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Offline tsflstb

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Innocent questions about Oil
« on: May 28, 2009, 12:38:50 PM »
Not wanting to stir any controversy here, but what oil viscosity do most of you run in the summer?  I have 20W-50 in right now.  I have a 400F with stock engine internals but where I live it gets to about one billion degrees in the summer.

After a track session or a lot of stop and go traffic I sometimes see the oil light at idle.  Is that a sign of a failing oil pump?  I've intalled a gauge in place of the light and pressure is usually around 60 psi above 3000 RPM.  At idle it drops to 4 or 5 psi.  I think the pressure switch I had triggered at 7 psi.



I'm signing up for another trackday in a few weeks and I'm sure it will be hot out there, but I won't spend any time at idle.  Do I risk doing any damage at redline if oil pressure is weak at idle?
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Offline Johnny5

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #1 on: May 28, 2009, 12:41:07 PM »
10w-40

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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #2 on: May 28, 2009, 12:46:51 PM »
"Innocent questions about oil." That's a good one.  ;D
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Offline kghost

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #3 on: May 28, 2009, 12:48:15 PM »
Feel your pain brother....

Its hot down here too....

Same problem sometimes...tho not on my 400....

20w-50 on most of the herd...

Have one running 60W Shell Aviation oil.....

Peace of mind would be an oil cooler for extreme duty...like a track day....
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Offline tsflstb

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #4 on: May 28, 2009, 01:01:10 PM »
Good to know I'm not the only one.

20W-50 is the highest viscosity I can find on the shelf most places.  I might try to track down this weapons-grade 60W somewhere.  Thought about the cooler and may still do it, but I'll most likely just park the 400F and ride my FZR in the hot afternoon track sessions.

The pressure gauge at least gives some peace of mind that the pump is working.  If I lose pressure at higher rpms I'll know to shut it down before things get ugly.
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Offline kghost

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #5 on: May 28, 2009, 01:09:13 PM »
Well I have the problem predominately when flogging the bike on 95+ days.

My 836 750 definitely needed the cooler....just would not tolerate temps...

I think its a combo of more compression, more power, and less cylinder wall material.

Aeroshell makes the 60 W. Its called Aeroshell 120.

I swiped a 3 gallon jug from work  ;D

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Offline tsflstb

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #6 on: May 28, 2009, 01:20:46 PM »
Is there another way to ride a 400?

You've been very helpful Heff, I've also had this rash for a while...

I'll look for the aero oil, but have a feeling it ain't cheap without the work "discount".
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #7 on: May 28, 2009, 01:33:04 PM »
Quote from: tsflstb on May 28, 2009, 12:38:50 PM
Not wanting to stir any controversy here, but what oil viscosity do most of you run in the summer?  I have 20W-50 in right now.  I have a 400F with stock engine internals but where I live it gets to about one billion degrees in the summer.

After a track session or a lot of stop and go traffic I sometimes see the oil light at idle.  Is that a sign of a failing oil pump?  I've intalled a gauge in place of the light and pressure is usually around 60 psi above 3000 RPM.  At idle it drops to 4 or 5 psi.  I think the pressure switch I had triggered at 7 psi.
snip
I'm signing up for another trackday in a few weeks and I'm sure it will be hot out there, but I won't spend any time at idle.  Do I risk doing any damage at redline if oil pressure is weak at idle?
Pressure probably OK, idle sounds low, but could be the gauge. main thin in my book, go to the track with fresh oil and change it first thing afterwards. If you're logging more than 100 miles at track speeds it's likely trashed.
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Offline kghost

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #8 on: May 28, 2009, 01:44:32 PM »
Quote from: MCRider on May 28, 2009, 01:33:04 PM
Quote from: tsflstb on May 28, 2009, 12:38:50 PM
Not wanting to stir any controversy here, but what oil viscosity do most of you run in the summer?  I have 20W-50 in right now.  I have a 400F with stock engine internals but where I live it gets to about one billion degrees in the summer.

After a track session or a lot of stop and go traffic I sometimes see the oil light at idle.  Is that a sign of a failing oil pump?  I've intalled a gauge in place of the light and pressure is usually around 60 psi above 3000 RPM.  At idle it drops to 4 or 5 psi.  I think the pressure switch I had triggered at 7 psi.
snip
I'm signing up for another trackday in a few weeks and I'm sure it will be hot out there, but I won't spend any time at idle.  Do I risk doing any damage at redline if oil pressure is weak at idle?
Pressure probably OK, idle sounds low, but could be the gauge. main thin in my book, go to the track with fresh oil and change it first thing afterwards. If you're logging more than 100 miles at track speeds it's likely trashed.

Thats a valid point.....
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WHALEMAN

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2009, 01:44:53 PM »
20-50W here. Dan
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Offline cafe750

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #10 on: May 29, 2009, 08:21:03 AM »
I run 20w50 in the summer as well...My question to you is which Tach from Summit are you running?
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Offline jaknight

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #11 on: May 29, 2009, 07:15:24 PM »
Phoenix, Arizona,

20W-50

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Offline tsflstb

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Re: Innocent questions about Oil
« Reply #12 on: May 29, 2009, 09:47:46 PM »
Thanks for the replies.  I'll make sure to keep the oil fresh and keep an eye on things.

Quote
I run 20w50 in the summer as well...My question to you is which Tach from Summit are you running?

This old thread just turned up...I talked about it here.
http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=32589.0
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