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50 straight weight miracle

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48K views 79 replies 33 participants last post by  georgedouglas  
#1 ·
laugh all you want but I have found the quietest oil yet. Valvoline dyno straight 50 wt. yep I have tried them all in the last 4 years and 70,000 miles and if I had not heard it I would dismiss it, but it is oh so quiet that I had to post even tho I was reluctant. oil temps have stayed the same, mpg the same, everything the same but no more tick tick tick. amsoil, mobil 1 20-50, rotella (a distant 2nd quiest) harley 20-50 syn and dyno etc.
 
#2 ·
I'm having good luck running lithium grease in my bike in the summer and STP in the winter. JUST JOKING. Where do you find SAE 50? I think I've read some dudes saying they run straight 60 or something. Some would argue that your top-end doesn't get lubricated quickly enough. I don't know enough to verify that. Would SAE 50 be OK for your Montana autumns when it's quite cold overnight, or would you have to switch back to 20W50? My understanding of the multigrade oils is that the upper number indicates that the oil performs the same (has same viscosity) as a straight oil of that number at operating temperature. Obviously a hot SAE 50 flows better than a cold SAE 50. I wonder if it's close to a cold 10 or 20 weight when it's at operating temperature.
 
#8 ·
seek and you shall find

I'm having good luck running lithium grease in my bike in the summer and STP in the winter. JUST JOKING. Where do you find SAE 50? I think I've read some dudes saying they run straight 60 or something. Some would argue that your top-end doesn't get lubricated quickly enough. I don't know enough to verify that. Would SAE 50 be OK for your Montana autumns when it's quite cold overnight, or would you have to switch back to 20W50? My understanding of the multigrade oils is that the upper number indicates that the oil performs the same (has same viscosity) as a straight oil of that number at operating temperature. Obviously a hot SAE 50 flows better than a cold SAE 50. I wonder if it's close to a cold 10 or 20 weight when it's at operating temperature.
Out of stock at the moment, OH, not Valvoline either before you correct me but I am sure Google would give you a hit on that brand - AMAZON OF ALL PLACES :)
 
#9 ·
I got it at a Quest Auto store they also had 60weight. I will go back to 15-40 Rotella for the winter but for now it sure sounds good. My wife who did not know I even changed oil and has a great music ear but no mechanical awarness at all even commented that the bike sure sounded good after our last ride. anyway don't want to create a debate but just pass what my experience was. If you have tried different things to get rid of the tick go spend $12 bucks on some cheap 50 weigh, don't even change the filter, if it works it was a cheap fix if not you are out $12 and change back to your favorite beverage.
 
#25 · (Edited)
I just bought some Bardahl 50WT and its going in next oil change :) with a super tech 3164 filter :)
Well, i have put over 1000 miles on Bardahl American Classic 50WT motor oil & there American Classic Primary fluid & Bardahh American Classic semi syn 80/90 tranny fluid, all for under $2.00 a quart for Quality oils.. my 100hp dyna likes it.. What a deal i do change my oil every 3000 miles... :woohoo:
 
#19 ·
did 200 miles in mid 80's temps and oil temps got up to 215 at one point and I am telling you this is freaky. my bike has never been so quiet. If I had not put every mile of the 70,000 miles on my bike I would think someone slapped a new motor in while I was sleeping. It has always been pretty quiet mechanically except for the tick tick tick on the upper end. I am running a mild build 96tq 85hp gear drive andrews 26's.
 
#20 ·
Summer - 2 qts 20/50...2 qts straight 50
Winter - 4 qts 20/50

96,000 miles...never a drop of synthetic oil. The mileage speaks for itself.

Synthetics are all hype and marketing, in my opinion. I mean, if someone pays 20k for a bike it's up to them what lube's they use.

Good old 50 weight and a cooler and these things will go forever. And, like was mentioned, much quieter.
 
#28 ·
Don't kill the messenger here but I was down at the local HD shop, they build all the trick stuff and all and I was told Ford Tranny fluid is the trick for thrift and had great detergents to keep your clutch real clean. Motor you can use Valvoline racing or Mobil 1 but the price is up there on some of those synthetics. Tranny does not use enough to change anything unless there is a heavier oil for quietness reasons? Along with oil filters there is one at the auto place with a magnet in the filter and they said it was one of the best places to have one. As I was talking with the guys down there as we switched from cheaper alternatives then HD oils and there is a post about magnets and triggering lights. Is how we got to the magnet in the filters.
 
#36 ·
Engines were a lot "looser" then.
 
#38 ·
Depends on your climate. Aside from the below normal spring temps we've been having up near the Chicago area, the norm is only a few months of really hot weather (if that). I'd hate to starve some of them tight clearanced areas of any lube.

For sure I'd spend some extra idle time warming up the bike if I was brave enough to run straight weight.

As far as seeing builders send their bikes out with straight weight oil,....... less noise complaints.

Might be good, might be bad, just stating my opinion on the matter.
 
#40 ·
My truck repair shop has Kendall 50w for big truck tranny's, makes it an easy decision on Harley oil changes, walk around 200 gals of rotella everyday and will give try that towards the fall.

The 50w is quiet and has been in the rebuild for 13,000. Lost a lower bearing at 38,000 with Harley syn being in it for the last 4 oil changes and let go. Was it an oil type issue, can't say, do I feel comfortable using syn now, NO.

50w is prefered by my seasoned biker friends and their experiance of decades of Sturgis rides is better than selling a kidney to use syn because "it has to better, it costs more" 50w for me.