Engine Oil Question

[David in NW Penna]

I'm getting ready to change my oil in a couple of weeks, and while leafing the the owner's manual for another reason I came across the oil section. I used to use 10W40 synthetic until a couple of years ago when I saw some post on here about the engine running quieter with dino oil. I tried it and it did quite the engine some. My question is, the book says you can also use 10W50, 20W40, and 20W50. Has anybody tried these other oil weights? What are the Pro's and/or Con's of these other options? Since we travel on trips two up & usually pull a fully loaded Bunkhouse camper in the summer time when it's on the hotter side, especially if you get stuck in traffic, would one of these heavier rated oil weights be a smarter choice? We're leaving in early August for about a 1000 to 1200 mile trip, usually the hottest time of the summer.

[gearheadfla]

I, like many here use Rotella T 15w-40, yes diesel engine oil, I live in Florida where road temps in the summer reach over 100 in town. Never a problem, another thing you need to know is there is TWO drain plugs plus the filter, refill with 3 qts 22 oz of oil, no more, no less, do not trust the site glass, it is not reliable. If you over fill the engine with oil, it can foam and air can get into the lifters and make them tap and the seal behind the waterpump may leak. This is all under advise of Carl Leo, our XII guru. I just refill with 3qts 22oz and forget about the site glass at all.

[David in NW Penna]

I've always gone by the sight glass. Is this the amount you use if you pull both plugs? To be honest, I've known about the 2nd oil plug, but I've never pulled it. Thanks

[David in NW Penna]

I've seen posts here before about some of you using this 15W40 oil. Is there any clutch concerns or issues about using this? (I figured the southern riders would know best about the heat.)

[ekap1200]

I've always gone by the sight glass. Is this the amount you use if you pull both plugs? To be honest, I've known about the 2nd oil plug, but I've never pulled it. Thanks

Very important !!!!!!! TWO drain plugs plus the filter, refill with 3 qts 22 oz of oil, no more, no less, do not trust the site glass,,,, overfilling can cause several issues with the VII engine at various spots , such as the oil foaming up and airating the lifter 's -----or excessive pressure from foaming pushing out the clutch rod seal or waterpump drive seal.

As for oil , too many choices and it becomes whatever you choose..
Just make sure if you use synthetic that is made for wet clutch applications, or the clutch will slip. I use 10-40 around here , and vary the weights by season and temprature ,and have used synthetic on trips to extend my oil change interval. And that works for me. The Rottela oil really does do well with our engines also.
Gene

[Chris near Kansas City]

The only time I use 20w50 on the XII is for trips and if we're heading for hot stuff. Like Kanab. Or DeGray Lake. Or Durango. Or Santa Fe. Almost all of them, LOL.

[David in NW Penna]

The only time I use 20w50 on the XII is for trips and if we're heading for hot stuff. Like Kanab. Or DeGray Lake. Or Durango. Or Santa Fe. Almost all of them, LOL.

Chris, what do you think about the Rotella 15W40 diesel oil the others are talking about? I remember reading other posts over the years about this oil.

[David in NW Penna]

FYI - I found this info on the web about the Rotella T 15W40 oil:Motorcycle usage:
Though marketed as an engine oil for diesel trucks, Rotella oil has found popularity with motorcyclists as well. The lack of "friction modifiers" in Rotella means they do not interfere with wet clutch operations. (This is called a "shared sump" design, which is unlike automobiles which maintain separate oil reservoirs - one for the engine and one for the transmission). Used oil analysis (UOA) reports on BobIsTheOilGuy.com have shown wear metals levels comparable to oils marketed as motorcycle-specific.

[Chris near Kansas City]

The only time I use 20w50 on the XII is for trips and if we're heading for hot stuff. Like Kanab. Or DeGray Lake. Or Durango. Or Santa Fe. Almost all of them, LOL.

Chris, what do you think about the Rotella 15W40 diesel oil the others are talking about? I remember reading other posts over the years about this oil.

Carl loves it. I use regular Castrol GTX car oil.

[gearheadfla]

I've seen posts here before about some of you using this 15W40 oil. Is there any clutch concerns or issues about using this? (I figured the southern riders would know best about the heat.)

No problems at all with clutch or heat. Sitting in South Florida traffic and no clutch slippage at all.

[2 for the road]

I'm a Mobil1 guy. Use it my XII and my Roadstar. Seems to help quiet the transmission. Performed well last summer on our trip west through the desert heat and the sleet on top of Longs Peak! That said, I would NEVER doubt what Carl has to say! Ride safe!

