Topic: Any cold weather tricks for oil ?

[greenjeans]

It's getting cold, but I usually still ride the ol girl through the winter unless it's raining, snowing or sleeting.   I warm it up pretty good before I go and even though my ride is pretty short (3 miles), I take a few extra turns in hopes that it will get good and hot and burn off all the condensation from the cases etc.  At the house, she's stored in a somewhat climate controled garage, but at work it's just under an awning in the cold.   

Anyway, I always have trouble with condensation in the oil tank and end up changing my oil 2, 3 and 4 times over the winter.   I buddy of mine mentioned that Royal Purple makes an oil that is somehow resistant to the condensation.   Never heard of such a thing as oil and water aren't supposed to mix.

Anybody have any old school tricks or sugestions short of riding an extra 30 miles ?     Or is it just a fact of riding in the cold ?

[754]

Run a lower weight.
 I found Pennzoil forms a lot of mayosnot..  I think Castrol..a  lot less so.

[goldarrow]

may be make it 20 miles trip to go to work???

[C5paul]

I live in Northern Wisconsin and we use snowmobile oil. Yamaha sleds are all 4 stroke now, and they have awesome low temp oils designed to resist corrosion. I don't know if they have short chain molecules designed for clutches, but due to the cold weather I prefer a winter oil over a thicker motorcycle oil. Amsoil also has low temp oil that works well. I've used both for years with NO adverse effects.

I do not believe any claim that an oil could prevent condensation (the science of it makes no sense), but you can use an oil that is designed to flow faster (reduce engine wear), start your engine easier, and reduce corrosion. Unfortunately that is what we live with up here, and you don't have to change your oil all the time if once a month you go riding for at least an hour. Go out and get that engine HOT so the moisture "cooks off".
Have fun, stay warm, and keep riding!

[BobbyR]

I suppose you could get something to block the air coming through the downtubes and going over the fins.  Hopefully the oil will get hot enough to boil off the water.

[HondaMan]

I suppose you could get something to block the air coming through the downtubes and going over the fins.  Hopefully the oil will get hot enough to boil off the water.

I used to install my Vetter Lowers after August when I lived in the Midwest, just to solve this one. On short rides, it heated up the engine quite a bit more. It also kept my legs warmer!

[Don R]

I suppose you could get something to block the air coming through the downtubes and going over the fins.  Hopefully the oil will get hot enough to boil off the water.

I used to install my Vetter Lowers after August when I lived in the Midwest, just to solve this one. On short rides, it heated up the engine quite a bit more. It also kept my legs warmer!

And going on the back pegs warms the knees right up. IIRC.

[70CB750]

Run a lower weight.
 I found Pennzoil forms a lot of mayosnot..  I think Castrol..a  lot less so.

^^^ That!

I switch to Mobil Delvac 15W40 for winters.  In Virginia, you can ride the whole winter if you really want to.

[PeWe]

The old good oil with zinc are all NOT 0W-xx or 5W-xx right? These are all newer oils where the zinc is removed?
10W-40 might be an available viscocity with zinc and good for old CB's ?

Except this one?
http://www.mylucasoil.com/lucas-oil-race-only/motorcycle-oils/troy-lee-design-syn-0w-40-motorcycle-oil

[chewbacca5000]

Surprised on else thought of this.  Guaranteed to help with cold weather start up issues.

[750cafe]

Just use some Rotella synthetic diesel oil (5W-40) and forget about it. 

Eric

[Retro Rocket]

Just use some Rotella synthetic diesel oil (5W-40) and forget about it. 

Eric

We don't have the cold like you guys do but still, lots of guys use diesel oil here...

[HondaMan]

The old good oil with zinc are all NOT 0W-xx or 5W-xx right? These are all newer oils where the zinc is removed?
10W-40 might be an available viscocity with zinc and good for old CB's ?

Except this one?
http://www.mylucasoil.com/lucas-oil-race-only/motorcycle-oils/troy-lee-design-syn-0w-40-motorcycle-oil

0w oil is very close to water's viscosity. That won't pump well in these oil pumps, and it certainly won't cushion the cam lobes, as these are spray-oiled cams, not fed from the inside (like in many DOHC engines). I'd expect really low oil pressure with oil that light.

[PeWe]

The old good oil with zinc are all NOT 0W-xx or 5W-xx right? These are all newer oils where the zinc is removed?
10W-40 might be an available viscocity with zinc and good for old CB's ?

Except this one?
http://www.mylucasoil.com/lucas-oil-race-only/motorcycle-oils/troy-lee-design-syn-0w-40-motorcycle-oil

0w oil is very close to water's viscosity. That won't pump well in these oil pumps, and it certainly won't cushion the cam lobes, as these are spray-oiled cams, not fed from the inside (like in many DOHC engines). I'd expect really low oil pressure with oil that light.

The old good oil with zinc are all NOT 0W-xx or 5W-xx right? These are all newer oils where the zinc is removed?
10W-40 might be an available viscocity with zinc and good for old CB's ?

Except this one?
http://www.mylucasoil.com/lucas-oil-race-only/motorcycle-oils/troy-lee-design-syn-0w-40-motorcycle-oil

0w oil is very close to water's viscosity. That won't pump well in these oil pumps, and it certainly won't cushion the cam lobes, as these are spray-oiled cams, not fed from the inside (like in many DOHC engines). I'd expect really low oil pressure with oil that light.

Yes, I should have thought about CB oil pump and cam. I was thinking about too thick when cold that is not good either.
0W designed for Arctic environment, or was it Antarctica? 

[CBGhia]

I suppose you could get something to block the air coming through the downtubes and going over the fins.  Hopefully the oil will get hot enough to boil off the water.

I used to install my Vetter Lowers after August when I lived in the Midwest, just to solve this one. On short rides, it heated up the engine quite a bit more. It also kept my legs warmer!

John,
I want to see you riding with a WindJammer and lowers! 

[greenjeans]

The old good oil with zinc are all NOT 0W-xx or 5W-xx right? These are all newer oils where the zinc is removed?
10W-40 might be an available viscocity with zinc and good for old CB's ?

Except this one?
http://www.mylucasoil.com/lucas-oil-race-only/motorcycle-oils/troy-lee-design-syn-0w-40-motorcycle-oil

0w oil is very close to water's viscosity. That won't pump well in these oil pumps, and it certainly won't cushion the cam lobes, as these are spray-oiled cams, not fed from the inside (like in many DOHC engines). I'd expect really low oil pressure with oil that light.

Well, crap.  I can get the Rotella T6 5w-40 synthetic for $21 bucks a gallon at wally-world.   Maybe I'll just run it for the winter ?

Ghia - no windjammer for me unless it was a CR styled fairing...hmmmm

[70CB750]

I am very happy with Mobil Delvac for winters.  Thats a diesel engine oil too and Wally has it for 13  bucks a gallon.



I remember it had zddp listed slightly above 1000, like 1048 or so.