issue takesa closer look at shear stability.

Mechanical activity within an engine creates shearing forces thatcan negatively affect a lubricant’s protective viscosity. Even lubri-cants that provide consistent viscosity through a wide tempera-ture range (high viscosity index) are susceptible to shearingforces that reduce viscosity and load carrying ability. Engines oper-ating at high RPMs and those that share a common oil sump withthe transmission are particularly subject to high shear rates. In fact,gear sets found in motorcycle transmissions are the leadingcause of shear induced viscosity loss in motorcycle lubricants.

The ASTM D-6278 Viscosity Shear Stability Test is used todetermine a lubricant’s shear stability. After measuring its initialviscosity, the oil is subjected to shearing forces in 30 cycle inter-vals. Viscosity is measured and compared to the oil’s initial vis-cosity following 30, 90 and 120 cycles. The lower the degree ofchange, the better protection the lubricant provides against shear-ing forces.

Two separate tests were performed for SAE 40 and SAE 50 oils,with each grade split into two or three groups to make the graphseasier to reference. The flatter the line on the graph, the greaterthe shear stability of the oil. The results showed significant vari-ances in shear stability protection. Within the SAE 40 group,41.6 percent of the oils dropped one viscosity grade to an SAE 30,while 43.8 percent of the oils in the SAE 50 group dropped one vis-cosity grade to an SAE 40. The viscosity loss tended to occur

Royal Purple Max-Cycle

Torco T-4SR

AMSOIL MCF

0 30 90 1209

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Motul 300V Sport

Golden Spectro 4

Bel-Ray EXS

Number of cycles

Vis

cosi

ty -

cSt

@ 1

00°

C

SAE

30SA

E 40

Out of indicated viscosity grade

Results, Viscosity Shear Stability, SAE 40 Group 1


Lucas HP Motorcycle

Maxima Maxum 4

Mobil 1 MX4T

0 30 90 1208

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

Pennzoil Motorcycle

Castrol GPS

Valvoline 4-Stroke

Number of cycles

Vis

cosi

ty -

cSt

@ 1

00°

C


SAE

20SA

E 30

SAE

40


Bel-Ray EXS

AMSOIL MCV

Lucas HP Motorcycle

0 30 90 12013.5

14.5

15.5

16.5

17.5

18.5

19.5

20.5

21.5

BMW

Screamin Eagle Syn3

Golden Spectro 4

Number of cycles

Vis

cosi

ty -

cSt

@ 1

00°

C

SAE

40SA

E 50



Golden Spectro American 4

Torco T-4SR

0 30 90 12013.5

14.5

15.5

16.5

17.5

18.5

19.5

20.5

21.5

Valvoline 4-Stroke

Mobil 1 V-Twin

Royal Purple Max-Cycle

Number of cycles

Vis

cosi

ty -

cSt

@ 1

00°

C

SAE

40SA

E 50


Castrol V-Twin

Motul 300V Comp.

0 30 90 12013.5

14.5

15.5

16.5

17.5

18.5

19.5

20.5

21.5

Pennzoil Motorcycle

Castrol GPS

Yamalube 4-R

Number of cycles

Vis

cosi

ty -

cSt

@ 1

00°

C

SAE

40SA

E 50



Order the G-2156Motorcycle Oil Studyto see all of the testresults.

Motorcycle Oil StudyStock # U.S. Can.

G-2156 2.00 2.60

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

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4 Ball Bearing Test