question on synthetic oil
has anyone her used the stuff? can you switch from refined oil to synthetic? how good is it? thanks.
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quote:Originally posted by kristov
Any large displacement motorcycle engine should be running synthectic oil and this specifically applies to air cooled engines because there is little to no reserve cooling built into the design. Older BMW and Guzzi twins had their cylinders out in the air flow and that helped them quite a bit but V-twins designs are not really ideal when it comes to keeping the engine cool. By design motorcycle engines have to be very compact for their displacement (they also have to have visual appeal since they are not under the hood) and since they put out much more power per cubic inch than automobile engines they build up heat very fast and tend to lose it at a much slower rate. Even liquid cooled motorcycle engines like those found on the current BMWs have extremely small radiators for their engine displacement and unless they are kept moving the engine coolant cannot cope with the heat build up, even with a electric fan for the radiator. The engine oil is going to have to pick up the slack here and mineral based oils are not up to the task. You will never harm an engine by running synthetic oil but you can shorten it's life by staying with mineral oil if conditions are harsh.
When it comes to chemistry I have been accused here on GB of talking out of my a$$ so you may want to take my decade of experience as an engineer in the petroleum industry with a grain of salt.
Thanks for the feedback. I think its time to switch to Amzoil or something similar. I have been changing my oil in the Harley at 2,000 mile intervals to make sure its doing its job, but this engine heats up like no other I have experienced so I am going to make the switch.
I have noticed that it appears to run cooler with my aftermarket Vance & Hines Pipes, high flow air filter and the V&H Fuelpack that has allowed me to reset the fuel injection to V&H specifications.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dano
I forgot to mention, don't fall for the "motorcycle specific" oils. They are nothing but a marketing scam, and....they are a lot more expensive than typical synthetic oils.
Dano,
Sorry brother, but you are dead wrong on this statement unless you are talking about Harley's. Any bike with a wet clutch can be damaged unless they use the motorcycle blend which doesn't have the "extra pressure" additives. These additives will cause a wet clutch to slip and burn.
EP additives won't hurt a Harley because it's made up of seperate pieces. Motor, clutch, transmission all pieced together. Kind of like they did back in 1929![}:)]0 -
Yamaha motorcycle company says to avoid full synthetic oil in their motorcycle engines simply because the clutch runs in a bath of that oil and for the clutch to engage requires a certain amount of friction. The synthetics are so good at avoiding friction that Yamaha states there will not be enough friction and the clutch will slip. Even though the slight slippage might not be noticed.
I have tried full synthetic in my 1999 Yamaha Vmax and I do believe I could notice the clutch slipping. So now I use the motorcycle specific blended oil. I'm afraid not to.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Yamaha motorcycle company says to avoid full synthetic oil in their motorcycle engines simply because the clutch runs in a bath of that oil and for the clutch to engage requires a certain amount of friction. The synthetics are so good at avoid friction that Yamaha states there will not be enough friction and the clutch will slip.
I have tried full synthetic in my 1999 Yamaha Vmax and I do believe I could notice the clutch slipping. So now I use the motorcycle specific blended oil. I'm afraid not to.
TR,
That's why Amsoil has specific synthetics for wet clutch bikes, and it is premium. My last two Goldwings have used full synthetic Amsoil motorcycle blend with no problems and no measurable wear. It also greatly reduces motor heat by reducing friction.0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Yamaha motorcycle company says to avoid full synthetic oil in their motorcycle engines simply because the clutch runs in a bath of that oil and for the clutch to engage requires a certain amount of friction. The synthetics are so good at avoid friction that Yamaha states there will not be enough friction and the clutch will slip.
I have tried full synthetic in my 1999 Yamaha Vmax and I do believe I could notice the clutch slipping. So now I use the motorcycle specific blended oil. I'm afraid not to.
TR,
That's why Amsoil has specific synthetics for wet clutch bikes, and it is premium. My last two Goldwings have used full synthetic Amsoil motorcycle blend with no problems and no measurable wear. It also greatly reduces motor heat by reducing friction.
Thanks for that tip. I actually prefer full synthetics. Where can I purchase this "Amsoil" you speak of?0 -
As has been pointed out, oil itself does not "Wear out" no matter if mineral or synthetic. Synthetics tend to hold up better at higher temperatures but if your engine is running that hot you've got bigger problems than deciding what kind of oil to use. Some, but not all, synthetics do have a slight edge in being a tad more "slippery", a drawback of which is that it will tend to leak out a bit easier than mineral oil does.
The primary reason for changing engine oil frequently is to get rid of the carbon particles that accumualate in it as a result of the blowby that occurs everytime a cylinder fires. Most of those carbon particles are too small to be trapped in a standard oil filter so they simply build up and up the longer the oil is used. You want to get rid of those particles because they act as an abrasive causing premature engine wear.0 -
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Thanks for that tip. I actually prefer full synthetics. Where can I purchase this "Amsoil" you speak of?
Go to http://www.hittnmiss.com/ and order it from there. Email the guy first if you want to, his name is Luther Hitt, aka Bulldog. His email is, hitt@hvc.rr.com
He is a bike rider and will drop ship it from the nearest Amsoil warehouse to you. Even though he's in NY, my orders ship from Ft. Worth and arrive in two days from placing my order. It's safe to use your credit card with him via email, I always do without problems and so has everyone I've sent to him.
He will also sell it to you at dealer cost. Get their filters, and you can check out exactly what you need at http://www.amsoil.com
You'll find your motors temperature will drop about 20 degrees just by changing to Amsoil, and the transmission will shift much smoother!
Bulldog is a good man!0 -
quote:Originally posted by dheffley
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
Thanks for that tip. I actually prefer full synthetics. Where can I purchase this "Amsoil" you speak of?
Go to http://www.hittnmiss.com/ and order it from there. Email the guy first if you want to, his name is Luther Hitt, aka Bulldog. His email is, hitt@hvc.rr.com
He is a bike rider and will drop ship it from the nearest Amsoil warehouse to you. Even though he's in NY, my orders ship from Ft. Worth and arrive in two days from placing my order. It's safe to use your credit card with him via email, I always do without problems and so has everyone I've sent to him.
He will also sell it to you at dealer cost. Get their filters, and you can check out exactly what you need at http://www.amsoil.com
You'll find your motors temperature will drop about 20 degrees just by changing to Amsoil, and the transmission will shift much smoother!
Bulldog is a good man!
Thanks .0
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