Hydro motor oil question........

[Guest]

[bigbikerrick]

Hello all,Might as well start the new year with an "oil thread"  To you folks with bikes with the hydraulic valve lifter motors, what brand , and weight of motor oil are you using, and are you happy with it? I have been running shell rotella synthetic in the blue jug 5w-40. I have heard that with the new emissions guidelines, they are reducing the zinc ( ZDDP) content in many oils, and that is not good for non roller tappet  motors. I have read that the diesel specific oils , still have adequate zddp. I am curious what brands of oil we folks with hydro motors have to choose from these days. Thanks, and Happy New Year!    Rick.

[Frank Smith]

Rotella T.  Need to do the change tonight or tomorrow if I'm going anywhere soon.  I'm due.

[Wayne Orwig]

The 'big blue jug' for my EV also.
I added a bit of ZDDP additive to my Stelvio just during break-in. Made me feel better, but likely was a waste.

[johnr]

Hello all,Might as well start the new year with an "oil thread"  To you folks with bikes with the hydraulic valve lifter motors, what brand , and weight of motor oil are you using, and are you happy with it? I have been running shell rotella synthetic in the blue jug 5w-40. I have heard that with the new emissions guidelines, they are reducing the zinc ( ZDDP) content in many oils, and that is not good for non roller tappet  motors. I have read that the diesel specific oils , still have adequate zddp. I am curious what brands of oil we folks with hydro motors have to choose from these days. Thanks, and Happy New Year!    Rick.

Shell Helix 5W40. Happy with it so far.

[mtwillyman]

Been using Rotella 5w40 for 4 years in my 2003 Stone. I still feel it is to thin for 75 degree and above temps. 5w40 synthetic is wha tMG recommends. Peace.  

[Hacksaw]

Can you say "SG RATED OIL?"
Bought my 2003 EVT first week of May 2006.
I used Castrol R4 5W40 full synthetic until the dealer did the 6000 mile service in July.
Since then it has been Castrol GTX 20W50 in summer months and 10W40 in winter months.
Have yet to have any problems in the ensuing ~105,000 miles.
Not offering this as 'advice' but merely factual representation of what has worked for me.
You do what you want, I'll keep doing what I do and maybe we'll 'compare notes' in another 100,000 miles.

[bigbikerrick]

Hacksaw. do you pull a hack with your Guzzi? Just curious, as I have been pulling a hack with mine lately. It doesnt strain the motor at all, with the 7/33 gears, but I want to make sure I have all the oil protection I can get. It makes me feel good to hear of the many troublefree miles your hydro has given you, I expect the same from mine. I have always used gtx like you for everything, same weights in summer/ winter. Started using the rotella only in my Guzzi. Ciao, Rick.

[brlawson]

20/50 Mobil 1 v-twin oil works well most of the year. 10/40 below 50 degrees.

[Dilliw]

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=31088.0

I look forward to Murphy's update on the new formulation of Rotella T.  Looks like they have added friction reducers to meet the SM rating.  Not a problem for our bikes but probably not good for bikes sharing oil with the tranny.  I've never run synthetic in those anyway as it doesn't seem to shift as well. 

[Wayne Orwig]

20/50 Mobil 1 v-twin oil works well most of the year.

With the hydro lifters?

[Aaron D.]

I think the Rotella should be fine, as would most diesel rated oils.

This ZDDP thing is overblown.

[braunsan]

I don't know that I have ever properly diagnosed any of the (various?) noises that the Stone (hydro) produces.  Out of fear of destroying the bike, I finally just spent the money on the really expensive, SG synthentic racing oil that Guzzi specifies.  I've used that almost exclusively for the last couple years and have ~35k miles.

I've since heard from a trustworthy source that the 15w50 (I think it is) synthetic Mobil 1 available at Walmart is working fine for folks with hydros to extended mileages...  So my intention now is to run the exotic 5w40 in the colder months, and the 15w50 in the summer...  that assumes I manage enough miles per year, so we'll see.

[balvenie]

Amsoil 10w40
2004 Cali

[brlawson]

20/50 Mobil 1 v-twin oil works well most of the year.

With the hydro lifters?

Yes, John Zibel recommended that I use it. It is what he used in his hydro EV. He was able to get 40,000 trouble free miles before his recall work was done. It really helps in the hotter months here in the south and as mentioned in the previous post it helps tone down the engine noise. The 15/50 works well but above 90 degrees the 20/50 makes the difference.

[rodekyll]

20/50 Mobil 1 v-twin oil works well most of the year.

With the hydro lifters?

Yes, John Zibel recommended that I use it. It is what he used in his hydro EV. He was able to get 40,000 trouble free miles before his recall work was done. It really helps in the hotter months here in the south and as mentioned in the previous post it helps tone down the engine noise. The 15/50 works well but above 90 degrees the 20/50 makes the difference.

What about the 20/50 makes it better than 15/50 in hotter weather?

[brlawson]

20/50 Mobil 1 v-twin oil works well most of the year.

With the hydro lifters?

Yes, John Zibel recommended that I use it. It is what he used in his hydro EV. He was able to get 40,000 trouble free miles before his recall work was done. It really helps in the hotter months here in the south and as mentioned in the previous post it helps tone down the engine noise. The 15/50 works well but above 90 degrees the 20/50 makes the difference.

