Do you use 10W-60 oil ?

[kballowe]

OK, so - serious question here.....

How many of you have owner's manuals that specify Castrol products, and actually use Castrol products ?

[vibr8r]

I bought my 2004 EVT from the original owner in Atlanta, GA.  He gave me a few receipts from the dealer which indicated that they were using 10w/60, yet the manual calls for 5w/40.  If all of the lubricated parts (except lifters) are the same in the parts manual, then why would it be taboo to run 5w/40 with conventional lifters? 

[Moparnut72]

Pretty much every "oil failure" I have ever heard is due to human error.

That's what my Honda/BMW dealership owner said when a few guys in the service area said when the merits of Castrol vs Valvoline oils were being discussed. "I've seen more engines damaged by lack of rather than the brand used." That ended the discussion.

I have been wondering if 10-60 is so good maybe I should use it in my water cooled Bonneville also. I ride in some warm temperatures, over 100*, the Triumph doesn't have the largest radiator. Probably should just stick with the recommended 10-40.
kk

[brother dave]

OK, so - serious question here.....

How many of you have owner's manuals that specify Castrol products, and actually use Castrol products ?

not I

[Vagrant]

T6 is 5/40.

[NWrider]

Mostly use Castrol 10w50wt.

[reidy]

I have not seen the manual. I have no skin in this game. I can't blame winter but it is 38C here again today and even hotter in the shed so I have retreated inside.

What surprises me about the oil recommendation is every other vehicle I have owned has a chart with expected temperatures and has an oil weight recommended for that range. There is often a lot of overlap on the temperatures. This has always lead me to believe that there was no ideal oil weight for an engine, therefore the operator should use the one that is most appropriate for their conditions and use. The manuals often have two oil change intervals, one for regular use and one for severe use with some guidelines like stop start runs and such. Again it was up to the operator to choose the appropriate interval. In that way I have always followed the manufactures guidance.     

[Kev m]

I have not seen the manual. I have no skin in this game. I can't blame winter but it is 38C here again today and even hotter in the shed so I have retreated inside.

What surprises me about the oil recommendation is every other vehicle I have owned has a chart with expected temperatures and has an oil weight recommended for that range. There is often a lot of overlap on the temperatures. This has always lead me to believe that there was no ideal oil weight for an engine, therefore the operator should use the one that is most appropriate for their conditions and use. The manuals often have two oil change intervals, one for regular use and one for severe use with some guidelines like stop start runs and such. Again it was up to the operator to choose the appropriate interval. In that way I have always followed the manufactures guidance.     

Those range charts have all but disappeared in the auto world and are becoming less and less common in powersports.

I suspect the reason is two fold. Water cooled motors generally won't need as much if a range with changing conditions and maybe most importantly modern synthetic oils are much better suited to a wider range of ambient conditions.

[kballowe]

Owners manuals from the past told us how to adjust the valves.
Now they tell us not to drink the contents of the battery.

80% of the newer manuals are warnings. 

[Muzz]

Penrite 10W60. Full synthetic. Full zinc loading. Heron head smallblocks run hot. <shrug>

[Old Jock]

Probably won't satisfy Kev and only what I've found

I've got pressure gauges on my 3 Guzzis for various reasons and "joke" sump dipstick thermometers, so have some idea of oil pressure and temp

I've found the 2 v/v bikes are prefectly happy with 15/50, good start up pressure and stable running pressure and temps.

The HiCam Daytona RS engine has "mad" cams installed, that the US and Centauros didn't get.

The engine runs hot, 105C in clear air and rapidly overheats in traffic.

I run it on 10/60 which has improved the pressure, no difference in temp.

I ran Penrite for the last few years and still do on the 2v/v bikes and I'm about to try a Royal Purple 10/60 which is very pricey here.

Originally used Motul but the zinc content in RP and Penrite is higher, all oils are full synth .

[Stretch]

Owners manuals from the past told us how to adjust the valves.
Now they tell us not to drink the contents of the battery.

Sad but true......... 

                               -Stretch

[gsf12man]

When I had my Breva V1100, 10W60 Red Line. It gave me peace of mind when I rode in the Phoenix, AZ summer.

[egschade]

I bought my 2004 EVT from the original owner in Atlanta, GA.  He gave me a few receipts from the dealer which indicated that they were using 10w/60, yet the manual calls for 5w/40.  If all of the lubricated parts (except lifters) are the same in the parts manual, then why would it be taboo to run 5w/40 with conventional lifters?

I had the same bike back in the day and the service manual does specify 5W-40 for the hydraulic bikes. I do recall a discussion that there was an update to require 10w-60 in hotter climates but being in NJ and not doing many long rides  I did run the 5W40 without issue.

