Thicking 50 wt oil

[martin]

As strange as it may sound I may want to do this. Here is my dilema. Mobil 1 15w-50 has a vis. of 17.4 at 100C. That seems to be kinda thin for a 50 wt compared to others.
After reading Motorbike's post about the Valvoline Synpower Oil Treatment I'm thinking this could be a good way to bring it up to about a 20 at 100C. It would also add additional moly and Zddp. Of course there is also the #132 from Schaffers and the always cheap and available STP (shudder).
So what do you guys think? The reason I'm wanting to do this is that sense I started using the Mobil 1 in my Sportster the cams seem to be a bit louder. Not much, but enough for me to notice. I just want to quite them down while not giving up the good base and add pack of the Mobil 1. It also does'nt hurt that I have a couple of gallons on hand

 

[mountravlr]

Get some Amsoil straight 60 weight, used in Fuel Dragsters.

 

[martin]

quote:

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Originally posted by mountravlr:
Get some Amsoil straight 60 weight, used in Fuel Dragsters.

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Yea, but I would lose the benifit of a multi grade. (I do tend to ride a bit in winter) Also like I said, I've got enough on hand to last a couple of years and the bike is the only thing I use it in. Not to mention this is easily available at most any parts store or Wal-Mart. I think just thicking it up a little would do the trick. And any thing extra added to the add pack would be a plus.

 

[TallPaul]

Guess it can't hurt to put the Synpower Oil Treatment in, but I don't how much it would thicken it.

Another possibility, would some 20w50 mixed in help? The 20w's thicker base oil mixed with the 15w and then the VIIs spread over all that, just might boost the 100C viscosity. Of course it would take probably a half/half mix and that extends your oil supply out another two years.

The 20w50 I am thinking of is Valvoline Synpower as it's MSDS appears to show it is made of PAO (like the M1, but the other Synpower grades are not like this), but it has a 100C viscosity of 20.8.

Alternately NAPA has a synthetic 15w50 that Valvo tech told me is 18.4 at 100C.

If money is no object, Redline has a 15w50 listed at 19.6 100C viscosity.

You might be better off returning any unopened jugs of the oil and going to a different brand. Might see what Schaeffers offers.

 

[unDummy]

Other than the valvolines, there hasn't been enough VOAs on the other brands of motor oil thickeners.

I know that the kem-o-pro synthetic oil treatments have an additive package. I'm guessing that even STP/Castite/Bardahl/Lucas/132/..... have some additives in it to prevent additive dilution.

Saying that, there would need to be a high PPM of additives to even consider the benefits of any so-called "additional" moly or zdp since the Mobil 1 already has an equivalent amount. Looking at the Valvoline VOA, it seems to be more of an EQUAL and not ADDITIONAL additive package. But, it should provide the thickening that you are looking for.

We need more VOAs on oil thickeners, any volunteers?

Also, what oil filter are you using? I was under the impression that early Harleys didn't have or need an ADBV. Newer ones spec it. Could a different filter brand or larger filter help?
A larger filter, with more cooling surface area and more oil volume, might provide a temperature reduction or hinder temp runaway.

I've always loved the 883/1200s. I'm glad to see that you are taking care of it by using a great synthetic oil. I'm surprised of the number of Harley owners who are chicken of the superior synthetics.

 

[MolaKule]

quote:

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Guess it can't hurt to put the Synpower Oil Treatment in, but I don't how much it would thicken it.

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Suggestion. Add one ounce of VSOT/quart as a start and send in the mixed, virgin to oil to Terry for a viscosity and elemental analysis, then you will have a base line in order to comapre it to used oil analysis.

 

[Dr. T]

Why not use either SynPower or Syntec 20-50 or Amsoil 20-50 or Redline 20-50....don't mess with the oil's chemistry....

 

[Win]

Mystik 15/50 is 20 cst right out of the bottle, but it's an HDEO.

 

[Robbie Alexander]

quote:

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Originally posted by MolaKule:

quote:

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Guess it can't hurt to put the Synpower Oil Treatment in, but I don't how much it would thicken it.

---

Suggestion. Add one ounce of VSOT/quart as a start and send in the mixed, virgin to oil to Terry for a viscosity and elemental analysis, then you will have a base line in order to comapre it to used oil analysis.

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I would say that depending on the ADD you would go from 2 to 5 to 10%
However in general likely around 5%
and to be safe Start with about 2.5%
But Here
is close

 

[Ken2]

Martin,
Try Schaeffer #705 20W-50. It is blended for V-twin motorcycles as well as auto race engines. One of the heads of Schaeffer's tech department rides a Harley. He got more hp on the dyno just by switching to this oil.


Ken

 

[fuel tanker man]

If you'll look at some of the used oil analysis on other 50 weights here you'll find that many of them shear down rather quickly--especially Castrol and Harley's 360 it appears.

The Mobil 1 15W50 may not start out as hefty as some others, but from used oil analysis I've seen it seems able to hold onto its viscosity much longer than most 20W50's.

I wouldn't worry. Just use the redcap and be happy.

And by the way, be sure to read this article I referenced in another post:

http://www.vtr.org/maintain/oil-additives.html

The logic of the author is irrefutable. I doubt I'll even bother with another oil additive again...

Dan

 

[fuel tanker man]

I forgot to mention...

Harley engines make all sorts of funny noises when they're running correctly. If you listen real close they'll drive you NUTS!

So I wouldn't necessarily conclude that simply being able to hear a noise that you did not hear before means anything negative.

It could simply be that you never listened for this noise in the past, and only noticed it when you became curious as to how your redcap was doing, hence you listened harder.

And it could also be that the redcap has washed out some accumulated sludge (what with its higher detergent capabilities) and there is no longer a damping effect in that area of the engine.

Just some possibilities.

used oil analysis I've seen with the redcap in Harley engines (including Sporty motors) have all come back looking fantastic. What more could you ask for?

Dan