| Author | Message | ||
     Father |
New guy here again. This is only my second post. Picked up my 2000 S3T on Friday. Absolutely love it. Plan to do some touring. Summer is upon us here in Arizona. Was about 110 degrees here today. Will likely be a hot summer. Because it is so hot here I plan to use Synthetic oil and purchased some Mobil 1 20W-50 for V-Twins today. I maintain (and sometimes build) my own vehicle motors and I am always looking for ways to make them perform better, last longer, and maintain a reasonable temperature in the Arizona blistering heat. I will admit to you that I have in the past tried some of the popular oil additives that claim to reduce temperature and friction inside of motors. I have tried Slick 50, Prolong, and another brand that I cant remember the name of in my cars and trucks. Have never had any problems and I have put significant mileage on most of them. Has anyone out there ever used any such additives in their V-Twins? If so I would be interested to hear about it. | ||
| Rocketman |
Dad search the archives. There's a minefield of info about oil. Mobil 1 is heavily featured. I use Mobil 1 but not the 20/50 V twin. I prefer the straighter weight as do most others I believe. As for additives I think you're wasting your time and defeating the object of the Mobil 1 product. Nothing on the market is better than just Mobil 1 so you need add nothing to it. Rocket | ||
| Whodom |
I concur with Rocketman. Mobil 1 20W-50 V-twin is "true" synthetic oil (Group 3 base stock) which is the most temperature-resistant type of liquid lubricant man has figured out how to make yet. Adding something to it is bound to hose something up. If you REALLY want to get into oils, this is an excellent site for it. In addition to basic articles on the subject, this site has a series of forums where people post new and used oil analyses of all sorts of oils. It'll take you a few hours of reading, but you can learn a lot about lubrication here: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com | ||
| Newfie_buell |
I was using the Harley Dino Oil until I was introduced to the Mobil 1. I found the bike actually ran a little better (cooler) in hotter conditions. Idling in weather is hot conditions for me. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Mobil 1 V-Twin is one of the best additive you can ever put in your oil.  Put it in, and leave it at that. How many miles on the S3, and what has been done to it? We can give you far more productive ways to spend your time and money on it then oil additives. | ||
| Brucelee |
Other from the additive companies themselves, I have never seen anyone support the use of additives in a quality syn oil. Mobil 1 and Red Line make GREAT 20-50 oils. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Surprisingly enough, Mobil Vee Twin Oil, may NOT the best choice for your VeeTwin. The reason is that this oil is formulated for engines that share engine and transmission oil, which do not respond well to oils with anti-friction additives which may cause the clutch to slip. This is explained on the Mobil 1 Web site: http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorOil/Oils/Mobil_1_V-Twin_20W-50.aspx I am using Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W50 which has additional anti-wear and cleaning agents, and am planning on changing the oil when I change my tires, about every 4000 miles. | ||
| Father |
Going to take back M1 V-Twin oil and give M1 15W-50 a try instead. Thanks for your input. (Message edited by Father on May 22, 2005) | ||
| Whodom |
I understand what Jon is saying about the auto oil possibly containing friction modifiers that the MC oil doesn't (which could theoretically give you a couple more horsepower), but there is another aspect to this that's not obvious. Mobil-1 synthetic car oils (including Extended Performance 15W-50) are NOT 100% group 3 base stocks (generally considered to be "true" synthetics). They also contain group 2 base stocks which are basically highly refined petroleum oils. Mobil-1 motorcycle oils are supposed to be made from 100% group 3 base stocks which while derived from petroleum, are fundamentally chemically different. They will withstand high temperatures better than group 2 base stock oils. Now, the question is does the ~$8.50/quart V-twin oil perform THAT much better than the ~$5.50/quart auto oil? Lots of people have run the older formula Mobil-1 auto 15W-50 ("red cap" ) oil with good results. OTOH, you said you were specifically worried about the oil's high temperature performance, and Mobil-1 V-twin is undoubtedly somewhat better in this regard than Mobil-1 automotive oils. Also note this FAQ from Mobil's website: "What about Mobil 1 V-Twin oil? How is that different from Mobil 1 for passenger cars? Mobil 1 V-Twin oil is designed for air-cooled, large-displacement bikes. Because of their design, these engines can generate very high localized oil temperatures and high overall bulk-oil temperatures. As you know, a typical air-cooled V-twin's rear cylinder gets a lot hotter than the front cylinder – it's a matter of airflow. When it's hot out and you're stuck in traffic, the oil temperature in your bike climbs rapidly. Above about 250°F, conventional motor oil is going to break down. Mobil 1 V-Twin synthetic oil is good to above 300F. Like Mobil 1 MX4T, Mobil 1 V-Twin has high levels of phosphorus/zinc and the same high-temperature detergent technology for superior wear protection and engine cleanliness, even at elevated oil temperatures. With Mobil 1 V-Twin oil, you can go the full length of the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals with ease. " | ||
| Twowheeldream |
Is the Mobil 1 V-Twin oil better than the H.D. Syn3? They are both 8.50 a bottle...  | ||
| Rocketman |
I use the Mobil 1 4T - NOT the V-Twin. I've also had the pleasure of total strip down and rebuild and there is no wear in any component inside my motor or transmission. Everything looks remarkably like new. That I promise you is not an exaggeration. Rocket | ||
| Ghost69 |
I'm also planning on switching to Synthetic oil. Which oil filter is best to use? Should I just stick with HD filters or is there anything better. I've looked in the archives and it seems like everyone is using the Motorcraft FL-1A. When I went to the store and looked up that filter it was a lot larger than my HD filter and I am not sure if it would fit. So am I looking at the right one? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Wade | ||
| Shotgun |
Ghost the FL-1A is bigger in diameter but fits fine and adds oil capacity. It comes in every brand made, so you have a world of choices. Spray paint it to match your color. I use Automotive Mobil One 15-50 top and bottom and still change it every 2500 miles. $4/per quart if you watcn for sales. | ||
| Shotgun |
Father, that Prolong comes in a tube for use on the personal dip stick. Said to make the experience last longer. Had an old boxer from Toledo say it made a diamond cutter impervious to friction. Or is that a different lubrication thread? | ||
| Jlnance |
With Mobil 1 V-Twin oil, you can go the full length of the manufacturer's recommended oil change intervals with ease. I smell marketing. I would think I could go the manufacturer's recommended oil change interval with any oil meeting the manufacturers requirements for the bike. |
