When is it time to change?

[tc1446]

I have had the 10w-40 motorcycle oil in my Can Am tested and at 4K it had sheared down to upper 20W range and the lab listed it as a "caution". I changed it then, but am wondering if that vicosity is the absolute minimun one should run without it being too low? Should it be changed sooner?

Opinions please

 

[ARCOgraphite]

If you way past break-in and its shearing 2 grades(no fuel diluting) I would pick another oil. What oil was shearing (valvoline or castrol 4T?) and what was the fuel % and flash point? IS a can am that 3 wheeled snowmobile looking thing ( Vtwin?)

 

[jorton]

Yea - does the crank case smell like unleaded fuel?

 

[Mackelroy]

If I ran a 10w40 in my VFR 4k, Im sure it would be a 20w too.

So you can either change oil more frequent or up the viscosity, 15w40's hold up pretty good in comparison or 20w50

I dont recommend light weight oils in an MC, like 10w30 or 5w40's for long intervals.

 

[tc1446]

The Can Am is the 3 wheel thing with Rotax 996cc twin cyl. Oil was Amsoil 10-40 mc oil. Factory calls for 10-40 and doesn't recommend higher weigh. I used Bobs Vicosity Chart to come up with the 30W figure. Theres no gas smell in the oil. Its the suto transmission that I believe causes the shearing. Heres the report at 3000 mi with about 12K on the motor:
Metals (ppm)
Iron (Fe) 26
Chromium (Cr) Lead (Pb) 1
Copper (Cu) 8
Tin (Sn) 1
Aluminium (Al) 13
Nickel (Ni) 2
Silver (Ag) Titanium (Ti) Vanadium (V) Contaminants (ppm)
Silicon (Si) 4
Sodium (Na) 6
Potassium (K) Coolant No
Additives (ppm)
Magnesium (Mg) 14
Calcium (Ca) 3284
Barium (Ba) Phosphorus (P) 1206
Zinc (Zn) 1461
Molybdenum (Mo) 43
Boron (B) 7
Contaminants
Water (%) Physical Tests
Viscosity (cSt 100C) 11.4
Physical / Chemical
Base Number (mgKOH/g) 9.3

 

[Mackelroy]

I know on my VFR , amsoil 15w40 usually drops to a 30 weight by 2000 miles. Normally my change itervals are about 2500 mile. The only oils Ive ran to 4,000 mile have been like 20w50 mobil1 vtwin. I prefer the cheaper diesils and lower change intervals, but amsoil is a very good cleaning oil.

You could run 15w40 amf diesil amsoil, that may hold up better than the 10w40 ams in your bike. Its also cheaper than the 10w40.

 

[sunruh]

Originally Posted By: Mackelroy
If I ran a 10w40 in my VFR 4k, Im sure it would be a 20w too.

So you can either change oil more frequent or up the viscosity, 15w40's hold up pretty good in comparison or 20w50

I dont recommend light weight oils in an MC, like 10w30 or 5w40's for long intervals.


can i get an AMEN from the back row?

guys, this is not just talk. i've proven it countless times with over 60+ uoa's (almost 70 now).

steve

 

[kballowe]

Amen, brother !

 

[alarmguy]

Amen ... and thank you ... I say it all the time.

"I dont recommend light weight oils in an MC, like 10w30 or 5w40's for long intervals."

Even way more so in shared sumps with the gearbox.

 

[tc1446]

And now the factory has gone from a recommended 3000 mi oil change to 4600 mi. Their oil is packaged by Castrol and the syn is 5-40. They also use a blend but not sure what the weight is but think its a 10-40.

They caution against using heavy weight oil due to the manner in which the engine/transmission oil system is engineered. A lot of riders using Amsoil or BRP oil run it to 5K and never worry about it. Prob I should quit doing oil tests and stick with 4K changes.

 

[04SVT]

I've had my RL 10w40 in my R1 for 5193 miles. I'm about to change it to 10w30 since it's winter. Just following the manual as far as viscosities go. I've never had an issue either.