I changed my oil the other day and that 20-50 was like honey. It's not bitter cold yet but, it's around 30-32 degrees in the mornings and high 40s in the middle of the day. I'm thinking that I need to be running a thinner oil. What about 10-40?

 

My '86 FLTC service manual actually says 20W50 below 50 degrees. It's what I use all summer and lately, now that's it's cold, 30s and 40s, the bike is very sluggish to start because the oil is so thick.

I did add Lucas Heavy Duty Oil Additive to both the engine (cut's the Harley's ticking sound down) and tranny. It's not helping in the transmission, I now seem to have stiff shifting in the cold.

There should be a "few" opinions on this. Discussing Oil topics has always been a mass effort.

 

20W50 is what is recommended. You could use 10W40, but if you get a thaw during the time you are riding, you may not have proper lubrication, and heat dissipating results. You could try using Shell Rotella 15W40 diesel oil. My manual says that this oil has adequate properties for a evo V-twin motor.

and BTW make sure that you switch out the air in your tires to winter air. That summer air is too thick, and causes your tires to get stuck to the road.

 

Mobile 1 15W 50 is the stuff to use ... don't put it in your primary though.

You should run the engine before changing the oil. get it warm and it will flow out better.

I guess your weather has been like Virginia, about 20 degrees below normal for the last 3 weeks.

 

Does oil weigh more in the winter? Why?
:-)

 

Well, its true that summer air is not compatable with winter air and that's a global concern, what with all the green house gasses n all.

I'm really not one of those folks who lay awake and pace the floors over oil. I just know that I'll ride all winter for PGR missions. Last year I did a mission in 16 degrees. If 20-50 is honey at 35 degrees its gonna be gonna be rosin at 16 degrees.

 

The whole reason multi-grade oils were developed is so they can run all year round. Only in extreme circumstances it is necessary to use a different grade of oil. So 20-50 is fine. In the short time the engine takes after starting to shake the chill off itself, the oil also will have the chill off it and be like a normal warmer day.

 

Theres a chart in the service manual for my Ultra that recommends 10W-40 in the crankcase for temps below 45 but I still run the 50 stuff in the tranny and primary.

 

The service manual for my 1998 Softail has a chart:
Below 40 - 10W40
40 - 60 - 20W50
60 - 80 - straight 50
above 80 - straight 60
I'm heading out in a couple of hours and replacing the 20W50 with 10W40 and heading to Dark Horse Brewery in Marshall, Michigan. Cheers.

 

I use 10W-40 in Winter with no issues so long as the outdoor temp never gets above 65-F. Valvetrain clatter doesn't happen.