What about the 20/50 makes it better than 15/50 in hotter weather?

Wish I could give you the scientific answer but it amounts to what my ears tell me. When I go for a long cruise in the hotter weather a light tapping sound develops. Probably not much to worry about but when using the 20/50 I do not get the tapping. Just a comfort thing I guess.

After the nightmare I went through on the cam upgrade I suppose I'm a little paranoid.

[Hacksaw]

Hacksaw. do you pull a hack with your Guzzi? Just curious, as I have been pulling a hack with mine lately. It doesnt strain the motor at all, with the 7/33 gears, but I want to make sure I have all the oil protection I can get. It makes me feel good to hear of the many troublefree miles your hydro has given you, I expect the same from mine. I have always used gtx like you for everything, same weights in summer/ winter. Started using the rotella only in my Guzzi. Ciao, Rick.

Yes I tug a Milray Coupe Royale chair with Guido about 60% of the time.
I have been pleased with the performance of the stock 8/33 bevel box.
It's big, heavy, has about 15 square feet of frontal area and my typical travel 'unit' is shown below.
Oh and I tend to ride real hard, real fast and real often.
Guido receives regular maintenance but I believe 'cleaning AIN'T maintaining'.

[bigbikerrick]

WoW Hacksaw! I guess that proves the durability, and robustness of our bikes!  Its pretty impressive that you pull that big sidecar, and a trailer with 8/33 gears in the Goose. No wonder my Aluminum pulls the smaller friendship II like its not even there, with the 7/33 gears!   These Guzzis are  tough old birds,eh? Thanks for the nice pics.

[Wayne Orwig]

Yea, but you need that pink helmet for it to work right. 

[Infantryboots]

AMSOIL 10-40, but if Murph jumps the fence, I just might follow him to Shell.

[Hacksaw]

Yea, but you need that pink helmet for it to work right. 

 
It does add quite a bit to the 'ego damage' suffered by the Hardly Ableson riders we strafe.
Just as not all bikes have what it takes to do what my Guzzi does, not all guys have what it takes to own one let alone wear it.

[Hacksaw]

WoW Hacksaw! I guess that proves the durability, and robustness of our bikes!  Its pretty impressive that you pull that big sidecar, and a trailer with 8/33 gears in the Goose. No wonder my Aluminum pulls the smaller friendship II like its not even there, with the 7/33 gears!   These Guzzis are  tough old birds,eh? Thanks for the nice pics.

Keep the RPM's up (>3000) and the 8/33 works just fine.
Yeah I know what many say, <whining voice on> 'I can't hardly ever use 5th gear' <whining voice off> but I ask what's the problem of using the lower 4?

[geoff in almonte]

+1 on what Hacksaw said.

My Honda Superhawk has a 6 speed tranny, but 6th gear is pretty much useless below 90-100mph.

So I drove it like a 5 speed.

My EV has a 5 speed tranny, but 5th gear is pretty much useless below 80mph.

So I drive it like a 4 speed.

Cheers!

G

[geoff in almonte]

FWIW....In my 04 EVT I use

Penzoil 5W40 Full Synth in the colder months.
Penzoil 5W50 Full Synth in the warmer months.

Like the man said: 'Oil is good.  Put some in.'

G

[skippy]

I have used the Rotella 5w40 for two years now and am convinced I am getting adequate protection. This stuff is designed for fleet service (high mileage) on high compression diesel engines with hydraulic lifters. What else do we need?

[Mark in TN]

Castrol Syntec 5w50

[sarg]

went oil shopping today. 5/40 rotella is not sg rated. bought it anyway.

[murphy]

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=31088.0

I look forward to Murphy's update on the new formulation of Rotella T.  Looks like they have added friction reducers to meet the SM rating.  Not a problem for our bikes but probably not good for bikes sharing oil with the tranny.  I've never run synthetic in those anyway as it doesn't seem to shift as well. 

Dang it George! I'd forgotten about posting the results! My fault. I'll get that data uploaded here this week. It's good news all around.
murphy

[Dilliw]

went oil shopping today. 5/40 rotella is not sg rated. bought it anyway.

The new Rotella is SM rated which is a more recent standard and is backward compatible to SG.  

[sarg]

there are some other threads on here that suggest sm rated oils do not have enough zinc? for the valve train<divclass="msgbox">Nofilesuploaded!</div>

[Hacksaw]

went oil shopping today. 5/40 rotella is not sg rated. bought it anyway.

The new Rotella is SM rated which is a more recent standard and is backward compatible to SG.  

So the Rotella 5/40 sold when the "current standard" was SG has the same amount of ZDDP elements as the SM rated oil does?
I ask because my communications with the Castrol folks say otherwise for their products. While their 'general marketing' claims are such that most current standards are backward compatible, where ZDDP elements are concerned (specifically SG rated requirements) their position is "If your engine requires SG rated oil we have those available and recommend their use."

[Wayne Orwig]

there are some other threads on here that suggest sm rated oils do not have enough zinc? for the valve train

And there are threads suggesting that the newer oils friction modifiers are better then zinc. Though they are bad for a wet clutch. No wet clutch, no problem.

Thus the reason oil threads never end.