[kballowe]

A good friend of mine was a barge Captain for Mobil and drove those huge barges up the Mississippi river from the Gulf refineries.  They'd dock in St. Louis and offload oil base stock.    I got to see the operation and spend time with the blenders and testers.   LOL - they bottled just about everything there.   One week it was brand x and the next week it was brand y.  There were no signs - just a large building and a lot of those huge storage tanks - and warehouse area.

[Clifton]

Of course.... can anyone give me a good reason NOT to use what was spec'd by the OEM?!?

ANYONE?

Just one GOOD reason?

The owners manual for my 2019 Toyota Corolla 2.0 motor (and the oil fill cap on the motor) specify to "only use 0W-16 oil". I imagine it is spec'd by Toyota for slightly better MPG through our EPA test because the same engine in some other countries suggest other weights. I use 5W-30.

[Kev m]

The owners manual for my 2019 Toyota Corolla 2.0 motor (and the oil fill cap on the motor) specify to "only use 0W-16 oil". I imagine it is spec'd by Toyota for slightly better MPG through our EPA test because the same engine in some other countries suggest other weights. I use 5W-30.

That is a good point and I don't disagree. I think making CAFE standards has unintended consequences. And since the OEM recommends something different in areas with different regulations I think that IS A GOOD argument to potentially follow THOSE recommendations instead.

[Zenermaniac]

Owners manuals from the past told us how to adjust the valves.
Now they tell us not to drink the contents of the battery.

80% of the newer manuals are warnings.

Hmm……so THATS why I’m always adding water to my mower battery. I need to keep a better eye on things around here.

[kballowe]

Hmm……so THATS why I’m always adding water to my mower battery. I need to keep a better eye on things around here.

[Clifton]

That is a good point and I don't disagree. I think making CAFE standards has unintended consequences. And since the OEM recommends something different in areas with different regulations I think that IS A GOOD argument to potentially follow THOSE recommendations instead.

Another area I often deviate from what the OEM specs is tire pressure, especially since most now seem to give one pressure for all scenarios. I generally only using what they spec when I'm fully loaded and or 2-up.

[Kev m]

Another area I often deviate from what the OEM specs is tire pressure, especially since most now seem to give one pressure for all scenarios. I generally only using what they spec when I'm fully loaded and or 2-up.

That's a spec that can be more directly tested by observing pressure changes at temp.

[theoneandonly]

10/60 in the MGX ( synth )

20/60 in the 1200 Sport and Cali Metal ( TRM synth but behaves like a mineral oil )

15/50 in the Breva 750 semi synth ( Guardian )

all Rock Oil.

all get changed every 5k miles , cos it's easier to remember than every 6k miles.

Huzo if you read this , throw that god awful jacket in the bin . 

[rocker59]

I bought my 2004 EVT from the original owner in Atlanta, GA.  He gave me a few receipts from the dealer which indicated that they were using 10w/60, yet the manual calls for 5w/40.  If all of the lubricated parts (except lifters) are the same in the parts manual, then why would it be taboo to run 5w/40 with conventional lifters?

Your 2004 California has hydraulic lifters which require lighter oil for the lifters to function correctly.  That is on all 2003-2004 California models.

All other Guzzis have solid lifters and require heavier oils.  The CARC and V7 Classics have required 10w60 since 2006 and 2009 respectively.

On 2002 and previous solid lifter engines the choice should be 15W50 or 20w50.

On the solid lifter engines the added viscosity and an oil with a higher ZDDP number will keep the cam alive longer.

[kingoffleece]

[kballowe]

I never could find that Rotra MP gear oil, but after a bit of research, I discovered that Mobil 1 Delvac gear oil is a virtual match.  Of course, nobody sells that, either.  At least not in the retail stores or the auto parts stores.  I ordered a gallon from Summit Racing.

[bad Chad]

How do we really know that's not a deep fake you made up, while siting on your bed in your mom's basement?

[kingoffleece]

Well, gentlemen, there you have it.  What more could possibly be said?

[kballowe]

Well, gentlemen, there you have it.  What more could possibly be said?

hahahahahahaaaaa... ..

The AF-1 Racing website has these 10W-60 Castrol oil change kits.  One for the V7 III and another for the Moto Guzzi 1400.  And there are more, of course.  It appears that they're in the spirit of the lubes as specified in the owner's manual.

[kingoffleece]

No, he's right.  I cobbled it together, pasted it on one of Hamlin's shop tool boxes, and then sat on the pic for a dozen years just waiting for this thread so I could wreck havac on everyone's motor from afar.  Man, I thought I was way more cleaver than THAT............... ..........dang.

[bad Chad]

I new it!!   Maybe now you can admit that the world isn't round too, you ratbas@rd!