I live in southern Manitoba, and I am wondering what number oil I should put in it. I thought that 10-30 was good for summer and 5-30 for winter. But an ATV mechanic told me that in summer I should put 20-50 motorcycle oil, and in winter I should put 10-40 synthetic because it gets cold up here in Canada Eh. The reason is cause those motors have very poor oil circulation. What do you think?

JasonJ

 

i believe the factory recommends 10-40 for most of the heat ranges, with 20-50 for very hot temps, and 10-30 for very cold temps. 5-30 would definitely lubricate faster in extreme cold, and would probably be ok as long as you don't work the motor too hard and get it super hot(as those motors usually do).

 

In our other honda, we always run 10-30, exept in winter. Do you really think 5-30 is too thin for winter? Remember where I live it very easily gets to -30 C. What about the synthetic oil that I mentioned above? Is that any good for ole red?

 

5w30 is what i use during winter/fall but spring/summer time i up it to 10w30. i use motorcraft never had probs in 7 yrs. gets up to 102 degress in summer and as low as 15 degrees winter so big diff. but it trucks along just if you use 5w30 in summer it might smoke cause it will burn the oil up but in canada you could prob run 10 or 5w year round.. almost anyway [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] don't know how cold it gets but i wouldn't go over 10w30 engines are air cooled so unless you plan on setting still should be fine.

 

My Clymer manual and my Honda dealer say to use 20w50 above 18 degrees ferenheit and 10w40 below 18, these air cooled engines run hotter that a liquid cooled so they recommend to use thicker oils just make sure to let the engine to warm up in the winter before running it hard. Remember also that you have to use friction modifier free oil or your wet clutch will be ruined. most regular vehicle oils in 5w30 and 10w30 contain friction modifiers, but 10w40 and 20w50 grades do not. As for synthetic I use Amsoil brand 0w40 (which is all season, this way you dont have to worry about using different grades in defferent seasons) in my '03 Arctic Cat 500i. Most people swear by the synthetic because the trannsmission shifts easier, the engine runs cooler, and people who have opened up there machines for just to see have said that there is virtually no wear, and it has twice the drain interval. I dont use it in my honda 110 cause it burned oil ever scince i bought it and i dont want to waste the money up into smoke.

 

My 86 BigRed (I bought new in 86) has never had anything in it but Valvoline 20-50w racing oil year round, and the engine has never had a single problem and still runs great and uses no oil. No telling how many hours are on this thing and the engine is still like new.