Questions about OIL!

[BajaRon]

This time of year I get a lot of questions about oil. Though some view this subject as :bdh: the oil you use is very important, people do have legitimate questions and it is worthy of factual discussion.

Everyone seems to have a bias when it comes to oil, and I have mine. The key is to base your bias on good information.

Here is a great article from 'Bob Is The Oil Guy' who, as far as I know, is an independent expert on lubricants. But regardless, it's great information.

This article deals with 'Shear' which is probably the biggest oil issue in a Spyder other than proper clutch lubrication (slippage). Our Spyders are heavy. If you add a 2nd rider, a bunch of luggage and or a trailer, you really increase the stress on the transmission. Now the Spyder transmission is more than capable of handling the added load, but is your oil up to the task?

Since the engine oil also protects the transmission and lubricates the clutch on a Spyder, this is important stuff.

Shear is murder on oil. And transmissions create a great deal more shear than an engine does. It doesn't do any good to run an extended change interval oil filter if the oils viscosity and lubricating capability has been rendered ineffective due to shear.

Hope you enjoy the article.

http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/oilshear.htm

 

[BajaRon]

I received a PM about the 'Timken Machine' used in this link. The person is correct in pointing out that this method of testing is not reliable and should be ignored.

However, the conclusions here are sound and have been substantiated by much more elaborate methods.

 

[Chupaca]

Good to know..!!

Thanks for the link...:2thumbs:

 

[Purple Guy]

Thanks for the info Ron! :thumbup:

 

[Tango]

Yup, thanks for the info, link. :thumbup: Tom :trike:

 

[ulflyer]

I know, many of you run whatever the dealer puts in and some run it way beyond the oil change recommendation and your engine is still running fine. I envy those of you who can do this and not worry about it. I can't; so I test and change frequently. I know there are a few others like me, so this report is for them.

Ron is absolutely right about the transmissions in the 998's being the major culprit in shearing of oil. I've had several brands of oil, some all syn, some blended, tested in a lab and they all sheared significantly at 2000 to 3000 miles. The only way around this is to change oil frequently or mix one quart of 20w-50 Amsoil when you change the oil and use the same for topping off. I know BRP does not approve of this grade, nevertheless, I did it with my '11.

We don't know yet how the 1330 will fare. By the end of the month I expect to be sending a sample of Amsoil 10W-40 for testing and will report the results.

 

[BajaRon]

Knowledge is power! hyea:

 

[Grandpa Pete]

This may be a tick off topic, but, does the 1330 "consume" oil like the twins do? I use about half a quart every 1000-1200 miles. I get the oil changed at 3000-3500 miles and only use the BRP semi-synth. Just curious if I'm using to much/average compared to the new triple. As always, you guys are the best..THX:thumbup:

 

[BajaRon]

This may be a tick off topic, but, does the 1330 "consume" oil like the twins do? I use about half a quart every 1000-1200 miles. I get the oil changed at 3000-3500 miles and only use the BRP semi-synth. Just curious if I'm using to much/average compared to the new triple. As always, you guys are the best..THX:thumbup:

That sounds a bit high. I use abouot 1/2 that amount. How many miles do you have on your Spyder.

I wanted to clarify. I have a 2008 998 Rotax which normally would be apples and oranges with the 1330 Ace motor. But my understanding is that the 1300 should use less oil than our big V-Twins (which makes sense). So that is where I was coming from with my comment.

If you've got low mileage that may be the culprit.

 

[ulflyer]

This may be a tick off topic, but, does the 1330 "consume" oil like the twins do? I use about half a quart every 1000-1200 miles. I get the oil changed at 3000-3500 miles and only use the BRP semi-synth. Just curious if I'm using to much/average compared to the new triple. As always, you guys are the best..THX:thumbup:

The 1330 doesn't seem to use much, if any, oil. On my run out to Springfield and back, a total of 2200 mi, mine used no oil. Still just a fraction below the full mark.

 

[Flanker]

How timely! I don't believe I've cursed out BRP/Rotax this year yet for blessing us with an INTERNAL oil filter and cap from the 1950s. So...............................Hey! BRP/Rotax, get you head outta your :cus: on the next gen motor oil filter. There's these things called "screw on filters" that have been around for decades.........................try one! You'll like it!

OK........................got that outta the way! :joke:

 

[DrewNJ]

How timely! I don't believe I've cursed out BRP/Rotax this year yet for blessing us with an INTERNAL oil filter and cap from the 1950s. So...............................Hey! BRP/Rotax, get you head outta your :cus: on the next gen motor oil filter. There's these things called "screw on filters" that have been around for decades.........................try one! You'll like it!

OK........................got that outta the way! :joke:

Hahaha.....Actually, many auto manufacturers are going back to cartridge style filters and getting away from the spin on style.
It does make for a slightly messier change though

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