Anybody use castrol syntec 5w-50?

[darryldale]

Found some Castrol Syntec 5W-50 on sale today so picked some up.

Before I go ahead and throw it in the bike has anybody used this particular brand / weight in their Nomad?

Darryl

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I only use the 10W-40 that the manual calls for. I did some research after I put 20W-50 in my bike. Found that some of the tolerances on these bikes are very tight and they recommended using the 10W-40 to prevent any possible problems. I thought I would use the 20W-50 in the summer here in the south and then the 10W-40 in the winter. After reading the article I decided to stick with the 10W-40 year round. Those are just my thoughts and I know some of these guys will probably differ with my opinion. I do use the Mobil1 motorcycle oil in full synthetic. Hope that has helped you some.

[darryldale]

I hear ya.

After doing some reading I think I'm going to give it a shot. I'm far from being a wrench but my understanding is that the first number is the viscosity when cold (5W) and the latter number is the viscosity at operating temperatures (50).

When the engine is started cold the 5W should be good since the oil is thinner and will get moving around quicker. Sounds logical to me and having said that then the 5W should be better than the recommended 10W.

The only thing that throws me a little is that they recommend 40 and I'm throwing in 50 which means the oil will be a little thicker at operating temperatures?

I found a 17 page thread on syntec 5w50 on another motorcycle forum and there a bunch of guys using it that say it is working out great for them and not causing any issues with the wet clutches.

What it boils down to is I think I'm going to give it a shot unless somebody can give me a reason not to ;-)

Slick

[trosco]

Hey Daryl!
Oil, of almost any kind at all (so long as it doesn't have slippery stuff in it that mess's with our clutches) is good if it and the filter is changed regularly!
I used Mobile full Syn 15w50 (the silver cap stuff not the $9 a qt motorcycle stuff) in my goldwing for almost all of the 156,000 miles. And I have used it for almost all 28,000 miles in the Nad. The wings are set up tighter than our Nads so I don't believe a 5w50 oil should be a problem. Just make sure it doesn't say enery conserving or extended service anywhere on the label and you should be good.
I change my oil and filter together at between 3000 and 4000 miles. I had to run almost 5000 miles on the oil when I went from FL to the Custer rally and back last year and it stood up well.

[darryldale]

Thanks for the info guys.

I got the oil cheap enough that I'm going to give it a shot.

I don't see anything about energy conserving or extended service on it so what the hell I'll throw it in and see how it goes.

Got a list of filters I can use in my BB (off of gadgetjq) so I'm going to make a trip out tomorrow to rangle a couple up. Kind of a pain in the ass because all the great recommendations on this forum are usually geared towards americans. Doesn't do us canadians any good ;-)

Slick "The guy who figures it's time he started doing all his own maintenance"

[oldbikers]

I used castrol syntec 5w-50 in all my bikes until I bought my Goldwing and everyone was using rotella T so I switched and have been using the Rotella in my Nomad but I still use castrol syntec 5w-50 in all my cars I don't know if it is any good or not but my Chevy pickup has 192,000 miles and never had a bolt turned on it.