Is mixing oils bad??

[Muscle racer]

I recently changed my oil. My oil pan broke so most of the new oil leaked out.

I don't want to spend another $25 buying rotella t6 again. Can I get a cheaper oil and mix it with the remaining rotella in the engine, or do I have to drain out all the remaining oil, before putting more in??

Thanks

[LukeM]

As long as it's motorcycle friendly as in NON ENERGY SAVING oil, you should be fine. There are friction reducing compounds in the ENERGY SAVING oil which can cause problems with the clutch disks.  The engine and crankcase use the same oil (I'm assuming you knew this already, but I'm just making sure).

Luke M

[Muscle racer]

Luke, your assumption would have been incorrect.

I ended up finding the Rotella in quarts. It's was $7 so I got 2. It filled up the tank almost all the way up.

Thanks for the help



Rudy

[sgtslag]

Luke is correct, you can mix different motor oils.  They will mix their viscosities, so they won't be the same viscosity, but they will both work, together.  The engine, and the transmissions, share the same oil.  All motor oils can be mixed, without ill effects other than viscosity issues.

The Shell T6 is a high detergent oil, so with regular use, it will do an excellent job of cleaning your engine, and transmission.  If you want to scour it clean quickly, add SeaFoam, as per the directions, to the engine.  Run it for 5 minutes on the centerstand, shifting through all five gears, idling, then shut it off, and check the color of the oil on the dip stick (if it has such), on a white rag.  Your oil will turn black if the engine and transmission had carbon deposits, from age, and oil breaking down with use, over time.  If it comes out clean, then it isn't necessary to change it.  But do monitor it for 300 miles, or so, to see if it does blacken -- then change it immediately.  Cheers!