API Service Classifications

Wasn't that diesel engine oil? Is a GoldWing a diesel? What's occurring here.

No, the Wing is a gasoline engine. The Rotella T heavy duty truck oil carries the API certification for both gasoline and diesel engines. For gasoline engines it carries the "SM" certification. For diesel engines, the newest certification, CJ-4.

The owners manual for the Goldwing calls for "SG or higher." The classification system provides for the higher ratings to possess all the qualities of the lower ratings as well as additional benefits.

The Wing calls for a 10W-30 oil or a 10W-40 if average operating temperatures are in the range of 80 to 100 degrees F. Well, that's me. Rotella is a 15W-40 oil.

Some people get nervous because Rotella is not "JASO MA" rated. JASO is the Japanese association that does oil rating. Honda doesn't mandate a JASO MA ... their literature says "API SG or higher or JASO MA."

There is almost no topic that stirs up passions on the motorcycle forums like oil. Some people hold that oil is the magic elixir of life. They swear by certain brands -- Mobil 1, or Amsoil, or whatever. They claim their engines perform horribly with anything but their brand of oil.

I'm beginning to settle on the opinion that as long as the oil is halfway decent -- in other words, not some cheap no-brand stuff -- and changed at a reasonable interval, the engine will do just fine. Some people like to stretch their oil changes out to 8K or 10K miles. Supposedly the synthetics are capable of doing that. I'd prefer to change mine every 3K to 4K just to be on the safe side. And that's where Rotella is nice at $9/gallon ... the Wing takes a gallon of oil. Throw in a $10 filter and I've changed the oil for $20.

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L has softened a bit on the Fuzz. She's now less eager to get rid of him. But she seems insistent that I am to take on a greater role as caregiver so the cat does not see her as the primary person to retaliate against.

let me ask ... would she have been ok with Le Fuzz doing the dirty deed on your side?

Not okay, but a bit less upset. This is not just about the mess created. It's also about the perceived direct slight of L personally.

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No messages waiting for me from the doctor's office today. I take that as a good sign, in that if the blood work turned up something dire I'd have a call saying "Call the office." No such call. I was told that if things came up normal then I'd get a call, but perhaps not right away.

Still no explaining the headaches and slight dizziness. Food allergy of some kind?

Then of course there's the ubiquitous "stress" factor.