Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

I live in Dubai (Middle East) the temperature never goes below 90 in summer nights, 110-115 is the average during the day. Ialready got the HD premium oil cooler for my 2007 Dyna, but want to use a thicker oil to make sure nothing goes wrong. My only oil choice is HD 60 or Castrol Synth 10W60 motor oil, which is the oil usedin my BMW M roadster.

Any difference between cars & motorcycle oils?

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

WHAT?????????

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

Either oil you mentioned would be fine; personally I'd go with the straight 60 wt if the temp is never below 90 at night. Either Automobile or Motorcycle specific oil is fine in the crankcase.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

I tried that ONE TIME. After 300 miles the motor was running hot and making noise. Put mc oil back in and all was right with the world. I won't do that again.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

I would stick with the Mororcycle Oil. There is a difference contrary to what is said in the forums.

Bear

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

Someday someone will post the chemical composition of some oil base stocks so we can actually see the differences. While there are probably some there is no independently verifiable published information to show what the differences are, and whether these differences really matter.

I don't run mc oils. Never have.

In your case, I don't like either of the choices. Straight 60 is hard on a motor at startup. 10w-60 is a very wide spread in viscosity. It's hot enough even at the lowest temps that the multi-vis ain't ever gonna be much less than a 60, but it'll flow better at startup. I'd be tempted to try the multi-vis and do changes at no more than 2,000 miles, and maybe less.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

I would stick with the JASO rated MC oils because they have additives no longer allowed in SL/SM rated automotive oils. If you can't get those try a HDEO diesel 40w or 50w oil like Chevron Delo 400 or Shell Rotella or Mobil Delvac. Those will work.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

KB, I think the additive bans do not apply to oils at or above 10w-40 viscosity. At least that was so recently. And he is in Dubai, so the EPA mandated crap doesn't apply at all.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

damn straight you can usecar oils, long as they are the right grade.

a few years back Donny Petersen at Heavy Duty Cycles in Toronto sent samples of most major Harley-market and equivalent weight car oils to a lab for testing. The results can be summed up as: 'they are all pretty much the same'. Very similar protective/additive packages. Even the bloody zinc was measured. The results were published in American Iron. Very telling.....

Europe's oldest H-D dealership for years used Kendall Oil for all its service work. They can't now....gotta be seen to be using SYN3 ;)

Oil isseven parts marketing, three parts scaremongering, for my money.

Change it often. Use the right grade. End of story.

Your mileage may vary, naturally.

RE: Can I use cars engine oil for my ride?
 

"If you can't get those try a HDEO diesel 40w or 50w oil like Chevron Delo 400 or Shell Rotella or Mobil Delvac. Those will work. "

Is this true?