This doesn't exactly apply to Shell Rotella but it is about synthetic oils used in wet clutches, I found this on a sportbike forum:
" posted this in a CBR forum under a thread in which we were discussing the pros and cons of Honda GN4 (regular oil), and Honda HP4 (semi-synth oil). I have been looking a long time for an answer to the question as to whether synthetic oil really DOES make wet clutches slip, and I came across some info that seems to answer that question. I am by no means an oil expert, and although I did take a whole hell of a lot of chemistry classes in university, I am not passing this info off as the ulitmate truth. It simply makes sense to me, so I thought I would share it:
OK folks, I thought I would let you all in on what I have just learned. I am sure you are all aware of the synthetic oil yes/no? debate for motorcycles with wet clutches. It has been said that synthetic oils make wet clutches slip. Well, that is not exactly true according to what I have read. APPARENTLY, it is not the synthetic oil that is bad for your wet clutch, but rather an additive found in many (not all) synthetic oils called MOLYBDENUM that makes wet clutches slip. Apparently this "moly" (as it is advertized on the side of the bottles of most oils that contain it) is one of the slipperiest substances known to man (so they say), and one of its main attributes is that it sticks to your engine parts and provides durable lubrication. Well, apparently this "moly" also sticks to your clutch plates and can eventually make your wet clutch slip (once enough of the stuff has stuck on them). This damage is irreversable, and the only option once it has happened is to change your clutch plates. Like I said, "moly" is not in all synthetic oils, only most, so check the bottle before you put synthetic oils into your wet clutch crankcase. I came across a list of oils (regular, and synthetic) that had a list of the molybdenum content in PPM (parts per million). If anybody is interested, I will try and track it down again and post it, or a link to it. Some of the syth oils contain ZERO PPM of moly, and are clearly the way to go in lubing your motorcycle's engine and tranny, without f-ing up your wet clutch.
By the way, Honda HP4 DOES contain "moly", and Honda is now (supposedly) recommending that it not be used in their crankcases with wet clutches. Honda is also (supposedly) developing a new version of their semi-syth oil that will contain ZERO molybdenum, and will therefore be suitable for use in wet clutch crankcases. I have four quarts of HP4 that I almost put into my 929. Luckily, on the very day I was about to do my oil change (HP4 for the first time), I ran across this info on the internet. I am not saying that this the gospel truth (if there ever was an oxymoron, that was just it), but it sure as hell makes sense to me, and you may want to think about it, or research it yourself, before you put an oil with molybdenum into your wet clutch crankcase.
If ANYBODY comes across any more info on this subject, I would really appreciate it if they would post it here (better yet, start another thread on it). Obviously, I will do the same.
Rossco.
OK, I found the list. Here it is:
This info is in the latest motorcycle consumer news, part 3 of a oil test, numbers to the right are molybdenum in parts per million
Amsoil (auto).............0
Bardahl blend.............0
Belray EXL,EXP semi, EXS..0
Castrol Actevo............0
Castrol GTX (auto)........59
Castrol motorcycle........129
Castrol synthetic blend...114
ELF.......................20
Honda GN4.................0
Honda HP4.................670
Klotz tech................0
Maxum 4...................0
Mobil 1 tri synthetic(auto)..0
Mobil 1 MX4T..............0
Motul 300V sport..........0
Motul 3100 blend..........0
Motul 5100................0
Motul E Tech..............0
Pennzoil motorcycle.......0
PJ1 silverfire............0
Redline...................872
Shell Rotella T...........0
Silkolene Racelube........0
Silkolene PRO4 Syn base...0
Golden Spectro 4..........0
Golden Spectro 4 blend....0
Suzuki break-in oil.......517
Torco MPZ 100%............626
Torco MPZ t-4r blend......736
As you can see, if this info about molybdenum making wet clutches slip is right, HP4 is actually one of the worst oils you can put into your wet clutch crankcase."
Sorry this post was so long, but I thought this was important enough to all of us to suffer through such a long post. Ooops, I just made it longer. Ooops again. Ooops.......DOH!!