What does everybody think about running 20-50 Amsoil or other brand syn. in the summer. The bike my stop using oil. I will tell ya my Harleys do not use oil with 20-50 Amsoil. The oil will change viscosity with temp. Change it back to a 10-40 in cold weather so it will start easy. Always let you motor warm up to temp before riding. It is hard on any aluminum motor to not let it warm up to temp!!!!! It is not like a car motor. I love my RT and want to take care of it.....:2thumbs:
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Oil use? should we run 20-50 in summer????
- Thread starter witty
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BajaRon
Well-known member
I am the first one in line for doing something different if I think it will help. But I don't recommend 20w-50 in the Spyder.
A Harley doesn't turn 6,000 RPM running down the road like our Spyders do. That's apples and oranges. There are worse things than using a bit of oil.
The thicker oil will not cool your engine as well as thinner oil will. Engines are engineered for a specific weight oil. If you get a true Group IV oil like Amsoil (and there are a few others) it won't thin out nearly as much when hot as doctored dino oils.
I know people think thicker is better. But the right viscosity is better. Stick with 10w-40. It will do you just fine.
A Harley doesn't turn 6,000 RPM running down the road like our Spyders do. That's apples and oranges. There are worse things than using a bit of oil.
The thicker oil will not cool your engine as well as thinner oil will. Engines are engineered for a specific weight oil. If you get a true Group IV oil like Amsoil (and there are a few others) it won't thin out nearly as much when hot as doctored dino oils.
I know people think thicker is better. But the right viscosity is better. Stick with 10w-40. It will do you just fine.
BajaRon
Well-known member
The other oil BRP recommends is a 5w-40. It's just a bit thinner when cold but the operating temperature viscosity is the same.
mcaccamise
New member
Just my opinion i have been using 20W50 syn 3 in v twin HD motors for over ten years in air cooled and non air cooled here in florida that are specified for aluminum motorcycle engins that being said i still have cases of the HD premium synthitic in the garage. the rotax has a stated oil viscosity rating for summer here in Florida to be used at the 20W 40 grade which is their standard so i thought i would try a test using both oils during hot and cold temps and take some readings to see if the air cooled 20w -50 would measure up to the spec oil and the way i see it i found that the 20-50 showed lower bars in 90 degree weathher and an at the bottom end of the scale in cold weather start up performed as well as the 10-40 - 20-50 most would agree to use ams oil in the rating speced for their rotax and be fine but for me rather than keep the syn 3 20W 50 on the shelf until someone can prove to me that it wont perform as well in a watter cooled v twin HD opposed to an watter cooled rotax it wil work fine for me.
Tierhog
New member
Agree with Ron concerning oil. Not to start a war over warm ups... But 30-60 sec is all thats required. Keep 5k and under during warm up riding beneficial. Most start bike, throw on jacket, helmet, and gloves, and ride.
TuckMiddle
New member
Oi
My dealer said BRP says to use synthetic in the winter and the blend they sell in the summer.
Sounds almost backward from normal to me.:cheers:
Tuck
My dealer said BRP says to use synthetic in the winter and the blend they sell in the summer.
Sounds almost backward from normal to me.:cheers:
Tuck
The same Rotax engine in the Aprilia line specs a 15w50. I don't see any harm in a 20w50 if the ambient temps are up. I wouldn't want to see any w50 oils in winter. Oils are a balancing act. Lighter oils do get to critical parts faster during cold starts, where the majority of wear occurs. But you have to have enough viscosity to protect those same parts at temperature and load. The oil film has to be thicker than any dirt particle to minimize wear. That's only one reason why diesels run thicker oils than their gas counterparts, to carry the fuel soot but still protect in the bearings. All that being said, I'll run a 10w40 for now, especially during warranty, but will have no problem filling it up with a 15w50 synthetic later on.
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
The Spyder does not have an air-cooled engine. The oil temperature does not change drastically from winter to summer. I would not recommend using a 20W-50 oil! Your Spyder doesn't need it, and could be seriously harmed as a result. If it is harmed from using a non-spec oil, your warranty won't cover it.
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
With the loose tolerances many ROTAX engines appear to have?
That said, if BRP recommended molasses in the dead of winter. That's what they would get. Cause it's their dance.
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Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
The potential for moving parts to run freer in some than in others.
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