SuzukiSavage.com - Oil change for cooler weather?

skatnbnc Serious Thumper Offline Spinning Pink Posts: 1286 New Bern NC Gender:	Oil change for cooler weather? 12/31/07 at 08:15:55 I'm running on SAE 15W-50 oil now, but should I switch to a lighter weight for winter? What about 10W-40? Temps are about 40F here and I ride 6 days a week, short distances. Experiences with different oil types welcome, but no brand name fights - I just need performance/wear info!
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #1 - 12/31/07 at 09:14:16 I guess your alright the owners manual says you can use 15/50 down to about 9 degree. I have used synthetic since it came out,I guess its better.Its thinner in cold weather too.
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skatnbnc

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #2 - 12/31/07 at 09:48:29

I guess I could be more specific as to why I am asking - the heavier oil works well in the summer here, but in the winter will it take longer to circulate through? Especially since I only ride short distances (4-6 miles 2x a day)

And if so, will that cause problems with the clutch and engine because the oil is not circulating properly?

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #3 - 12/31/07 at 10:11:09 I would use the 10/40,unless you have synthetic in now then I wouldn't change it unless its due for a change.
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vtail Senior Member Offline life's short, ride fast Posts: 408 Portland,OR Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #4 - 12/31/07 at 11:31:38 You're fine with the oil you're using. The oil only acts (flows) like a 50W at high temperature and like a 15W at a low temperature
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skatnbnc Serious Thumper Offline Spinning Pink Posts: 1286 New Bern NC Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #5 - 12/31/07 at 11:54:56 vtail wrote on 12/31/07 at 11:31:38: You're fine with the oil you're using. The oil only acts (flows) like a 50W at high temperature and like a 15W at a low temperature Tell me what the HECK that means in plain English please!
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thumperclone Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline PGR rider riding with respect Posts: 6048 Grand Junction Colorado Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #6 - 12/31/07 at 12:23:46 when its cooler start your bike sooner and let her warm up longer than you would in the summer temps..this insures all moving parts are well lubed b4 twisin the throttle...
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Paladin.

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #7 - 12/31/07 at 13:41:17

skatnbnc wrote on 12/31/07 at 11:54:56:

vtail wrote on 12/31/07 at 11:31:38:

You're fine with the oil you're using. The oil only acts (flows) like a 50W at high temperature and like a 15W at a low temperature

Tell me what the HECK that means in plain English please! Huh

m-w.com:

Main Entry: vis·cos·i·ty
2 : the property of resistance to flow in a fluid or semifluid

A 10w oil is thin, at room temperature flows almost as easy as water.
90w gear oil, at room temperature, flows like room temperature honey.
40w oil will be somewhere inbetween.

Honey or oil thins as you warm it, thickens as it cools.

A multi-weight oil, such as a 20w-50w is less temperature sensitive -- at low temperatures it flows as easy as a 20w, at high temperaatures maintains thickness needed to lubricate like a 50w.

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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #8 - 12/31/07 at 13:59:45 oh boy an oil thread! - Mobil1 rules the world - 20W-50 vtwin summer heat and 10w-40 MX4T winter cold
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vtail

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #9 - 12/31/07 at 16:10:45

skatnbnc wrote on 12/31/07 at 11:54:56:

vtail wrote on 12/31/07 at 11:31:38:

You're fine with the oil you're using. The oil only acts (flows) like a 50W at high temperature and like a 15W at a low temperature

Tell me what the HECK that means in plain English please! Huh

Paladin already beat me to it with an excellent explanation

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Paladin.

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #10 - 12/31/07 at 16:30:22

vtail wrote on 12/31/07 at 16:10:45:

...Paladin already beat me to it with an excellent explanation

It is always good to get a second opinion as to the validity of an explanation. I once carefully explained to a client that her computer problems were being caused by her multiple gold necklaces and brecelets interfering with the electromagnetic fields of the compter. Roll Eyes

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Yonuh Adisi FSO

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #11 - 12/31/07 at 16:37:45

Paladin. wrote on 12/31/07 at 16:30:22:

vtail wrote on 12/31/07 at 16:10:45:

...Paladin already beat me to it with an excellent explanation

It is always good to get a second opinion as to the validity of an explanation. I once carefully explained to a client that her computer problems were being caused by her multiple gold necklaces and brecelets interfering with the electromagnetic fields of the compter. Roll Eyes

Oh that is a good one.

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rigidchop Serious Thumper Offline don't feed the drama llama Posts: 1105 ravenswood wv Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #12 - 12/31/07 at 17:41:29 cell phones dont react well to the older monitors either, i have a new 22" lcd and haven't noticed any problems with interference yet. sorry about hijacking the thread.
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Mr 650 Serious Thumper Offline The LS650- Classic style & 4-valve engine Posts: 1389 Mempho Gender:	Re: Oil change for cooler weather? Reply #13 - 12/31/07 at 21:10:43 Sounds like you have synthetic in there so not much to worry about. I wouldn't change it, just let it warm up a little longer. I find prefered cruise speed is proportional to the temperature anyway.
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Gort

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Re: Oil change for cooler weather?
Reply #14 - 01/01/08 at 08:31:12

Concerning oil viscosity, a few years ago after moving to a cold climate I noticed that the oil pressure gauge on my car showed a much higher reading in winter than it did in summer, until the engine warmed up. To my understanding, the Mobil 1 synthetic 10W-40 should not do this because its supposed to be thinner in the cold and thicker when warm. But the oil pressure gauge disproved this. So I contacted Mobil 1 and asked them about it. They said that the oil will not get thinner in the cold nor thicker in the heat. They said you cannot defy the laws of physics in this matter. They explained that it lubricates better in these wide temperature variations than would a single weight oil, but it does not get thinner in the cold nor vise/versa. I had always heard that multi-viscosity oils are thinner in the cold, but my oil pressure gauge says differently. Are their any graduate chemical engineers out there who can better explain this?

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