2022 HD Street Bob 114 Valvoline VR1

[BusyLittleShop]

I'm disappointed for sure. VR1 works great in Twin Cam Harleys but shears in the M8.

All oils will show some degree of shear during their service but
Blackstone's used oil report data has affirmed there are no reason to
fear the shear because as our oil shears flow increases without the
dreaded increase in wear... our oil serves as a "wall" only when it is
constantly FLOWING between parts keeping them from touching...

Blackstone says not to worry because a 50 grade can average between 19.2
to 14.8 cSt in gravity flow... Your oil tested 14.5 cSt in gravity flow...
which is a difference of only .3 cSt . in other words your oil is
flowing .3 cSt faster than it was new... that minor difference in
gravity flow did not show up as more wear...

 

[kschachn]

All oils will show some degree of shear during their service but
Blackstone's used oil report data has affirmed there are no reason to
fear the shear because as our oil shears flow increases without the
dreaded increase in wear... our oil serves as a "wall" only when it is
constantly FLOWING between parts keeping them from touching...

Blackstone says not to worry because a 50 grade can range between 19.2
to 14.8 cSt in gravity flow... Your oil tested 14.5 cSt in gravity flow...
which is a difference of only .3 cSt . in other words your oil is
flowing .3 cSt faster than it was new... that minor difference in
gravity flow did not show up as more wear...

Wut?

 

[EvoMan]

All oils will show some degree of shear during their service but
Blackstone's used oil report data has affirmed there are no reason to
fear the shear because as our oil shears flow increases without the
dreaded increase in wear... our oil serves as a "wall" only when it is
constantly FLOWING between parts keeping them from touching...

Blackstone says not to worry because a 50 grade can average between 19.2
to 14.8 cSt in gravity flow... Your oil tested 14.5 cSt in gravity flow...
which is a difference of only .3 cSt . in other words your oil is
flowing .3 cSt faster than it was new... that minor difference in
gravity flow did not show up as more wear...

Not according to any viscosity charts I’ve seen. A 50 grade oil is suppose to be between 16.30-21.89. 14.5 puts his in the middle of a 40 grade.

 

[BusyLittleShop]

Not according to any viscosity charts I’ve seen. A 50 grade oil is suppose to be between 16.30-21.89. 14.5 puts his in the middle of a 40 grade.

Boy is my face red... I should said 40 grade...

 

[EvoMan]

No problem. We all make mistakes.

 

[CSR111]

What is a good alternative lab to Blackstone for doing UOA? I see many folks on here think Blackstone is an unreliable testing source.

 

[EvoMan]

I’ve been thinking about trying SPEEDiagnostix. I’ve watched a bunch of Lake Speed jr’s YT videos. He seems very knowledgeable. The price is around $60, which is more than Blackstone’s, but for that price you may get more testing done. Maybe others with experience using him will chime in.

SPEEDiagnostix

www.speediagnostix.com

 

[Bellavita]

It's between Mobile 1 15w-50 and Valvoline 4t 20w-50 synthetic. I used M1 V-twin for years in my previous twin cam stuff but it has a nasty habit of thickening to 60w in as little as 3k miles. I thought about the synthetic VR1 but it's not available locally. Conv VR1 works great in TC96/103 engines. In the M8 the oil also cools the heads (oil passage between the pair of ex valves) and the heat from that may be causing the shear.

Hi CSR111,
Another oil to consider is Mystic 15W-50 semi synthetic. It is a diesel oil that works excellent. I've used it in my 2013 Street Bob for 14,000 of its miles. When I first got my bike I tried Mobil V Twin 20W50 and it had thickened at the end of its 4,000 miles I put on it. I then switched to Mystic and stayed with it using it in the engine, primary and transmission. Fleet Farm carries it in a 2 gallon container for $45.99.

Do a search on "Mystic" and you'll find a number of threads on BITOG related to this oil that will have oil analyses you can review.

 

[alarmguy]

What would cause fuel dilution on a good running low milage epa lean stock motorcycle?

When you took the oil sample did you make sure the oil was good and hot, up to full operating temperature?