"Snowbum is now touting the virtues of Valvoline Motorcycle 20W50".
Is that from this page?
http://bmwmotorcycletech.info/oilcansimple.htmHe says....
Ashland Oil Company makes Valvoline brand products. Valvoline 4-stroke motorcycle oil in 10W40 (COLD climates) or 20W50 for moderate climates, is still a good oil for Airheads. The zinc content of these two oils is 0.112%, phosphorus is 0.103%, calcium is 0.182%, and sodium is 0.052%.
For Shell Rotella-T, in 15W40, the calcium is 0.27%; zinc is 0.135%, and phosphorus is 0.120%.I figured he put the Valvoline info out there kind of as a random comparison, citing one, among a handful, of oils that compare to Rotella. But the fact that he gives a number for the phos content of Rotella makes me wonder if the info is a little out of date there. Shell still (apparantly) will not release that info for its latest formulations of Rotella.
God, why does this stuff invite such agonizing? (i'm as guilty as anyone)
Ironically, I've sometimes romanticised this ol' airhead boxer as something I'd set out on when the Mayan's doomsday forecast comes to call in 2012... out into the thunderdome-like post-apocalypse, running on diesel, wesson, kerosene, lamp oil, putrified butter, grain alcohol, whatever the hell opportuned itself... fending away, sawed off 12ga on one arm, those abandoned roadside by their lesser makes whose high strung tightly intolerant powerplants choked on the same. Ha Ha.... He He!!!!!!
Meanwhile, I'll just use the best I can afford.