Specific Oil question, not exhaustive please

[inditx]

Coming back to the fold with an 03 EV that has had the updates.
P.O. said he’s been running 20-50 without problem since the tappet upgrade.
I remember reading about 5-40 being the recommended. IF the latter is the case, do I change to the 5-40 or continue with the 20-50?
Thanks mates!
inditx

[Perazzimx14]

If asked of this collective of folks "which way is up" you get at least 35 different responses explaining the same thing a different way Then you'd get a few arguing that "up" actually cannot be up becasue of some sort of contorted physics interpretation.

Asking the fine folks at WG to no go crazy on an oil thread is like throwing cut bait into a gam of sharks in hopes it keeps them from going into a feeding frenzy.

[rocker59]

5w40 is the correct, recommended oil for the hydraulic lifter engines.

[kirby1923]

Having been involved in a few engine design projects I will add that if the designers specify 5 wt oil then its a VERY good idea to use it.

The big reason is that the lifters NEED 5 wt for operations in normal temp cold start, and in general operations.

Its the way modern hydraulic lifters are designed. Very tight clearances needed for proper valve train functions.

Just say'in

:-)

[Don G]

If you have Guzziology there is a write up on it in depth as to why 5-40 oil is required in the Hydro engines.  DonG

[inditx]

Thanks for the collective agreement thus far, I will change to 5-40.
Appreciate this forum! 
inditx

[RinkRat II]

 Sheesh, somebody's gotta ask..........Synth or Dino??

     Paul B

[Antiquar]

Sheesh, somebody's gotta ask..........Synth or Dino??

     Paul B

And even then: shaken or stirred?!

[Tom H]

Sheesh, somebody's gotta ask..........Synth or Dino??

     Paul B

OK I'll bite. Syn Rotella

I do use the Rotella in my '04

Tom

[bigbikerrick]

I had an 03 Aluminum hydro, ran mostly rotella 5w-40 blue jug diesel car oil, but also tried 20w-50 a few times mostly in the hot Arizona summers, pulling a sidecar. The engine ran/sounded great with either oil in my case. I finally traded it to a  Guzzisti with 31K  trouble free miles, running perfect. A well sorted "hydro" is a beautiful engine, that pulls amazing torque from down low. Mine had the upgraded valve train installed at 10K miles, and it had not failed.
  I would not worry too much about the 20-50 until you are due for the next oil/filter change. Oh and dont forget the "hose clamp"!
Rick.

[SIR REAL ED]

If asked of this collective of folks "which way is up" you get at least 35 different responses explaining the same thing a different way Then you'd get a few arguing that "up" actually cannot be up becasue of some sort of contorted physics interpretation.

Asking the fine folks at WG to no go crazy on an oil thread is like throwing cut bait into a gam of sharks in hopes it keeps them from going into a feeding frenzy.

Let me tell you something about oil sonny!  First of all, it's pronounce "all!"  And when I was your age, we didn't have any all...... and we were grateful!

[Perazzimx14]

According to my mom its pronounced "earl". Olive earl, motor earl, cooking earl, earl soaked, earl'ee

[Chuck in Indiana]

According to my mom its pronounced "earl". Olive earl, motor earl, cooking earl, earl soaked, earl'ee

Oril. Kerosene is "Cor oril." (coal oil)

[elvisboy77]

What does the owner's manual say?

[delrod]

For what it's worth I have some 85000 miles on my 03. Blue jug rotella 5-40 and some extended oil change intervals. Many hard miles with no significant consumption. Let it seek it's own level. If mine is filled to mark on dipstick it will loose it in 150 miles then stop for thousands

[inditx]

For what it's worth I have some 85000 miles on my 03. Blue jug rotella 5-40 and some extended oil change intervals. Many hard miles with no significant consumption. Let it seek it's own level. If mine is filled to mark on dipstick it will loose it in 150 miles then stop for thousands

Hey Doug, old thread but I’m back with an 04 EV, still got your 03?
I’m in the KC area btw.
Jack aka inditx

[Cam3512]

5w40 is the correct, recommended oil for the hydraulic lifter engines.

This.  Book calls for the thinner oil to get up to the lifters quickly on start up.

[Beowulf]

I understand that oil has to be taken from specific yak and melted from the fat by artisans in Italy following an age old processes where it is later blessed and poured into a purple bottle……. Best wishes I’m sure it will work out.

[inditx]

Hah!

[Chatmanx]

Just a reminder that a multirange oil is the bottom of the stated range and that there are additives in the oil that keep it from breaking down as heat increases so that it can function like the upper range. So, if those additives burn off, you are left with very thin oil. An air cooled motor is very unusual nowadays and tends to run hotter than coolant/thermostatically cooled. Also remember that oils are usually created for cars and fleet gas mileage is everything to cars. So, thin oils give better gas mileage and can carry the car past its warrantee distance in any event.

I wish that there was someone in government looking at all this critically with the goal of how we produce cars and motorcycles that run 500K miles.

For now, changing often is a good idea. I once had a Volvo overheat and the oil became the low end of the range and even caused the pressure light to flicker. After changing oil and the water pump, it ran another 50K miles without problem.

[Dilliw]

My '03 has about 90k on it with a steady diet of Rotella T6.  Anecdotal but if I go out there and hit the starter button it will crank right up :)

Back in the day when this all went down (2005-2006) their weren't many choices for a 5w40 oil.  Now on the shelf at Wally World you can get 0w40 Mobil 1 for the same $5/liter as the Rotella, and if you want to pay the $10/liter (Amazon) Liqui Molly makes a 5w50 that might be ideal for a hot weather EV. 

[inditx]

Good to know although around KC Rotella 5W/40 is hard to find and I paid $64 for 2.5 Gallons
Interesting to think about the 5W/50 since its hotter than Hades here right now!
Thanks,
inditx