Motorcycle specific oil

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While the results will be interesting, if a UOA is completed, don't think it would be a fair test.
His bike is highly modified, with an oversized oil cooler, hi-flow oil pump, and cooling fans on the heads, which will cause the engine to run cooler than a factory Harley having less effect on oil breakdown.

The question is would you run conventional dino 15w40 Rotella oil, in a stock Harley engine that has a catayltic converter such as the bikes since 2010, in 95 plus temps daily, like in Texas? If you had a issue with the engine would MOCO cover the repair under warranty?

Yes, in the owner's manual it states to use Diesel oil to top off if engine oil is low, if Harley oil can't be found. Believe it's because diesel oil will have a higher VI index so the oil doesn't break down as quickly as normal engine oils..
 
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MC oils are speced for a wet clutch...this doesn't mean you have pay a premium price and buy them from MC shops...there are plenty good MC oils that are sold at auto parts stores for roughly the same price as automotive oils....
 
Yup, as a general rule, a 5w40 will certainly shear faster then a 10/40 and a 10/40 will shear faster then a 15w40 and a 15w40 will shear faster then a 20/50.

For the most part, with few exceptions the lower number ex. 5,10,15,20 is the true weight of the oil, then viscosity improver that expand when hot to make the oil act more like a 40 or 50 weight oil. So common sense says if we are using the oil in a shared gear case, the gears shear that viscosity improver and you end up closer to the base oil of 5,10,15,20 respectively.

Of course there can be some exceptions but they are just that, exceptions.
Most oil sold in the USA whether conventional or LABELED synthetic are made from regular oil and the lower number is the true viscosity of the oil.

SOME synthetics sold overseas have to be made of something other then conventional oil but not so in the USA. In fact some brand named oil sold here is a different formulation then over in Germany where oil labeled synthetic can not be made out of conventional oil but truly synthetic oil.
 
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Originally Posted By: rossn2
While the results will be interesting, if a UOA is completed, don't think it would be a fair test.
His bike is highly modified, with an oversized oil cooler, hi-flow oil pump, and cooling fans on the heads, which will cause the engine to run cooler than a factory Harley having less effect on oil breakdown.

The question is would you run conventional dino 15w40 Rotella oil, in a stock Harley engine that has a catayltic converter such as the bikes since 2010, in 95 plus temps daily, like in Texas? If you had a issue with the engine would MOCO cover the repair under warranty?

Yes, in the owner's manual it states to use Diesel oil to top off if engine oil is low, if Harley oil can't be found. Believe it's because diesel oil will have a higher VI index so the oil doesn't break down as quickly as normal engine oils..



Well it wouldn't be apples to apples as compared to a stock TC however my bike is high output as far as Harley's go. If plain Jane rotella puts down reasonable wear numbers in my application then I think it would to fine in a stock application.
Anyways the discussion is academic right now. I'll run the oil in my Harley and if it dissolves I'll get a pile of I told you so's, but if it doesn't it means we have another data point to discuss.
I hope it works. It would be very convenient for me to have one oil for all my bikes
 
When my parents owned a Big truck garage, we used Mobil Delvac 15w40 in EVERYTHING.Cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads, lawnmowers, heavy equipment. It even said and showed little pictures, that it was for mixed fleets, gas or diesel. we never had any problems. If thier ever was a universal oil, it would be the 15W40. I know some poeple compare it to the new trend of light oils, like it is grease. But this was in PA winters and it did a fine job. I still use it and in Florida, I know it will be fine. I would trust it more in extreme heat than any motorcycle oil. I dont think enough people respect what big turbo truck engines do to oil. A motorcycle will not even phase it.
 
I'm not sure how "Vtwin" oil might differ from "Flat Twin" oil unless it has something to do with the rear cylinder running hotter than the front but I know several guys who have run plain old Castrol 20 - 50 in BMW airheads and gone 100K with no problems. Howfar do you expect the Harley to go? BTW the BMW gearbox isnot in th esump.
 
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I'm not sure how "Vtwin" oil might differ from "Flat Twin" oil unless it has something to do with the rear cylinder running hotter than the front but I know several guys who have run plain old Castrol 20 - 50 in BMW airheads and gone 100K with no problems. Howfar do you expect the Harley to go? BTW the BMW gearbox isnot in th esump.


