10w40 will be fine, just stick with synthetic

 

Thanks, but I am not going to put synthetic in just to dump it next spring after 1-2k miles.

I am hoping the answer is: "stick with synthetic 20w50 because it does not change viscosity in those temperatures".

rkc

 

Use a 10w 40 motorcycle type oil like your owners manual recommends for your winter riding. Continue to use it in the spring until you feel you have your monies worth and then switch back to the 20w 50 until the weather gets cold again. It will not hurt anything other than possibly an increase in oil consumption when running the 10W 40 in warmer weather.
George

 

You just answered your own question.

 

On the ride in today I was thinking I heard that somewhere...

rkc

 

I have run Rotella 15-40 in cooler weather no problems.

 

I would stay with the 20W50 synthetic...even though the 50W is a little heavier, there is benefit to using syn oil in cold weather over dino oil. Maybe this helps (from Mobil1 website)...

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Synthetics/Mobil_1_Cold_Starts.aspx

 

Rotella 15w-40

 

Find a good full synthetic 20w50 with a viscosity index over 150 and your blood will thicken before the oil gets cold enough to get too thick for winter rides.

Most conventional 10w40s have a viscosity index of 150-152. Syn3 is 155 in the 20w50 and Castrol power rs is 157 in 20w50. Takes a lot of cold to thicken up them two and more heat than you could throw at them to thin them out. M1 is just a tad under them two. Amsoil MCV is at 147 in 20w50. Close 4th, will probably work fine but the others will handle the extremes better.

No need anymore to run 10w40 in the winter when such strong synthetics are out there that barely thicken up in cold temps.

 

Rotella 5w-40 is a synthetic, I like it in the cold here in NC. Runs about $25 a gallon at wally world.

 

Thanks again for all the advice.

I did go ahead and put M1 20-50 back in just before I read George's post.

rkc

 

In the winter I run Castrol full syn 5-50. I don't worry about not changing it until the next time it's really due. Some others also have 15-50 syn which I've used on occasion.

 

wonder what the manual says to use???

 

Mobil 1 15w50. Thin enough and cheap enough.

Do'nt think how many miles you ride it, think how much moisture builds up in it because it not getting hot enough to cook out the water.

 

how long does it take to get hot , or does it , in 40 degrees ( the oil ).

 

20 plus miles to reach optimum heat to burn off condensation

Welcome to The Foru from Jax Florida

 

I change my oils every April on my daughters birthday.
I use only 20/50 in the engine. I also let it warm up inside the shop to operating temp before I hit the road.
Yesterday before the snow hit I was riding in 20ish degree weather. The engine never got over 150 degrees.
By this time in the winter the oil is about to be changed, so it may not be as good as it once was. Just like me.

 

Synth

 

Another old oil thread revived. Carry on.