You guys who ride the big Japanese pushrod v-twins, what weight oil do they recommend in these? Is it 20w50 like Harley specs? Also, what oil temps do you normally run? It was about 90F here today and after a 20 mile run on the Interstate at 65-70 my oil temp was up in the 220-225 range.
Vulcan and Roadstar riders: A question...
- Thread starter G-MAN
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^^^My 1992 Sportster got to the same temps riding in hot weather. I used Castrol 20W-50. That was with a dipstick oil tank thermometer that I bought at the H-D dealer. FWIW I didn't have any issues or reliability problems with the bike.
I believe the Japanese V-twin owner manuals recommend 10W40 JASO MA motorcycle oil. I believe the transmission and engine oil is not separated and they are wet clutch.
10-40 in the Vulcan 1500, as well as in the Vulcan 2000 (2053 cc V-twin). The 10-40 did fine in my 1500, but, the straight-cut transmission gears do better with a little thicker oil. I've settled on AmSoil 1/2 10-40 and 1/2 20/50, and it shifts much better. I do not have an oil temp guage, but, I recall my Harley's in the 1990's would often run in the temp range you mentioned. Being caught in summer traffic, I had the temp go close to 275 before...and the bike was pinging like a sonar in a rocky trench. If I had an air-cooled Harley, I'd be running 20-50...unless it were really cold!
I meant to say the straight-cut transmission gears in the 2000....the 1500 is a more traditional cut, at least, so I'm told.
I used to have the pinging problem in my 4 stroke dirt bikes when doing serious hill climbing or trail riding. Premium gas worked wonders for that problem.
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