| Author | Message | ||
     Blake |
Do any of y'all know what the first number in the multi-grade viscosity rating means? Considering viscosity only, why would a 15W50 oil perform virtrually identically to a 20W50 oil when used in our Buell engines? Hint... Do we care more about how our engine oil performs at 0oF or at 212oF? | ||
| Mikej |
Blake, Here in Wisc. we care about both, but mostly only at startup. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Back from the store. Bought out all they had (9 quarts) for $6.88 per. Dan, when I run out of this stuff, I'll try some of yours OK? | ||
| Blake |
Mike: Are you saying that you ride your Buell when it's 0oF?! I've ridden in temperatures below freezing (32oF}, but never much below freezing, not anywhere near 0oF. I've never even ridden a snowmobile when ambient temperatures are near 0oF!! | ||
| Mikej |
Blake, When cabin fever sets in, and a Buell sits in the garage, and if the sun peeks out and the salts are relitivly off the roads, and if the roads are mostly ice-free, then yes I'll go for a ride regardless of the temps. Wind chill takes on a whole new meaning when the ambient temperature is below 20°F. But if you just gotta ride, then you ride. It might be a very short ride though, just enough to warm the oil and keep any condensation down, like maybe 20-50 miles or so or until the fingers get numb. It's also difficult to take a leak after one has rode 20+ miles in those temps without electric underwear, and if you ever do remember the heat dryers in the restroom are for more than just drying your hands.  Maybe I shouldn't mention that though. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
MikeJ, I'm with you on this one! I rode to work last November for the last time of the year, second week if I remember. Temp on the way in was abou 22 or so. Trip home was much warmer, around 35. It snowed the next day and I had to put her away for the LONG winter. Brad | ||
| Jeffsd |
I found 5 quarts fo Mobil V twin oil at Wal Mar(San Diego) for $6.92 per. It was not on the regular oil aisle. It was one row over with some other motorcycle stuff. I found it also at Auto Zone for $6.99, again, not with the other car oil. I'll have to try riding in the cold, one of these days. Actually, most people do not realize that there are mountains in San Diego County and it snows here with somewhat regularly. Jeff | ||
| Roc |
What is the difference between auto and motorcycle synthetics? Different additives? | ||
| Roc |
In reading the Mobil 1 site's info on their 20W-50 air cooled I find little that makes me think it's better for our application than any other synthetic, including that for cars. Most comparison the site does is between conventional oils, which are generally fine for our bikes, and synthetics, which are better for our bikes. The reading does speak of additional zinc in the air-cooler oil - which will chemically combine with engine metals to provide lubrication when the oil is under sever load; but we don't generally run very high compression. If I can buy an oil that meets or exceeds all of the requirements for my bike, stipulated by HD, $4 somthing then why spend $7 somthing? I plan on running some Valvoline 20W-50 full synthetic. Stop me if I'm beign foolish. | ||
| Buelliedan |
The Zinc content is the biggest difference between car oils and motorcycle oils, The EPA mandated that zinc content be lowered in car oils a while back but exempted motorcycle oils which is good for us. It seems like Mobil 1 might have realized the errors of it's ways by being so heavy handed in the past with it's price fixing of the V-twin oil. $8 a quart was way too expensive!! http://www.lube-direct.com/ddunn | ||
| Blake |
Mike: You one crazy dude! Brad: 22oF is a long way from 0oF, but you still one crazy dude too! In fact, all ya silly northerners are freakin' crazy!!  | ||
| Mikej |
Blake, I have my moments ... and then I usually wake up. How's Texas? | ||
| Blake |
It's good to be home! Perfect riding weather. Come on down for a visit. | ||
| Blake |
BTW, at 0oF, 15W will flow better than 20W. | ||
| Pangalactic |
well crap... | ||
| Pangalactic |
ooops | ||
| Pangalactic |
Thank god for those warm southern winters. There's only been 2 days since records have een kept where we've EVER been below 0 degrees. Hell, January is the only month of the year where our avg low is below freezing, and then it's still a very ridable (if not chilly)28 degrees! By it sure beats those Northern Indiana winters for riding season. Unfortunately, I LIKE the snow- my cage is a Jeep Wrangler.  - s i g h - If only Buell made a snowmobile....... | ||
| Blake |
That sick comment ought to cost you a patch or something! | ||
| Pangalactic |
| ||
| Jmartz |
