Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Oil Change WIN!

Collapse
X
Collapse
 
  • Page of 1
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
Previous template Next
  • #1

    Oil Change WIN!

    I've been running 15w40 rotella in Excelsior for the last couple changes and it was perfect.

    Then I really read the service manual and it states 20w50...so I switched over to Castrol 20w50, conventional oil. I ran Everwear oil system cleaner through it for a 5 minutes or so while I got my drain pan and tools out...

    Got some of it for free from my my work, so I used it



    Drained the entire system as best I could, inside the case looked SO CLEAN through the fill hole.

    Filled with 3.7 qts of 20w50

    Holy Cow, my shifting feels so slick now!!!
    totally smoothed out my clutch when starting from a stop.

    shifting through the gears, is quieter, less tractor like, but still way smoother than rotella.
    79F
    "Excelsior"
    Honda gl1100 handlebar
    Vetter IV fairing with speaker system
    OE headers,Jardine slipons
    Hid headlight 6000k
    Stock jets
    Shinko 712 F & R
    Oe hardbags and luggage rack
    TC fuse block
    K&n filter with oe airbox
    Raptor 660 Acct
    Tags: None
  • #2
    IMO, its the change in oil weight / viscosity more so than brand your experiencing.
    Life is what happens while your planning everything else!

    When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.

    81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
    80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection


    Previously owned
    93 GSX600F
    80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
    81 XS1100 Special
    81 CB750 C
    80 CB750 C
    78 XS750

    Comment

    • #3
      I agree.

      Maybe rotalla being made for diesels has something to do with it as well
      79F
      "Excelsior"
      Honda gl1100 handlebar
      Vetter IV fairing with speaker system
      OE headers,Jardine slipons
      Hid headlight 6000k
      Stock jets
      Shinko 712 F & R
      Oe hardbags and luggage rack
      TC fuse block
      K&n filter with oe airbox
      Raptor 660 Acct

      Comment

      • #4
        Originally posted by DGXSER View Post
        IMO, its the change in oil weight / viscosity more so than brand your experiencing.
        Yep, that's the difference. These motors really don't care for the thinner oil. Should be a bit quieter too...
        Fast, Cheap, Reliable... Pick any two

        '78E original owner - resto project
        '78E ???? owner - Modder project FJ forks, 4-piston calipers F/R, 160/80-16 rear tire
        '82 XJ rebuild project
        '80SG restified, red SOLD
        '79F parts...
        '81H more parts...

        Other current bikes:
        '93 XL1200 Anniversary Sportster 85RWHP
        '86 XL883/1200 Chopper
        '82 XL1000 w/1450cc Buell, Baker 6-speed, in-progress project
        Cage: '13 Mustang GT/CS with a few 'custom' touches
        Yep, can't leave nuthin' alone...

        Comment

        • #5
          Conventional Oil

          You may soon experience some clutch slippage running the conventional oil. The Castrol and other motorcycle oils have additives to prevent the clutch from slipping. May want to go that route on your next oil change.

          Mike
          1981 XS1100H Venturer
          K&N Air Filter
          ACCT
          Custom Paint by Deitz
          Geezer Rectifier/Regulator
          Chacal Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
          Chrome Front Rotor & Caliper Covers
          Stebel Nautilus Horn
          EBC Front Rotors
          Limie Accent Moves On In 2015

          Mike

          Comment

          • #6
            I made sure the bottom half of the circle didn't have any writing in it. So it doesn't have any additives in it.

            I wasn't having slipping running rotella and I don't really buy into the whole motorcycle specific oil.... Along with many others here.
            79F
            "Excelsior"
            Honda gl1100 handlebar
            Vetter IV fairing with speaker system
            OE headers,Jardine slipons
            Hid headlight 6000k
            Stock jets
            Shinko 712 F & R
            Oe hardbags and luggage rack
            TC fuse block
            K&n filter with oe airbox
            Raptor 660 Acct

            Comment

            • #7
              Originally posted by MPittma100 View Post
              You may soon experience some clutch slippage running the conventional oil. The Castrol and other motorcycle oils have additives to prevent the clutch from slipping. May want to go that route on your next oil change.

              Mike
              Mike,

              Castrol 20/50 conventional oil doesn't have the friction modifiers and seems to be what the majority of the people use on these bikes. Some swear by the "Motorcycle" branded oils. Some think it's a scam to wring more money out of folks, but I have sure ridden a lot of hard, long miles using the conventional stuff.
              Try your hardest to be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

              You can live to be 100, as long as you give up everything that would make you want to live to be 100!

              Current bikes:
              '06 Suzuki DR650
              *'82 XJ1100 with the 1179 kit. "Mad Maxim"
              '82 XJ1100 Completely stock fixer-upper
              '82 XJ1100 Bagger fixer-upper
              '82 XJ1100 Motor/frame and lots of boxes of parts
              '82 XJ1100 Parts bike
              '81 XS1100 Special
              '81 YZ250
              '80 XS850 Special
              '80 XR100
              *Crashed/Totalled, still own

              Comment

              • #8
                Oil

                Originally posted by trbig View Post
                Mike,

                Castrol 20/50 conventional oil doesn't have the friction modifiers and seems to be what the majority of the people use on these bikes. Some swear by the "Motorcycle" branded oils. Some think it's a scam to wring more money out of folks, but I have sure ridden a lot of hard, long miles using the conventional stuff.
                For sure the new motorcycle specific oils were not around in 1978-1981. Back then we used the same oil as we put in our cars. It is not set in stone that these new oils have to be used. It is simply a choice.

                A lot of the newer bike manufacturers do spec the friction modifier type oil for their wet clutch applications. It may be necessary on the newer bikes, but may not be for our XS11s.

                Mike
                1981 XS1100H Venturer
                K&N Air Filter
                ACCT
                Custom Paint by Deitz
                Geezer Rectifier/Regulator
                Chacal Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines
                Chrome Front Rotor & Caliper Covers
                Stebel Nautilus Horn
                EBC Front Rotors
                Limie Accent Moves On In 2015

                Mike

                Comment

                • #9
                  Castrol GTX 15/40 is all I've ever run, in any of my bikes, including the 1300. Never had an issue with the clutch, or anything else oil related.
                  Unless you're at racing level then oil weights and viscosity aren't really that critical (to a point).

                  That said, Oil selection is about as personal as what underwear you wear. Bottom line is, if you find something that works for you, stick with it.
                  1980 SG. (Sold - waiting on replacement)
                  2000 XJR1300. The Real modern XS11. Others are just pretenders.

                  Woman (well, my wife anyway) are always on Transmit and never Receive.

                  "A man should look for what is, and not for what he thinks should be" Albert Einstien.

                  Comment

                  Previous template Next
                  Working...
                  X