Motorcycle Lubricant

Abstract

It has been found that the balance between friction reduction in the engine crankcase and the maintenance of sufficient friction in the clutch assembly of a 4T motorcycle, where the engine crankcase and the clutch assembly are lubricating by the same lubricating oil composition from a common sump, can be achieved by use of a lubricating oil composition comprising a combination of molybdenum containing additive and ashless organic friction modifier.

1 . A motorcycle having a four cycle engine and a transmission including a clutch assembly, the engine crankcase and the clutch assembly being lubricated by a lubricating oil composition provided from a common sump, wherein said lubricating oil composition comprises a major amount of oil of lubricating viscosity and minor amounts of (A) an oil soluble molybdenum compound and (B) an ashless organic friction modifier, wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises at least 30 ppm and no more than 500 ppm of molybdenum from the oil-soluble molybdenum compound (A). 
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of either a molybdenum dithiocarbamate or a molybdenum dithiophosphate or a mixture thereof, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         6 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of a molybdenum dithiocarbamate, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         7 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition wherein the ashless organic friction modifier (B) comprises at least one of (a) a nitrogen-free organic friction modifier comprising an ester formed by reacting carboxylic acids and anhydrides with alkanols, (b) an aminic or amine-based friction modifiers comprising alkoxylated mono- and di-amines, (c) an ester formed as the reaction product of (i) a tertiary amine of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 N wherein R 1 , R 2 , and R 3  represent aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, at least one of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  having a hydroxyl group, with (ii) a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         9 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         10 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an ashless dispersant additive. 
     
     
         11 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the ashless dispersant additive comprises a major amount of an ashless dispersant made by the thermal process. 
     
     
         12 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises metal-containing detergent, which metal containing detergent is an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, phenate or salicylate. 
     
     
         13 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the metal containing detergent comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate. 
     
     
         14 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate is the only metal containing detergent in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         15 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a viscosity modifier, which viscosity modifier comprises a major amount of a star polymer viscosity modifier. 
     
     
         16 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the viscosity modifier comprises one or more star polymer viscosity modifier as the only viscosity modifier in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         17 . A motorcycle as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a phosphorus-containing additive providing at least 800 ppm phosphorus to the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operating a motorcycle having a four cycle engine and a transmission including a clutch assembly, the engine crankcase and the clutch assembly being lubricating by a lubricating oil composition provided from a common sump, said method comprising supplying to the engine crankcase and clutch assembly a lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of oil of lubricating viscosity and minor amounts of (A) an oil soluble molybdenum compound and (B) an ashless organic friction modifier, wherein the lubricating oil composition comprises at least 30 ppm and no more than 500 ppm of molybdenum from the oil-soluble molybdenum compound (A). 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of either a molybdenum dithiocarbamate or a molybdenum dithiophosphate or a mixture thereof, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of a molybdenum dithiocarbamate, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         24 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the ashless organic friction modifier (B) comprises at least one of (a) a nitrogen-free organic friction modifier comprising an ester formed by reacting carboxylic acids and anhydrides with alkanols, (b) an aminic or amine-based friction modifiers comprising alkoxylated mono- and di-amines, (c) an ester formed as the reaction product of (i) a tertiary amine of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 N wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  represent aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, at least one of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  having a hydroxyl group, with (ii) a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         27 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an ashless dispersant additive. 
     
     
         28 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the ashless dispersant additive comprises a major amount of an ashless dispersant made by the thermal process. 
     
     
         29 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises metal-containing detergent, which metal containing detergent may be an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, phenate or salicylate. 
     
     
         30 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the metal containing detergent comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate. 
     
     
         31 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate is the only metal containing detergent in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         32 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a viscosity modifier, which viscosity modifier comprises a major amount of a star polymer viscosity modifier. 
     
     
         33 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the viscosity modifier comprises one or more star polymer viscosity modifier as the only viscosity modifier in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         34 . A method of operating a motorcycle as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a phosphorus-containing additive providing at least 800 ppm phosphorus to the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         35 . A lubricating oil composition comprising a major amount of oil of lubricating viscosity and minor amounts of (A) an oil soluble molybdenum compound and (B) an ashless organic friction modifier, which lubricating oil composition comprises at least 30 ppm and no more than 500 ppm of molybdenum from the oil-soluble molybdenum compound (A) and exhibits a JASO clutch friction of at least MA1 when measured according to the JASO T 903:2016 clutch friction test. 
     
     
         36 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition exhibits a JASO clutch friction of at MA2 when measured according to the JASO T 903:2016 clutch friction test. 
     
     
         37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . (canceled) 
     
     
         42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of either a molybdenum dithiocarbamate or a molybdenum dithiophosphate or a mixture thereof, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         44 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 43 , wherein the oil-soluble molybdenum compound consists of a molybdenum dithiocarbamate, as the sole source of molybdenum atoms in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         45 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition wherein the ashless organic friction modifier (B) comprises at least one of (a) a nitrogen-free organic friction modifier comprising an ester formed by reacting carboxylic acids and anhydrides with alkanols, (b) an aminic or amine-based friction modifiers comprising alkoxylated mono- and di-amines, (c) an ester formed as the reaction product of (i) a tertiary amine of the formula R 1 R 2 R 3 N wherein R 1 , R 2  and R 3  represent aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, at least one of R 1 , R 2  and R 3  having a hydroxyl group, with (ii) a saturated or unsaturated fatty acid having 10 to 30 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         46 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         47 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 45 , wherein the total amount of ashless organic friction modifier (B) in the lubricating oil composition does not exceed 5 mass %, based on the total mass of the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         48 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises an ashless dispersant additive. 
     
     
         49 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 48 , wherein the ashless dispersant additive comprises a major amount of an ashless dispersant made by the thermal process. 
     
     
         50 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises metal-containing detergent, which metal containing detergent may be an alkali or alkaline earth metal sulfonate, phenate or salicylate. 
     
     
         51 . A lubricating oil composition as claimed in  claim 50 , wherein the metal containing detergent comprises an alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate. 
     
     
         52 . A lubricating oil composition as claimed in  claim 51 , wherein the alkali or alkaline earth metal salicylate is the only metal containing detergent in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         53 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a viscosity modifier, which viscosity modifier comprises a major amount of a star polymer viscosity modifier. 
     
     
         54 . A lubricating oil composition as claimed in  claim 53 , wherein the viscosity modifier comprises one or more star polymer viscosity modifier as the only viscosity modifier in the lubricating oil composition. 
     
     
         55 . A lubricating oil composition according to  claim 35 , wherein the lubricating oil composition further comprises a phosphorus-containing additive providing at least 800 ppm phosphorus to the lubricating oil composition.