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Synthetic oil in a Loop

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Dave P. View Drop Down
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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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Brian UK View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 14:18
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.
Brian.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jpc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 19:57
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 23:53
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jpc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 06:57
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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Brian UK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 08:33
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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Dave P. View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dave P. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 10:17
Thanks chaps,it seems that things can stay as they are.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote iansoady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 10:19
Originally posted by jpc jpc wrote:

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...


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.
Ian
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jpc Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 10:59

[/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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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote iansoady Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Sep 2018 at 12:33
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.
Ian
1952 Norton ES2
1986 Honda XBR500
1958-ish Greeves/Triumph in progress
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ken-Guzzibear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Sep 2018 at 11:02
Opie oils offer an extra 10% to Guzziriders offer good advice and delivered to the door
The Older i Get, The Better I Was
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