I ride with 2 guys with over 130000kms on their twin cam engines. Stock bikes though. I've seen evo's with over 100000 miles on them. I don't beat on my bike so I'm hoping for it to go at least that long. As long as it doesn't melt with conventional rotella in the sump. Hehehe
 
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
When my parents owned a Big truck garage, we used Mobil Delvac 15w40 in EVERYTHING.Cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads, lawnmowers, heavy equipment. It even said and showed little pictures, that it was for mixed fleets, gas or diesel. we never had any problems. If thier ever was a universal oil, it would be the 15W40. I know some poeple compare it to the new trend of light oils, like it is grease. But this was in PA winters and it did a fine job. I still use it and in Florida, I know it will be fine. I would trust it more in extreme heat than any motorcycle oil. I dont think enough people respect what big turbo truck engines do to oil. A motorcycle will not even phase it.



I've seen 280 degree oil temps on my bike in traffic. Pretty hot. So hot I smelled something burning. Got the bike to my garage an checked the oil. It was scorched black and smelled burned. It was syn 3 with maybe 400kms on the oil. Never again with I use that junk. I used the half quart that was left over in my lawn mower.
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I'm not sure how "Vtwin" oil might differ from "Flat Twin" oil unless it has something to do with the rear cylinder running hotter than the front but I know several guys who have run plain old Castrol 20 - 50 in BMW airheads and gone 100K with no problems. Howfar do you expect the Harley to go? BTW the BMW gearbox isnot in th esump.


I ride with 2 guys with over 130000kms on their twin cam engines. Stock bikes though. I've seen evo's with over 100000 miles on them. I don't beat on my bike so I'm hoping for it to go at least that long. As long as it doesn't melt with conventional rotella in the sump. Hehehe


That's pretty good on an air cooled engine. I've heard the bigger ones have rear cylinder cooling problems. How prevelent is that from what you've seen?
 
The new 103 Twin Cams do run hot and lean. Several reviewers have remarked that in town they are giving out so much heat that they are uncomfortable.
 
Originally Posted By: Robenstein
The new 103 Twin Cams do run hot and lean. Several reviewers have remarked that in town they are giving out so much heat that they are uncomfortable.


One of the guys I ride with has an '09 Road Glide (96 ci) and says his rear cylinder shutdown circuit will kick-in on hot days...says his bike shakes like its coming apart when that rear cylinder shuts down...I can imagine it's even worse on the bigger motors...of course I have to rub it in that my liquid cooled bike never overheats ;0)
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
I'm not sure how "Vtwin" oil might differ from "Flat Twin" oil unless it has something to do with the rear cylinder running hotter than the front but I know several guys who have run plain old Castrol 20 - 50 in BMW airheads and gone 100K with no problems. Howfar do you expect the Harley to go? BTW the BMW gearbox isnot in th esump.


I ride with 2 guys with over 130000kms on their twin cam engines. Stock bikes though. I've seen evo's with over 100000 miles on them. I don't beat on my bike so I'm hoping for it to go at least that long. As long as it doesn't melt with conventional rotella in the sump. Hehehe


That's pretty good on an air cooled engine. I've heard the bigger ones have rear cylinder cooling problems. How prevelent is that from what you've seen?


Most of it is Internet amplification. They do run hot though. But what should a person expect from an air cooled bike with coffee can sized pistons.
The 88s I've ridden run just as hot as mine did when it was a 96. Now that its a 106 I feel no difference whatsoever. It's the nature of the beast though.

Originally Posted By: Robenstein
The new 103 Twin Cams do run hot and lean. Several reviewers have remarked that in town they are giving out so much heat that they are uncomfortable.


They aren't running lean. That's Internet amplification. The 103s/96s/88s all run 14.7-1 a/f. I've personally seen 88s with over 100000 miles on them,stock tune,stock pipes and no reliability issues and never been opened up.
Guys with Harley's are their own worst enemies. The bikes are slugs stock so we juice em up,which can affect reliability. If we would just leave them alone they would last a lifetime.
Best thing a guy can do with these things is leave them alone. If you want more power remove the stock engine and buy a bigger one that can handle the power.
The stock crank is good for 120hp. More than that and your on borrowed time. And don't spin em past 6000rpm or at some point the crank is going to fail.
I love my bike and I'm aware of its limitations. I didn't buy a race bike,I bought a street bob. If I wanted a race bike I would have bought a v-rod. That's an awesome bike but not a long distance touring bike. My street bob isn't a decker either,but I've got add on bags. It takes me across country great and still maneuvers well.
 
