10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread

flavor · 08-20-2009, 04:32 PM

Aren't you sick of oil threads.......

I changed my oil last time with half 15/50 nd the other half 20/50 last oil change. I know that's weird. Anyway I noticed that when starting the bike I had to use the fake choke until the bike got warmed up a little. Just changed the oil again today and used spectro 10/40. Didn't need the choke.

Weird ha.

IMPO I think the bike likes 10/40 better.

PS. With the 10/40 in the RPMS seem to come up faster.

**ringadingh** · 08-20-2009, 04:47 PM

Ive tried 20/50 in the past during the hot weather here and didn't notice a difference, now I stick with Rotella 15/W40 and like the way the bike shifts smoother.

flavor · 08-20-2009, 05:09 PM

That's the one that says for diesel. Correct? I may try that next time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ringadingh

Ive tried 20/50 in the past during the hot weather here and didn't notice a difference, now I stick with Rotella 15/W40 and like the way the bike shifts smoother.

**ringadingh** · 08-20-2009, 05:31 PM

Thats the one, Ive tried a few brands and that seems to be my favorite. Its a dino oil but like I said it shifts smoother almost the whole time between oil changes, whereas the other oils caused the shifting to feel a little more sticky between gears.

macmac · 08-20-2009, 06:57 PM

I blend my own mix with Mobil 1 no 20/50 in it at all.. Thicker viscosity in a new engine won't lube as well as it should. Thinner blends will lube alot better in newer engines .. 5's and 40's work, and so do 10's...

That "W" means winter not weight.. What the "W" is saying is that in winter a blended multioil will be as thin a viscosity as the lable says.

dogdoc · 08-21-2009, 08:49 PM

Ive tried the shell rotella and I ve tried the mobil-1 turbo disel oil, I like the Mobil-1 best. Its not the $9 a qt varity, its the gallon turbo truck oil.

AlabamaNomadRider · 08-21-2009, 10:47 PM

Right now I am runniing 10W 40 Amsoil full syn. I purchased some 20W 50 Mobil 1 for V Twin engines. I am going to try it my next oil change. Wal-Mart carries the Mobil 1 for motorcycles but a couple of isles over from the car oils. It goes for $8.99 a quart. I purchased the Amsoil from the cycle dealer and it was like $12.99 which is a little rich for me. I am just not sure about the diesel oils. Maybe one day, who knows.

macmac · 08-22-2009, 02:50 PM

Dino diesel oils are superior to gas oils because in a diesel they need to suspend more crud.

I run thinner oils for better mpgs which shows up on my bike, and makes turning the engine eaiser for the engine to do. Running Mobile 1 for cars wirks for me. I just make sure the "EC" letters are not on any of the bottles I buy.

Running thinner oils on a new engine is the way to go almost no matter how hot it gets.

landman · 08-23-2009, 05:01 PM

i know better but here goes my opinion anyways.because harleys
are air cooled their engines are built to much looser tolerances
so as not to overheat as bad.thereforethey recommend the
heavier 20/50 wieght oils.the water cooled japanese motors are
built to tighter tolerances so they recomend the lighter 10/40 oils.

ndbigfish · 08-25-2009, 10:17 PM

Two days and you didn't get flamed for your H-D comment!

Mac, when is an engine no longer new or at what point can I switch from 10W-40 to 20W-50? My riding conditions are quite different from Ring's or yours.

I used 10W-40 in the Northern Plains, but now in the Southern Plains with 50 plus days of 100°F this year I have been running 20W-50. The top end of the engine clattered with conventional oil so I switched to synthetic. I'm switching again; as Royal Purple was $11.99 a quart last change. I am leaning toward 20W-50 Mobil 1 V-Twin; still $9.00 a quart. Looking hard at HDEOs, like Rotella.

ndbigfish · 08-26-2009, 01:18 PM

Bump

dhomoney · 08-26-2009, 05:28 PM

In summer when average highs are over 90 I use Mobil-1 VTwin 20W50, my next oil change will be to Mobil-1 4T Racing 10W40.

dhomoney · 08-26-2009, 05:31 PM

I have not complaints with any of the Mobil-1 Products. I have used the 15W50 Turbo Diesel that Doc loves and also uses as a skin cream and it worked very well also. I love a good full syn. Not a huge fan of Dino.

blowndodge · 08-26-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macmac

Dino diesel oils are superior to gas oils because in a diesel they need to suspend more crud.

<marquee>Does this mean Todd's underwear is made from dino diesel oil?

</marquee>

metalman · 08-26-2009, 07:04 PM

Back in the old days I used 20W-50 in my 750 Suzuki and I assume the thicker oil caused some seals to leak. I am now using Rotella 15W-40 in my two Wings and the Nomad, as well as the diesel pickup, the tractor, and the diesel motor home. Having one type of oil for most vehicles simplifies things. I would not run 15W-40 in my bikes if I rode in cold weather.

