What kind of oil is everybody running

[flynrider]

Flynrider
Does the wind chill factor apply the temperature range the oil weight range?

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.

 

[jtopiso_imp]

There is no oil flow thermostat. If the engine is running, oil is flowing through the cooler. This is shown in the Lubrication System section of the service manual.

Good to know. thx!

Flynrider
Does the wind chill factor apply the temperature range the oil weight range?

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.
The engine will "feel" different depending on wind speed (that's why cooling fans work on coolers). The cooling fins are more efficient in the wind (radiation heat may be the same, but convection is not). However, you should choose your oil for the worst conditions, which is standing still with no air-speed.

 

[alprider]

There is no oil flow thermostat. If the engine is running, oil is flowing through the cooler. This is shown in the Lubrication System section of the service manual.

Good to know. thx!

Flynrider
Does the wind chill factor apply the temperature range the oil weight range?

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.
The engine will "feel" different depending on wind speed (that's why cooling fans work on coolers). The cooling fins are more efficient in the wind (radiation heat may be the same, but convection is not). However, you should choose your oil for the worst conditions, which is standing still with no air-speed.

btw

in the first series of the 1800 goldwing the van blew ""forward/ out to the front"" :huh:...for example : at the speed of a Corso (bikemeeting) got any drivers heatproblems.....

I don't know what the development engineers thought at that

 

[jedd_imp]

There is no oil flow thermostat. If the engine is running, oil is flowing through the cooler. This is shown in the Lubrication System section of the service manual.

Good to know. thx!

Flynrider
Does the wind chill factor apply the temperature range the oil weight range?

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.

No, it doesn't. The wind chill factor is a number that estimates the effect of air flow over exposed skin (i.e. how the wind makes you feel even colder). You should use ambient temperature to figure out what temperature your engine is feeling.
The engine will "feel" different depending on wind speed (that's why cooling fans work on coolers). The cooling fins are more efficient in the wind (radiation heat may be the same, but convection is not). However, you should choose your oil for the worst conditions, which is standing still with no air-speed.

 

[bobS_imp]

Made a trip to the Honda Powersport dealership because I wanted to be sure to get the right oil for my 2013 CB1100. The guy comes back with 10W-40. I tell him it says 10W-30 in the manual. He says " I know but they are telling us to use 10W-40 now." I question him a bit further. He is adamant. I buy the 10W-40. Driving home I'm thinking "who should I be listening to, the engineers in Japan who designed this bike and fully understand the difference between 10W-30 and 10W-40, or some kid in the parts department?" Either the engineers were wrong or oil has somehow changed or...
Does anyone have any insight or opinion on this? I'm thinking it is not a big deal and don't feel like driving back to exchange the oil so I'm going ahead with the oil change, but thought I'd check in with you all anyway.
Thanks!
bobS

 

[redbirds_imp]

Honda factory service manual says 10w-40 is fine. I've been using Shell Rotella 5w-40 T6 in mine since 2nd oil change with good result.

 

[bobS_imp]

Thanks redbirds! Here is another "stupid" question from a guy with very little mechanic experience: Manual says to tighten the filter to 19 lbs/ft. Does anybody actually use a torque wrench on a filter? I didn't know such a thing existed...

 

[Wisedrum]

Made a trip to the Honda Powersport dealership because I wanted to be sure to get the right oil for my 2013 CB1100. The guy comes back with 10W-40. I tell him it says 10W-30 in the manual. He says " I know but they are telling us to use 10W-40 now." I question him a bit further. He is adamant. I buy the 10W-40. Driving home I'm thinking "who should I be listening to, the engineers in Japan who designed this bike and fully understand the difference between 10W-30 and 10W-40, or some kid in the parts department?" Either the engineers were wrong or oil has somehow changed or...
Does anyone have any insight or opinion on this? I'm thinking it is not a big deal and don't feel like driving back to exchange the oil so I'm going ahead with the oil change, but thought I'd check in with you all anyway.
Thanks!
bobS

Hsving no insight on which oil will work best in the CB1100 engine,.my 2013 Honda runs well since the 1.000km inspection with 10W40 half synthetic oil. The Honda dealer used it and I stick to it ever since over 45.000km. Of course I led the same debate with him asking for reasons why he is doing so and the manual is telling something different. He explained, if a Fireblade is running with 10W40, why can't a CB? That comparison was not so fitting, 'cause on the one you have a watercooled high reving sport engine on the other an aircooled motorbike with a somehow modest layout.

Nevertheless I keep to this specification and til yet it did the Honda no harm, not even showing signs of any oil consumption between oil change intervalls. I don't rev the Honda 'hard' and let the engine warm properly up on each ride, but do the change thing only every 12.000km instead of Honda's recommendation of 6.000km.

