Diesel engine oil in a gasoline engine? Check here.

[Wrongway]

Thanks Bert. Because I’m a non mechanical person are you saying that it may be the alternator needing replaced?

 

[BertRemington]

Nope, your alternator is good (they're very reliable).

The alternator has a heavy interior rotating mass (the rotor) whose magnetic field induces current in the outer fixed wire windings (the stator). It takes engine power to rotate the rotor, about 1 hp per 1 kw accounting for losses. Unlike a car, the Spyder alternator is gear-driven. When your engine speed increases or decreases rapidly, the rotor mass must be accelerated or decelerated accordingly. The shock load can be harmful to the rotor and its bearings, so BRP inserts a friction clutch between the gear drive and the rotor. It's likely this clutch that is the source of your squeak.

If your battery is keeping a charge and you are using BRP or one of our sponsors' oil, then don't worry until it becomes a continuous squeal. If you are uncertain about your oil, change it along with the HCM filter using supplies from our sponsors. It's a good thing to do that for a "new" machine that's 8 years old anyway, along with the brake fluid, engine coolant, and tires.

The squeak may have other sources, but someone else can suggest them.

 

[acdcking12]

Not everyone rides from their garage to their garage. And yes, I do realize that once at operating temp - it will take quite a while for the oil temp to drop all the way back down to ambient temp. Just saying - that it could be that cold when the engine starts. Yes, I do realize it's an odd rarity and not relevant to most people - I stated in my first post I'm a bit of an odd duck. ;-)

I rode in 17°F temps one day. Won't do that again. Curious, did you have issues with your display? Mine did. It just showed random crap with bunches of colors the whole time. Once I got it back in the garage and it heated up some, it went back to normal. So I was wondering if yours had issues too.

 

[2dogs]

FWIW, HD riders have known for years that if you find yourself out in parts unknown and needing oil for whatever reason, any diesel motor oil will get you home without harming your clutch or engine.