08-20-2009, 04:32 PM	#1
flavor Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: RI Posts: 1,351	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Aren't you sick of oil threads....... I changed my oil last time with half 15/50 nd the other half 20/50 last oil change. I know that's weird. Anyway I noticed that when starting the bike I had to use the fake choke until the bike got warmed up a little. Just changed the oil again today and used spectro 10/40. Didn't need the choke. Weird ha. IMPO I think the bike likes 10/40 better. PS. With the 10/40 in the RPMS seem to come up faster. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-20-2009, 04:47 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Ive tried 20/50 in the past during the hot weather here and didn't notice a difference, now I stick with Rotella 15/W40 and like the way the bike shifts smoother. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

08-20-2009, 05:31 PM	#4
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Thats the one, Ive tried a few brands and that seems to be my favorite. Its a dino oil but like I said it shifts smoother almost the whole time between oil changes, whereas the other oils caused the shifting to feel a little more sticky between gears. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

08-20-2009, 06:57 PM	#5
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread I blend my own mix with Mobil 1 no 20/50 in it at all.. Thicker viscosity in a new engine won't lube as well as it should. Thinner blends will lube alot better in newer engines .. 5's and 40's work, and so do 10's... That "W" means winter not weight.. What the "W" is saying is that in winter a blended multioil will be as thin a viscosity as the lable says. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

08-21-2009, 08:49 PM	#6
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Ive tried the shell rotella and I ve tried the mobil-1 turbo disel oil, I like the Mobil-1 best. Its not the $9 a qt varity, its the gallon turbo truck oil.
	0

08-21-2009, 10:47 PM	#7
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Right now I am runniing 10W 40 Amsoil full syn. I purchased some 20W 50 Mobil 1 for V Twin engines. I am going to try it my next oil change. Wal-Mart carries the Mobil 1 for motorcycles but a couple of isles over from the car oils. It goes for $8.99 a quart. I purchased the Amsoil from the cycle dealer and it was like $12.99 which is a little rich for me. I am just not sure about the diesel oils. Maybe one day, who knows. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

08-22-2009, 02:50 PM	#8
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Dino diesel oils are superior to gas oils because in a diesel they need to suspend more crud. I run thinner oils for better mpgs which shows up on my bike, and makes turning the engine eaiser for the engine to do. Running Mobile 1 for cars wirks for me. I just make sure the "EC" letters are not on any of the bottles I buy. Running thinner oils on a new engine is the way to go almost no matter how hot it gets. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

08-23-2009, 05:01 PM	#9
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread i know better but here goes my opinion anyways.because harleys are air cooled their engines are built to much looser tolerances so as not to overheat as bad.thereforethey recommend the heavier 20/50 wieght oils.the water cooled japanese motors are built to tighter tolerances so they recomend the lighter 10/40 oils. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
	0

08-25-2009, 10:17 PM	#10
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Two days and you didn't get flamed for your H-D comment! Mac, when is an engine no longer new or at what point can I switch from 10W-40 to 20W-50? My riding conditions are quite different from Ring's or yours. I used 10W-40 in the Northern Plains, but now in the Southern Plains with 50 plus days of 100°F this year I have been running 20W-50. The top end of the engine clattered with conventional oil so I switched to synthetic. I'm switching again; as Royal Purple was $11.99 a quart last change. I am leaning toward 20W-50 Mobil 1 V-Twin; still $9.00 a quart. Looking hard at HDEOs, like Rotella. __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
	0

08-26-2009, 01:18 PM	#11
ndbigfish Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Braunfels, Texas Posts: 1,162	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Bump __________________ Brik VBA #1047 07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting) 03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13) 99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
	0

08-26-2009, 05:28 PM	#12
dhomoney Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lake Tenkiller, OK Posts: 737	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread In summer when average highs are over 90 I use Mobil-1 VTwin 20W50, my next oil change will be to Mobil-1 4T Racing 10W40.
	0

08-26-2009, 05:31 PM	#13
dhomoney Advanced Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lake Tenkiller, OK Posts: 737	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread I have not complaints with any of the Mobil-1 Products. I have used the 15W50 Turbo Diesel that Doc loves and also uses as a skin cream and it worked very well also. I love a good full syn. Not a huge fan of Dino.
	0

08-26-2009, 07:04 PM	#15
metalman Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: KY (summer) - FL (winter) Posts: 144	10/40 vs 20/50 Another oil thread Back in the old days I used 20W-50 in my 750 Suzuki and I assume the thicker oil caused some seals to leak. I am now using Rotella 15W-40 in my two Wings and the Nomad, as well as the diesel pickup, the tractor, and the diesel motor home. Having one type of oil for most vehicles simplifies things. I would not run 15W-40 in my bikes if I rode in cold weather.
	0

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