[SgtSlag]

I prefer synthetic oils due to their ability to withstand heat: conventional oils break down above 250 F, while synthetics break down at temperatures above 400 F! I use Shell Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40, roughly ~$21/gallon, at Wal-Mart. It is API rated SN, the latest API rating for cars. It is safe for all car engines, as it will not void the warranty on even the newest cars. Any synthetic will work exceptionally well, withstanding all the heat you can throw at it. The rest is up to you to decide. Cheers!

[kjsett]

I have used synthetics whenever I could since I lived in N Dakota in the 70's.
I switched my Cummins Ram 250 4x4 to it in Colorado 4 years ago (Rotella T6) and now both bikes (V-XII and Vulcan VN800A) run on it. I don't worry about too long on oil changes, cause the oil is fine. Just need to get the dirt out, so I change oil and filter every 6 months (rarely do i put more than the recommended mileage on them). I am running all three in 100 to 110F heat here in Phoenix, and the pickup has been driven and started without being plugged in down to near zero (conventional oil won't even turn over).
I have only had the Voyager since last Thanksgiving, but being where I am, I expect to ride year round (just can't get that far out of the valley in the middle of winter).
Anyway, both bikes like this oil just fine. Time will tell of course, but if Carl Leo says it's good, it is good.

[lockwoodjohn]

Hi Everyone,
This being my first Voyager (only had it for 3 weeks now) I have found out alot about my
bike by going to this web sight and tapping in to you good peoples knowledge. My
next question is if you can not trust the sight window is there another way to check your oil level
some time down the road, That is after putting in 3 quarts and 22oz. of oil at the oil change?


Thank You
Lockwoodjohn

[Gator Mike]

I've found that if I run it then shut it down for about 15 minutes on the center stand my oil level will be just above the sight glass low line with 3qts 22oz. ...........Gator Mike

[Lucasind]

....hello john ,and welcome! I bought my voy 12 in 2012, the shop I got it from said the bike had just been serviced, and would not need an oil change until the next riding season as it had just been done. I too have always been a "sight glass" window guy. every time I checked my oil visually, all I ever saw was oil in the glass.. just before leaving for the logan rally, I put the bike up on the air lift and pulled the drain plugs and filter.. oil drained for quite some time before the sight glass became functional ... as it turned out the bike had over 4.5 qts in it and never experienced any leaks or trouble of any manor. I used the rotella 15/40 diesel,, and 3qt 22oz shows nothing in the sight glass when the bike is on the center stand, again thousands of miles later... no trouble of any manor. This great bike refuses to to anything wrong , no matter WHAT us human beings due to it. I know how much oil I put in the engine and if changed regularly and you don't have a severe leak or a smokin oil burner,, you dont' have to do anything to these great bikes but ride and enjoy !!...............................tony

[Skibou]

I've always found it a little hard to get my head around the addition of 3 quarts and 22 oz. It seems sort of like adding apples and oranges. When you add to the confusion that up here in metric land our oil is sold in litres, you need to take a calculator along when you change the oil. This was the case until I happened to check the manual recommendation (3.5 litres) with my handy converter, and guess what, 3 quarts 22 oz. turns out to be -- 3.4897 litres. I doubt the one ml difference would have any effect, or would indeed be measurable without laboratory equipment. At last something is made easier by metrication.

[debron]

....hello john ,and welcome! I bought my voy 12 in 2012, the shop I got it from said the bike had just been serviced, and would not need an oil change until the next riding season... just before leaving for the logan rally, I put the bike up on the air lift and pulled the drain plugs and filter.. oil drained for quite some time before the sight glass became functional ... as it turned out the bike had over 4.5 qts in it...

This is why you should always change all fluids when you buy a used bike! You never know what the previous owner (or shop) did!

This was the case until I happened to check the manual recommendation (3.5 litres) with my handy converter, and guess what, 3 quarts 22 oz. turns out to be -- 3.4897 litres.

Or looking at it the other way - 3.5 liters converts to 3.698 quarts, or 3 qts, 22.336 ounces!

on your original question, after putting in the 3q 22oz, if you have no oil leaks and you're not spewing blue smoke, the oil has no place to go.

[Lucasind]

....thanks ron...... didn't I just state that.....l

[debron]

....thanks ron...... didn't I just state that.....l

Sure. . . but it bears repeating!
Let's see, what other explanation can I come up with . . . ?