Not quite an oil thread.....

[Bazil]

OK, we're all sitting at home doing nothing, so let me know what you think!

The oil change interval in the manual for my Mark 4 says every 3000 km / 2000 miles, with  10W50 ( dino of course), and this is what I do. Am I the only one?

However, has oil technology moved on since the 80's, even in dino oil ? Is that still a reasonable change interval.? Can I extend that change interval?

What about if I swap to semi synthetic? Same change interval?

What about if I swap to full synth?

I dont want to get into the merits of dino/semi syn / full syn, but what are reasonable change intervals?

Let the discussion rage until the mods get sick of the vitriolic bickering!

[Muzz]

 

Actually, I also am interested in this line of questioning.  Do you change the filter every change as well?

[GeorgiaGuzzi]

I’ve purchased an amsoil extended life filter. Going to run it 12k  miles. Going to change oil every 4K miles. Quota 1100.

On my wet clutch bikes I’ve had good results running amsoil 4-6k miles depending on mile type. Touring vs semi local. The more oil capacity the longer interval. My Victory takes over 6quarts. I use rotella (The one that is okay for wet clutches) on it and change oil and filter every 6k. On bikes with less oil capacity about 4k is what I’ll run when using full synthetic. Less if Dino. Never had any oil related problems on any of my bikes.

But that is just me. I’m neither right nor wrong. Oil is like politics or religion. Each individual’s own choice and business.

[ampm7]

I've been using Amsoil for over 20 years and have never had any sort of failure. I generally change it every 3-4000 miles and if it has an Amsoil Nano filter you don't have to change the filter at least 2 oil changes. You can use the oil for more miles than I do, but check for consumption as not every bike uses oil in the same manner. Most of my bikes have used about 1/4 qt to 2/3 quart per 1,000 miles depending on the bike and age/miles. I had a VII Guzzi that lost oil pressure and I rode it home for 12 miles and there was absolutely no damage to the internals using Amsoil. Plus you can use them in wet clutches/crankcase as in most Japanese bikes because they don't have any friction modifiers. And they were the first API fully synthetic oil in 1972. Amsoil is the best. I am just a user not a paid spokesman...

[ozarquebus]

Here is the revolutionary lubricant I have been using since the first of april.

Should be changed every stop at the country diner..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzHRYxRiboc

[Sasquatch Jim]

 No doubt about it, this is an oil thread.

[bigbikerrick]

I have an 85 Lemans IV, and I run castrol gtx 20-50 or rotella dino oil, change every 2-3K miles which is usually once a year for me on that bike, and change the filter every other change. Same  thing on my eldo , except change it every 1500 miles due to no filter. I recently had 3 quarts of valvoline vr1 10-w30 racing synthetic on the shelf, and used it in the eldo, to see what  if a lighter weight oil made any difference in feel/sound of the engine. It runs/sounds just fine, maybe even better,and smoother than with the 20-50 dino oil I have been running. I think  at least these  older big block engines are pretty forgiving, and not too picky on oil, as long as its decent quality,and you change it at a reasonable interval for the type of riding you do.
  The reason I tried the 10-w30 after watching a few you tube videos an older gent by the name of "Mark" ( Australian I think) makes, on different Guzzis. Mark interviewed a Guzzi Guru guy that stated the clearances in a Guzzi big block are as tight as any air cooled  Honda or Suzuki, motor ,and you dont really need to run a very thick oil. I dont think I will be pouring any 0-w20 in my eldo , but the 10-w30 seems to perform just fine.FWIW, I have checked the oil pressure with a gauge,and there has been no difference on my eldo.
Rick.

  Oh, almost forgot...My 17 Griso is the exception, those engines run hot, and Pete Roper says dont cheap out on the oil on those 8 valve motors, so I will run the fancy dancy 10-w60 juice in that one.

