|
07-03-2021, 03:24 PM | #2 |
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 838
|
You shouldn't use 5W anything unless you live and ride in very cold weather. The viscosity is too low for enough to cling to vertical surfaces to provide adequate protection when cranking cold. A lot of wear occurs during cold cranking.
Stick with the 15W40, or find another synthetic that is 10W40 (or even up to 20W50 if you are riding in very high temps and rarely ride in temps of less than 40-45 degrees F). |
|
07-03-2021, 07:08 PM | #3 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 766
|
Agreed, there is no gain in a motorcycle engine to use any lighter oil than as recommended in the owners manual for the type of riding and you do and the ambient conditions where you like to ride.
Not to get into another oil thread, but you also have to chose an oil with the SAE rating to match that for your bike and again, as stated in the owners manual. Most motorcycle engines require an oil in the SAE range of SG to SJ. The SAE codes relate to specifics in oils for motorcycle engines (like Zinc and other anti-wear additives not common in many car or truck motor oils). Rotating elements in motorcycle engines may spin much faster than those in car or truck engines, and also be subjected to higher shear loads, like those in the gears of the transmission. No car or truck on the road uses the engine oil to lubricate the transmission, but many motorcycle engines/transmissions do just that, which can wear out the wrong oil quickly.
__________________
My $1200 Vulcan, to start from. |
|
07-03-2021, 07:40 PM | #4 |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 282
|
Thanks! So is Rotella dino and T6 in the correct SAE range for the Nomad 1600?
|
|
07-04-2021, 06:41 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: chandler okla
Posts: 854
|
I ran T-6 15w40 in My 1700 and My 1500 Nomad and both Bikes Ran Great . Also no lifter noise or bleed down on the 1700 which is common . Running 10w40 Lucas motorcycle oil right now do to a killer deal on a case . will be returning to t-6 afterwards . Just My Experience
Login or Register to Remove Ads |
|
07-04-2021, 02:41 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NE Indiana
Posts: 994
|
Quote:
T5 is in-between. T6 is their synthetic. But some will challenge that it is fully synthetic. There is different formulas. Just make sure its rated jaso/ma.
__________________
Troy Donat VBA #02401 2015 Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad black(sold) 2016 Salem, Antlers, 2017 Eureka Springs, Lake George, Antlers 2018 Custer NR, Antlers |
|
|
07-05-2021, 12:00 AM | #7 |
Jr. Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Florida
Posts: 29
|
I'm running T6 5w40 in my Vaquero, They don't make T6 in 10w40 so on my next oil change I'm thinking about buying a gallon of 5w40 & 15w40 and mixing them together. That should make it an overall 10w40 & be enough for a couple oil changes. Any opinions ?
|
|
07-05-2021, 03:51 AM | #8 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: The Newforest, England
Posts: 4,664
|
I think you will find it's a bit more complicated than that mate. Why not just buy the right oil, as recommended in the manual.
__________________
when this you see, remember me, and bear me in your mind, let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find. |
|
07-05-2021, 10:04 AM | #9 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 766
|
Blending two quarts of 5W40 and two quarts of 15W40 does NOT make a gallon of 10W40. The viscosity ratings of oil are not simply numeric codes.
I understand the desire to use a Rotella or other oil product, but only within the ratings required by the engine manufacturer. Why try to out guess the engineers who develop the engines and oil? More though, why ANY interest in trying to apply a WINTER weight rated oil? There is no gain in that. The 5W, 10W or 15W rating portion of an multi-viscosity oil is the rating for how the oil performs in cold weather. Also, many low winter viscosity oils have friction modifiers which are unsuitable for motorcycle wet clutches. The SAE and API rating for any oil is listed on the back of the oil bottle label: http://www.pqiamerica.com/apiserviceclass.htm
__________________
My $1200 Vulcan, to start from. |
|
07-05-2021, 11:30 AM | #10 |
Sr. Contributor
|
I run T6 15-40 with a couple of teaspoons of chicken lard for good measure!
__________________
I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005 |
|
07-05-2021, 01:42 PM | #11 |
Advanced Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Green Bay WI
Posts: 766
|
Whoa, tough crowd.
The old joke was that 98% of all Harleys are still on the road today. The other 2% made it back home. But really, Harley's since the AMF days are hardly any less reliable than most other brands. Really comes down to the owner/rider and the amount of care/maintenance put into the bike.
__________________
My $1200 Vulcan, to start from. |
|
07-05-2021, 01:56 PM | #12 |
Sr. Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: The Newforest, England
Posts: 4,664
|
__________________
when this you see, remember me, and bear me in your mind, let all the world say what they may, speak of me as you find. |
|
07-05-2021, 08:40 PM | #13 |
Jr. Member
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Florida
Posts: 29
|
It was just an idea, I'll stay with the T6 5w40 then. Been running it in my Concours 1400 for almost 60,000 miles & it looks like new whenever I change it !.
|
|