Synthetic oil in a Loop |
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 13:38 |
I use 20/50 mineral oil in my Loops, changing it every 1800 miles as per the manual. On extended European trips, I've had the oil changed at Guzzi dealers workshops. I was just wondering if there would be any advantage in changing to synthetic oil as I believe I could extend the oil change intervals thereby negating some of the added expense and making an oil change unnecessary during the trip. Any advice gratefully received.
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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Is there a decent oil filter in the system? If so any quality mineral oil should be OK for longer, to cover one trip. If not, then any muck floating round in the oil will do so no matter what type of oil is used. Synthetic oil does tend to creep out of oil seals more readily.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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jpc
Senior Member Joined: 06 Oct 2016 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 651 |
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The period manual for the Tontis (with & without cartridge) prescribes the same oil and nutty intervals.(an oil change every 10 tankfuls, no way !)
In practice, I've been changing my own 20/50 every 6K miles for the last 180K miles, with no apparent damage to the original crank bearings, camshaft and tappets, and only one conrod bearings replacement for peace of mind when going to 88 mm barrels. I think that even without the cartridge, the loops could do 3K miles at the very least between changes with no afterthought whatsoever, and keeping to the oil you're happy with.
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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The system has no proper oil filter,just a mesh screen and a very powerful magnet which I added to take out any ferrous particles.It wasn't the muck that I was thinking of, rather the lubricating properties of the oil.I was under the impression that synthetic oil has a longer service life than has mineral oil.Have I got that wrong?
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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jpc
Senior Member Joined: 06 Oct 2016 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 651 |
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Unless I'm mistaken, they're all based on the mineral stuff that comes out of the ground.
The "synthetic" bit is a matter of degree in refining and chemical "tuning".For instance Liquimoly 20/50 is called "mineral", but Liquimoly 15/50 is called "synthetic technology" (but not "full synthetic"). My guess is that today's "mineral" has enough synthetic additives to make it retain its lubricating qualities much longer than when our manuals were printed. As Brian said, the "full synthetic" ones tend to find new pathways out of older engines...
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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Regarding the lubricating properties of the oil, you could leave your mineral oil there for 4 times as long with no problems.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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Thanks chaps,it seems that things can stay as they are.
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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iansoady
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2017 Location: Redditch Status: Online Points: 2402 |
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As I understand it, the cheaper "synthetics" are indeed what you say. However, full synthetics are based on esters which are not mineral oil based. But as you imply, the term is widely abused. I think any modern oil would be far better than what we used back in the 70s and 80s, let alone the 50s.
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Ian
1952 Norton ES2 1986 Honda XBR500 1958-ish Greeves/Triumph in progress |
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jpc
Senior Member Joined: 06 Oct 2016 Location: Belgium Status: Offline Points: 651 |
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[/QUOTE] As I understand it, the cheaper "synthetics" are indeed what you say. However, full synthetics are based on esters which are not mineral oil based. But as you imply, the term is widely abused. I think any modern oil would be far better than what we used back in the 70s and 80s, let alone the 50s. [/QUOTE]
Indeed, we're being fed so much bull these days (but is that new ?), it pays to question everything. From this source, it appears that even "full synthetic" is in fact a marketing term (i.e. bull)... |
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iansoady
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2017 Location: Redditch Status: Online Points: 2402 |
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Indeed. And it's very difficult to find out whether "synthetic" is in fact ester-based. Silkolene is one of the few manufacturers stating this, although even they do not publish data sheets. I've started buying my oil here: https://www.smithandallan.com/products/transport-engine/ - excellent prices and good specifications.
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Ian
1952 Norton ES2 1986 Honda XBR500 1958-ish Greeves/Triumph in progress |
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Ken-Guzzibear
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Sileby Leics Status: Offline Points: 9454 |
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Opie oils offer an extra 10% to Guzziriders offer good advice and delivered to the door
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