3000mi Road Trip - 1983 GS1100E - What Oil?

[Guest]

As the title says, I'm about to embark upon a cross-country road trip on my '83 GS1100E. I'll be starting here in Connecticut and taking backroads south, eventually coming up Highway 1 in CA with San Francisco as my final destination. The bike is currently running dinosaur 15w40. In the last 500mi of this trip, I sprung a small oil leak somewhere around my front sprocket. I'm here in CT for a while and will address it, but this is shying me away from switching to synthetic. So, it comes down to: for such a long trip do ya'll recommend dino 10w40 or 15w40, and why?

Thanks for your insight.

[Rob S.]

I like dino 10w-40 because that's what the manufacturer recommends.

Pirsig fan, are we?

[mrbill5491]

No reason to shy away from a synthetic, Shell Rotella synthetic in 10w40 is fairly inexpensive. Get the leak fixed and yer good. 5w, 10w, 15w, the letter W designation means they are "winter" (not "weight") or cold-start viscosity, at lower temperature. Being that your in Conn and and ending up in SanFran, any of the 3 would be fine. I've been using synthetics for many years and prefer it to Dino. Then again I live in the desert lol.

[Charlie G]

I use the Shell Rotella T 15w-40, an oil designed for diesel engines, because the old farts( read high post count) here recommended it to me and I can find it while I'm on the road. Trying to find that "special" oil while on the road .............it's a pain! Wal-mart and many auto parts stores in the western US and Canada carry it. Quarts are harder to find than gallons.

cg

[Phaedrus]

Thanks for all of the info. I'll check what the local Walmart carries tomorrow. I'm pretty partial to what the "old farts" recommend... They've spun around the sun quite a few more times than I. I'll probably stick with the 15w40 dino w/ a few oz of Marvel's. It's gonna be hot throughout the trip, so I'm not too concerned with cold start issues.

I am curious though: other than for starting in winter, why do I care if my low temp viscosity is more or less fluid? Does it help the engine in any way to have low viscosity (15w) at low temps?

If there's a thread that endlessly argues about all of this, I'd be happy to be linked to it.

Pirsig fan, are we?

Cheers

[mrbill5491]

Thanks for all of the info. I'll check what the local Walmart carries tomorrow. I'm pretty partial to what the "old farts" recommend... They've spun around the sun quite a few more times than I. I'll probably stick with the 15w40 dino w/ a few oz of Marvel's. It's gonna be hot throughout the trip, so I'm not too concerned with cold start issues.

I am curious though: other than for starting in winter, why do I care if my low temp viscosity is more or less fluid? Does it help the engine in any way to have low viscosity (15w) at low temps?

If there's a thread that endlessly argues about all of this, I'd be happy to be linked to it.





Cheers

It will start easier, oil flows to the critical spots better/faster, won't drag the starter. Trying pushing a heavier oil through all those tiny winnie oil passages.

[sohcphreek]

My experience is these old/vintage bike like anything but syn. oil. It seems to expose any seals/gaskets that are the slightest bit worn. Im using Rotella 15w/40 for diesel engines! I live near morro bay n hwy1 if you need anything let me know, Chris

[Steve]

My experience is these old/vintage bike like anything but syn. oil.

Don't tell any of my vehicles that nonsense.

All of the bikes and all of the 4 (and 6) wheelers use synthetic oil around here.

The bikes and truck all use Rotella 5w-40, the cars use Mobil1 5w-30.

.