Wisedrum

 

[redbirds_imp]

Thanks redbirds! Here is another "stupid" question from a guy with very little mechanic experience: Manual says to tighten the filter to 19 lbs/ft. Does anybody actually use a torque wrench on a filter? I didn't know such a thing existed...

I do what I've always done, clean the mating surface on the motor and check that the old filter gasket came off with the old filter. Smear a little fresh oil on the sealer gasket of the new filter and tighten by hand as tight as I can.

 

[DaSwami_imp]

Bringing this back... Redbirds...I find that interesting that the service manual says 10W/40 is fine, as the owner's manual in both the 2014 and the 2017 make no mention of any alternatives. Funny, as every other Japanese bike I've owned lists a viscosity range that is temperature dependent; we've all seen the horizontal "bar graphs" with arrows in the owner's manuals.

The owner's manuals say 10W/30, period.

I, too, worry about the ability of the thinner oil to hold up in the severe Florida summer heat.


Does the service manual make any mention of other weights of oil? Anybody want to post a pic of the relevant section so we can put this to rest?

Thanks...

 

[flynrider]

I don't think posting pics from the copyrighted manual are allowed on this site.

My '13 service manual (pg. 3-14) recommends Honda GN-4 10w-30. Next to that it states that other viscosities shown in the chart can be used when the average temperature is within the indicated range.

The chart is the the horizontal bar/arrow graph you referred to. The 10w-40 part of the bar starts at about 60F and goes to about 110F.

 

[DaSwami_imp]

Thanks for that. Does that include even higher viscosities (10W/50)???

 

[Calcb_imp]

Motul 300V, 10-40. No issues. Shifts like butter.

 

[SportsterDoc]

Thanks for that. Does that include even higher viscosities (10W/50)???

No, just 10W-30, with an option for 10W-40.

Motul 300V, 10-40. No issues. Shifts like butter.

Motoul makes a VERY good oil, but rather expensive.
Used 10W-60 in my 2016 Moto Guzzi, but the V7II only took two quarts.

 

[Lord Popgun]

Thanks for that. Does that include even higher viscosities (10W/50)???

No, it does not. The manual note says “Other viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average temperature in your riding area is within the indicated range.”

The only viscosities on the chart are are 10W30 and 10W40. And thats up to a max of 120 degrees F. I can’t imagine living where the temp is average 120. Maybe like Phoenix?

 

[SportsterDoc]

Thanks for that. Does that include even higher viscosities (10W/50)???

No, it does not. The manual note says “Other viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average temperature in your riding area is within the indicated range.”

The only viscosities on the chart are are 10W30 and 10W40. And thats up to a max of 120 degrees F. I can’t imagine living where the temp is average 120. Maybe like Phoenix?

No, it does not. The manual note says “Other viscosities shown in the chart may be used when the average temperature in your riding area is within the indicated range.”

The only viscosities on the chart are are 10W30 and 10W40. And thats up to a max of 120 degrees F. I can’t imagine living where the temp is average 120. Maybe like Phoenix?
The highest temp I rode my Moto Guzzi last summer was 116 F.

I've been in Lake Havasu, AZ when it was 128 F, but was not on a bike.

 

[Lord Popgun]

128 is HOT! But Lake Havasu’s average temp in the Summer is nowhere near that according to a google search. Still it is HOT there!

 

[SportsterDoc]

128 is HOT! But Lake Havasu’s average temp in the Summer is nowhere near that according to a google search. Still it is HOT there!

Lake Havasu City is #2 to Death Valley for hottest temps on record.

However, the average is more comfortable.

Las Vegas today, high of only 102, with wind advisory

Lake Havasu today, high of 106, with wind advisory

Death Valley today, high of 114, with wind advisory

My recent M/C trips to Death Valley have NOT included June, July or August!

 

[use2b_imp]

went Synthetic
HP4S Genuine Honda 4-Stroke Synthetic Motor Oil 10W-30

 

[chaz34_imp]

Made a trip to the Honda Powersport dealership because I wanted to be sure to get the right oil for my 2013 CB1100. The guy comes back with 10W-40. I tell him it says 10W-30 in the manual. He says " I know but they are telling us to use 10W-40 now." I question him a bit further. He is adamant. I buy the 10W-40. Driving home I'm thinking "who should I be listening to, the engineers in Japan who designed this bike and fully understand the difference between 10W-30 and 10W-40, or some kid in the parts department?" Either the engineers were wrong or oil has somehow changed or...
Does anyone have any insight or opinion on this? I'm thinking it is not a big deal and don't feel like driving back to exchange the oil so I'm going ahead with the oil change, but thought I'd check in with you all anyway.
Thanks!
bobS

bobs
Oil is as controversial as politics and religion, however my manual recommends 10w30 so I use Honda MC oil as suggested. Can't go wrong with factory specs in my experience. Some exceptions out there related to environmental conditions, but just service as recommended and the CB could just out-last you.