[ejs]

California EV 1999 mod. Use cheap semisynth 10-40, change oil and filter every 10000 km. Just as the workshop manual tells me

[redrider90]

I just saw a dramatic difference in my Sonata with just 70K miles on it. I had the oil tested at Blackstone as it started burning oil from a quart at 3000 miles to 1/2 quart at 1800 miles. That is when I sent it off for analysis which came back good for low metals in the engine.
At the same time I read about the direct injection engine intake valve problems. This lead me to find that synthetic oils are more stable at high temps and do not burn off as easily. So I put in fully synthetic same weight 5W20 and a Mobile One extended life oil filter. I am just at 1500 miles on this oil change and I have not used a bit of oil. We are not driving much right now so I will not know for sure until I put 3K miles on it but this is looking like a big changed in consumption.

[Vagrant]

I found that changing my lubricant (Knob creek) or similar isn't necessary but adding daily is.

[Two Checks]

And don't worry about viscosity but don't get synthetic!

[Bazil]

Oil filter changes for me every 3rd oil change, 9000 km / 6000 miles. The manual says every 15000 km!

The youtube series is Mikes Machines, and the guy he interviewed was Bill Finnigan. Bill did the first couple of services on my Lario back in the 80's, until he was stolen away by the racing industry. Its a good series - I want to look at the k lining series next because I think Gina might need one soon.

The oil and change interval for the 99 Cali is interesting, as I would have thought they are similar to the Mark 4. Maybe that's a place to start if Im changing the change interval.

Keep the opinions coming!

[Cam3512]

What does 3 qts of dino cost ya, $15 and 10 minutes?  That's 2 beers at the bar.  Change it as often as you want.

[Muzz]

What does 3 qts of dino cost ya, $15 and 10 minutes?  That's 2 beers at the bar.  Change it as often as you want.

The Breva says 10W60 full synthetic, they run HOT!

Ain't $15 for a quart!

[Cam3512]

The Breva says 10W60 full synthetic, they run HOT!

Ain't $15 for a quart!

Addressing the OP and his vintage Guzzi.  My new one gets the expensive good stuff too.

[bigbikerrick]

Oil filter changes for me every 3rd oil change, 9000 km / 6000 miles. The manual says every 15000 km!

The youtube series is Mikes Machines, and the guy he interviewed was Bill Finnigan. Bill did the first couple of services on my Lario back in the 80's, until he was stolen away by the racing industry. Its a good series - I want to look at the k lining series next because I think Gina might need one soon.

The oil and change interval for the 99 Cali is interesting, as I would have thought they are similar to the Mark 4. Maybe that's a place to start if Im changing the change interval.

Keep the opinions coming!

Thats the one "Mike's machines" good stuff!
thanks
Rick.

[pete mcgee]

Basil,
Oh its an oil thread, not almost.
For the oast 20 years (120,000 km) Ive been running Motorex 10w 60 full synthetic in the Mk 3 lemon. I scored somthing like 60 1 litre bottles of it for less than $200 so I grabbed it,  now down to my last 4 litre bottles.
It has the same oil change interval as your Mk4.
I generally go for a 7500km oil change interval and change the filter  then.
No sludge in the sump observed during filter changes.
Oils are a lot better than 30 years ago, better temp stability, better lubrication etc, shame not to use those improvements.
It wont however have any effect on valve clearences and ignition timing, you still have to do those every 5000km.
Cheers

[lucky phil]

I run my 2 belt drive Ducatis (1000 ss dual spark and 1198) and my 2000 V11 sport on Mobil1 0W-40. No oil blowby in the airbox, adequate zddp for the flat tappets and great cold start performance.
Change it every 5000 klm or every 3 or 4 track days on the Ducati's. Filters every 2nd oil change.

Ciao

[Bazil]

Don't know how, but this seemed to turn into an oil thread 

Doesn't look like anyone's  changing oil at 3000 km / 2000 mile intervals ( unless you don't have a filter).  Maybe it's time I strung out those intervals to 5000 km. Or change to semi syn / full syn. If I did that what oil should I use.....

NOW it's an oil thread !

Let's stop it right there !

Thanks everyone

[Yeahoo Whoyah]