While visting S&S I was taken to the yard where a rather strange machine was sitting. It looked like a farm implement powered by a BT motor. Turns out it was an engine durabilty stand that is rolled a distance from the building to minimize noise pollution. Sitting on this contraption was a quart of the oil they use for these prolonged engine runs, Mobil 1 15W50. | ||
| Jeffsd |
Okay, I switched to Mobil vtwin 20 w 50, Redline heavy shock proof for the trans and put on the fan kit. I hope my overheating in traffic days are behind me. ANy one tried these same steps? Jeff | ||
| Blake |
The Mobil-1 won't keep the engine from overheating, but if it does overheat, the good quality synthetic oil will continue to lubricate where a conventional oil starts to cook. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Yup! What Blake said!!!! Dan http://www.lube-direct.com/ddunn | ||
| Onlyblue |
I'll add this as well, I run my scooter on Mobil1 15w50 and a JAGG oil cooler. I live in the Memphis TN area and temps in the upper 90s in summer are the rule. After a 15 mile commute from work, I've checked oil temp on different days. Oil tank temps have ranged from 175 to 185. Per a research article that I'd read, to calculate engine oil temp when you're measuring the oil resevior temp, add 10% to the resevior reading. Based on the 10% advice, the actual engine oil temp is ranging from 192 to 204. But, I've noticed when it gets much warmer than that (210 or so)the S3 develops a very erratic idle when at a stop. Once it's moving with for 5-10 minutes with 35-40 mph air flow, the erratic idle goes away. | ||
| Bushmasta |
the consensus is that a oil cooler for a buell is good right? especially since the new firebolt has one? question is which one? i ride here in yuma AZ with temp in 116F during summer. if run a while or in slow traffic i'll get some pinging, i was told caused b/c of heat. in the winter it may get in the 30-40F at nights sometimes so i would want a bypass valve right? any suggestions on specific oil coolers or advice, please. jhbushmasta@aol.com | ||
| Jeffsd |
Bush, I'll be interested to see what kind of info you get about the oil cooler. I live in San Diego and I have had my 00 X1 so hot in traffic that the enginge started to surge(idling up and down). I have not ridden it in traffic since I changed oil and added the fan kit. It is weird to hear the fan turn on after you have gotten off the bike and turned off the key. I've been to Yuma once. I hope I will still be able to say that in 20 years. Jeff | ||
| Hoser |
Onlyblue , Jeff : The "surging" and eratic idle you describe is a known as "hot idle anomaly" , it's normal. What is happening is , the ECM is sensing a high tempurature and is adding more fuel at idle , this raises the idle slightly and helps to cool the engine. "Skip spark" is another feature programed into the software to protect the engine when excess temps are sensed. J.D.H. | ||
| Bushmasta |
Can you install the fan kit on a 00 S3? If so does anyone have pic of what it looks like? what is the cost? aftermarket or stock? anyone in the know please respond. jhbushmasta@aol.com | ||
| Blake |
Try posting that on the Engine - Mechanical page? | ||
| Onlyblue |
Hey Bushmasta,There are at least a few oil coolers on the market that have a Buell application. My choice was the JAGG. It clearly moves more oil through it's heat exchanger (radiator) than what I'd seen on others. But,it might seem a bit pricey at $250. Installation was 20 minutes. While my keyboard is heated up there's some other items that you might like some info on. The SJ API rating introduced to change oil additives in 1996 didn't specify car oils versus others types. It specified 0w-20w and 10w-30w weight oils. The specification further didn't require a reduction in zinc. Both zinc and phosphorus are the main anti wear ingredients in oil. But, the phosphorus is particulary nasty on catalytic converters. The new standard limits phosphorus to .10%, down from .12%. No change to the zinc content was spcified by the SJ rating. Since Mobil1 is so popular and that's what I use here's some information on it based upon a analysis of content. Yes, Mobil did slightly reduce phosphorus content on the SJ rated product. But that's just 10w-30w and below. For the V-Twin and SH rated oils, there's been no change. And while we're mentioning V-Twin Mobil1, stop and consider this; the Mobil1 15w-50w SH oil has more zinc and phosphorus (anti wear) than the V-Twin oil and more calcium and magnesium (antacid components). The only additive that the V-Twin product has more of is 10 parts per million more boron. Check this link http://www.ibmwr.org/otech/oilreport.html and stop wasting money on 20w-50w V-Twin oil (unless of course you just want to). |