I said nothing about reliability. But I know that my friends Twin Cam 88 is getting a lot better fuel mileage than my old mans stock Dyna FXDL 80 inch evo...so its gotta be running leaner. And its not like my old mans is wore out, he has less than 20k on it. Harley itself knew the engine would run hotter and that is why they incorporated more surface area and oil cooling the pistons to cool the motor due to the displacements and stricter fuel management.

I do think that if you are getting a twin cam, and it does not have an oil cooler on it, throw one on the thing. If not for reliability....for comfort. No one wants to ride something that cooks them.
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
If I wanted a race bike I would have bought a v-rod. That's an awesome bike but not a long distance touring bike.


Or a guy could buy something other than a Harley...there are actually other makes that are comfortable for long distances AND they perform...
 
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
When my parents owned a Big truck garage, we used Mobil Delvac 15w40 in EVERYTHING.Cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads, lawnmowers, heavy equipment. It even said and showed little pictures, that it was for mixed fleets, gas or diesel. we never had any problems. If thier ever was a universal oil, it would be the 15W40. I know some poeple compare it to the new trend of light oils, like it is grease. But this was in PA winters and it did a fine job. I still use it and in Florida, I know it will be fine. I would trust it more in extreme heat than any motorcycle oil. I dont think enough people respect what big turbo truck engines do to oil. A motorcycle will not even phase it.



I've seen 280 degree oil temps on my bike in traffic. Pretty hot. So hot I smelled something burning. Got the bike to my garage an checked the oil. It was scorched black and smelled burned. It was syn 3 with maybe 400kms on the oil. Never again with I use that junk. I used the half quart that was left over in my lawn mower.
THAT's REAL science at work.
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Or a guy could buy something other than a Harley...there are actually other makes that are comfortable for long distances AND they perform...


but then you wouldnt be a leather n chrome koolaid drinker!
 
Originally Posted By: grampi
Originally Posted By: Clevy
If I wanted a race bike I would have bought a v-rod. That's an awesome bike but not a long distance touring bike.


Or a guy could buy something other than a Harley...there are actually other makes that are comfortable for long distances AND they perform...


Yeah. I could have. I had an 1100 v-star before this bike. A few Honda's that are still kicking around. [


quote=HerrStig]
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: Panzerman
When my parents owned a Big truck garage, we used Mobil Delvac 15w40 in EVERYTHING.Cars, trucks, motorcycles, quads, lawnmowers, heavy equipment. It even said and showed little pictures, that it was for mixed fleets, gas or diesel. we never had any problems. If thier ever was a universal oil, it would be the 15W40. I know some poeple compare it to the new trend of light oils, like it is grease. But this was in PA winters and it did a fine job. I still use it and in Florida, I know it will be fine. I would trust it more in extreme heat than any motorcycle oil. I dont think enough people respect what big turbo truck engines do to oil. A motorcycle will not even phase it.



I've seen 280 degree oil temps on my bike in traffic. Pretty hot. So hot I smelled something burning. Got the bike to my garage an checked the oil. It was scorched black and smelled burned. It was syn 3 with maybe 400kms on the oil. Never again with I use that junk. I used the half quart that was left over in my lawn mower.
THAT's REAL science at work. [/quote]

Science nope. Experience yep.


Originally Posted By: sunruh
Originally Posted By: grampi
Or a guy could buy something other than a Harley...there are actually other makes that are comfortable for long distances AND they perform...


but then you wouldnt be a leather n chrome koolaid drinker!


No leather here,well not really. And my bike is blacked out so not much for chrome.
Kool-ade is what I gives to the kids.
I bought my Harley primarily due to the seating position,and it was a great deal. That being said there are better bikes out there. I've got no brand loyalty to Harley or any other bike out there.
I know I'll get every dime I put into this bike back when and if I ever decide to sell. Heck,I'll make a profit. No other bike I've ever had has made me money on the back end.
The guys I ride with are attached to their bike sub I really couldn't care less. If I was shopping for a bike I'd be looking at victory. Every weakness a Harley has victory has done the homework and improved it. Nice being able to start from a clean slate.
I don't like Harley as a company. I refuse to buy Harley shirts or accessories. I bought the bike because of my back. 2 herniated disks and this bike is therapy,the bars and seating position did it for me,not the name.
 
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
funny how a thread changed from a post about oil, to a Harley bashing fest.,,


Funny how that brand gets almost all the bashing. It is like the Vegemite/Marmite of the bike world. You either love it when you try it, or you hate it. My Aussie friends will get the reference more probably.
 
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