engine oil

[Ian A]

may seem a daft question but what engine oils are people using these days. havent used mine for a while and had always used old mineral types. read different views on using modern oils so thought id ask those who use bikes regularly what theyve been using.
Thanks

[Miti]

I run a few bikes, but they're all 'dinosaurs' and I use the same ols in all of them...

Everyone will have their own opinions on oils and their own reasons for forming my opinion...

I've found that using oils with an API spec higher than 'SJ' in motorcycle engines which have wet clutches or sprag clutches can cause problems with these items.

The majority of 'motorcycle specific' oils will be API SJ, even the fully synthetic ones, but car oils may well be higher and should, in my opinion, be avoided.

I change the oil in my V1000 every 1,000 miles and the filter every 2,000 miles.  Latterly I've been using Tesco 10W40 semi-synthetic oils (blue bottle) and Lidl 'W5' 15W40.  I've found these to be good value and good quality and the bike seems to run well on them.

I tried Millers ZSS 10W40, which seemed OK, but was expensive and the bike burnt a lot of it...

Hope that helps

Jeff

[Ian A]

Thanks Jeff will check these out. was also looking at silkolene range as well. Should of asked you when we chatted at stafford show (recognised by the pre- prod and the yamahas!). I know some say not to go for fully synthetic and some remain mineral 20/50 based (if you can get them).

Didnt think to look at local tesco etc so will check it out.
Ian

[Rob B]

Hello Ian,

This is what I use in the HESKETH and have done for a while now:

CASTROL POWER RS V-Twin 4T - Full Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

Although the HESKETH does have a reasonably good filter, the oil in these machines takes a real hammering because of the extremes of heat and cooling requirements so I agree with Jeff in cutting the oil change frequencies down to once a year or usually about every 2,000 miles, whichever is soonest.

Cheers,

Robert

[Ian A]

Thanks Rob, wasnt sure about fully synthetic as always thought older engines prob not as highly stressed to need them and had heard it can cause engine leaks (could be an old wives tale of course).
looked for your castrol power Rs but only found it on US sites.

with so little miles being done by myself im probably over worrying anyway about best type.
Thanks again
ian

[Miti]

This is what I use in the HESKETH and have done for a while now:

CASTROL POWER RS V-Twin 4T - Full Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

This comes in 10W40 and 20W50 grades Robert...  Which have you been using..?

Jeff

[Rob B]

Hello Jeff,

20W50.

Another alternative but a mineral oil is Castrol Power 1 4T 20w-50 Motorcycle Engine Oil from OPIE or Broughton Lubricants for example.

Castrol Power 1 "Racing" is fully synthetic but only comes in 10W40. Maybe OK??

As you know, the original HESKETH engine is very good at destroying poor quality oils because of its hopeless lubrication / cooling system resulting in oil temperatures ranging between 50 and 130 C and oil pressures fluctuating between 5 and 140 psi, seemingly at random! EN10 engines are a bit better....

Regards the stainless exhaust systems we discussed and that I still have in stock. If I were to sell them now then I would be asking:

Polished Stainless - £550 plus postage
Black Chrome on Stainless - £700 plus postage
I have one of each remaining that I am prepared to let go but when they are gone that's it!
Bright Chrome on Stainless are sold out. Apart from my own spare set.

A fair number of other HESKETH spares available, as you know :-) Still not got around to listing them all. One day....

Cheers,

Robert

[Miti]

Thanks Robert;

I'll have a look for that oil and let Paul know about the pipes...

I've also seen Valvoline fully synth rated 10W50 and Fuchs/Silkolene rated 15W50...  Might be worth a shot..?

BR

Jeff