Triumphrat

trayden

At the moment the bike has Castrol Active4T 15w-50.

What oil should I be using in a hot climate temps between 30 to 45should i just stick with what is already being used?

Not that it needs changing yet as the oil in the bike is the cleanest I have ever seen.

Thanks,Den

30942

I've tested all the oil that has been in my (new model) Bonnie -- I run the same oil that you do. It is probably not any better or worse than all the rest, but it is 1/3 the price.

My oil reports point more with the miles on the oil as the issue - the longer you run the oil, the thinner it gets (broken down) By about 2500 miles, the oil goes down one grade, i.e., a 40 weight has the properties of a 30 weight. Beyond 3000 miles, the 40 weight was almost the same as a 20 weight in one of my reports.

I run the 50 weight so that when it starts to break down, I'm still (almost) covered. Also know, the heavier your oil, the less performance - things like mileage will be affected.

If you are at all interested in seeing my reports, go to www.reallycooldude.com/oil1.pdf -- increment up on the number to see later reports. I have 5 or 6 total reports there. Covers Mobil1, Rotella, and Castrol.

NickL

Whilst not wanting to be a cynic, i have never used any fancy oil in my road bikes (all pre 75), i find that any SG or SF 20-50 is fine. Fit a filter and change it with the oil every 5-6000 miles.
Woolworths oil is Mobil SF20-50 (i've been in the packaging plant) thats fine and about $16 AUD for four litres. Super fancy oils were not around when these bikes were developed and cast iron bores and rings don't behave like nicasil and chrome so be aware of the fact that frictiopn modified and ultra high detergent lubes may give rise to high oil consumption, slipping clutches etc.

If oil broke down at the suggested rate then surely most cars and bkes would be replacing engines at 10,000 mile intervals.


(Tribophysiology, i think is the study of lobricants)

All the best
Nick

trayden

The oil in the bike is 15-50w,should i change to 20-50w on the next change?

Also stupid question but where do you fit the oil filter on a 72 Bonnie?


Den

buffyporson

I have always used cheap 20W-50 or straight 50 oil without problems. Just change your oil every 1500 miles. There precious little in the OIF models anyway. There are no real filters in standard triumph engines. There is a centrifugal sludge trap in the crank that kinda does the same thing. Two wire strainers to clean- one in the bottom of the oil tank the other at the crankcase drain. These hardly ever get close to being blocked so don't worry about them every oil change. Best mod you can do to these bikes is fit an aftermarket cartridge oil filter kit.

panda

Installing 20/50 instead of 15/50 will give a little more stability and viscosity. I would recommend it.

the oil filter is an aftermarket kit, another good thing to have.

NIckl..... the oil in the test reports were in a modern bike that is aircooled and the oil is shared between engine and gearbox. Gearboxes really chew up engine oil which is why old bikes with less versatile oils ran them separately so you could have engine oil in the engine and gearbox oil in the gearbox. Simple but good engineering. Modern cars are water cooled and have separate engines and gearboxes (like old bikes, and some of the better new ones )

__________________
A wise man learns from his mistakes..
A genius learns from other peoples mistakes.

NickL

You can try Britishspares.com (the Kiwi mob) for the filter kit
they are a good outfit and reasonably priced.

The filter can be fitted by using a 'U' bolt around the main tube
or in the toolbox area etc. It pipes into the return line.

At the moment i'm using Valvoline 'Classic' 20-50 it's an SG and was about $18 for 4 litres at supercheap on special. The gearbox I use a GL5 80/90EP. I found that very good when i was racing so i use it in the road bike now.


Cheers
Nick