winter time oil By mike74820 (Read 5,213 times)

[mike74820]

do you guys use a different oil for winter time? im using my scooter thru all winter and seem that my oil seems a little thick now im using sae 30

[wildman]

I'm running Mobile 1 Full Synthetic 0w-30...

David Sr.

[Bashan]

I read up on this a little but I didn't have the time to get the gist of it completely. The "W" in the number means winter and tells you how well the oil will perform in cold weather. The lower the number the better it performs at low temperatures; so as a mnemonic device think lower SAE number = lower temperature. Obviously higher numbers do better at higher temperatures....it's all about viscosity, pour rate, blah, blah . Now why not just run 0W-50 like Wildman does and not even think about it. Well you can to some degree so the 0W-50 doesn't really belong way over on the cold side, or way over on the hot side for that matter, it's a bit of an enigma. See, you're getting bored already...I KNEW it! But it's best to target as close as possible to your driving conditions so that there is more of that kind of oil targeted for that temperature. If you knew that you were going to drive in one particular temperature all the time you could theoretically get an SAE just for that temperature. You'd also want to preheat your engine to that temperature so that it would start lubricatuing immediately.......I knew a girl once........ahem, I digress. So around here in the south, we go to 10W-30 to handle the slightly lower temperatures in winter, and 10W-40 in the summer to cover the heat. Google motor oil and you'll get a jamb packed day of exciting reading.

[Alleyoop]

Bashan,
Very good chart, looks like 10w-30/10w-40 are your all year round oils. Unless of course you live where it is always below zero and you ride in that stuff:)
Alleyoop

[Bashan]

Exactly my friend.......exactly. Rich

[wildman]

Bashan
I won't argue, but it's still a little more complicated then that... I don't run 0w-50, I run 0w-30, I'm at question w/ oils w/ a pour rate of 50... I have a Yamaha 650cc that calls for 20w-50 which I do use 20w-50 in, cause it's a hot screaming engine... Otherwise I wouldn't even think of it, I'm not even crazy about 15w-40, but I do use it in some cases... It's my belief that when considering the type of oil, you need to consider your season temperature, engine operating temperature, & more importantly engine component clearances, the tighter the component the thinner the oil should be cold & hot... Now what makes Full Synthetic 0w-30 or 40 a good all around oil, as well as 5w-30 or 40, 10w-30 or 40, is 30 & 40 simply means the oil will maintain it's pour rate into the low cold temperatures, & in the high temperature as well... The synthetic additives are polymers add to the oil to allow the oil to stay attached to the engine components when sitting idle (non operational) so your engine doesn't dry start... There are a couple of manufactures that put Mobile 1 full synthetic 0w-30 in there engine right from the factory... Also the 0w-30 & 40 oil is also being used on the NASCAR Racing Circuit (in extreme heat)... It's my opinion the thinner oils allows for a better barrier in close tolerances, & thinner oil will cool faster... But it's also my opinion this does not make the other oils a bad choice ether... Where choice of oil would be much more critical would be hours of operation in an industrial environment... Our engines (all types) our run for shorter periods making the choice of oil a little less critical...

Types of oil can be a confusing topic to think about & can get over whelming & stressful... So look at the facts, form your own opinion, live it, & own it...

David Sr.

[Cruiser]

Dec 3, 2010 21:57:25 GMT -6 mike74820 said:

do you guys use a different oil for winter time? im using my scooter thru all winter and seem that my oil seems a little thick now im using sae 30

I don't know of any scoot manufacturers that recommend a single grade oil. SAE 30 is good for warmer weather, but will not flow well when the engine is first started. 10W-30 is a minimum recommendation for most scoots with a preference for something like 10W-40. I use Rotella T full synthetic 5W-40 which will cover year round riding in any of the lower 48 states. Using a multi-viscosity oil will take the guess work out of riding in different temperatures.

[wildman]

Cruiser
You have it about right...

David Sr.

[Bashan]

Dec 4, 2010 12:52:53 GMT -6 wildman said:

I don't run 0w-50, I run 0w-30. David Sr.

Sorry, progressive trifocals at work again.

There's a couple things I forgot to say that I found on the web sites:

• Motor oils that have a wider range viscosity rating such a 5W-30, 5W-40 and 0W-40 are blended with more base stocks and additives. Because of this, it may be harder for a wider range oil to remain "in grade" as the miles accumulate.
  
• As a rule, overhead cam (OHC) engines typically require thinner oils such as 5W-30 or 5W-20 to speed lubrication of the overhead cam(s) and valve-train when the engine is first started. Pushrod engines, by comparison, typically specify 10W-30 or 10W-40.
  
• Synthetics excel in every category but cost. Many experts feel that unless the engine is aviation, racing, or industrial they are a waste of money.

From the above we might think about a 5W-? for our GY6s for better lubrication of the cam, and try not to use an oil with too wide of a weight range. Like David Sr. says it's all a matter of preference.

So Mike, here's my preference: conventional !0W-30 in the winter, 10W-40 in the summer; I'm in B'Ham 'Bama. Rich

[felliott]

We use 15/40 oil all year long. No problems.

[sprocket]

I'm in Canada, 5w/30 in the winter 10w/40 in the summer