Can anyone comment on Elf 20W50 mineral oil and whether it (or mineral over synthetic oil in general) is well suited to a Ultima 107ci engine for Aussie conditions (I live in Melbourne)???
The back story here is that I discovered the tech who did the last service on my 1992 FXR with its Ultima 107ci put in Elf 20W50 mineral oil. I think there was a miscommunication when he asked about my oil as the bike had Amsoil synthetic which I know I mentioned but also said use his judgement. I had just imported the bike back from Canada when I moved home, and this service was part of getting my RWC prior to registration and also a general service after the bike sat in a box on a boat for a few months.
Am just about to top up the oil before a Snowy Mtns trip. I take it that I can mix other 20W50 mineral oils in for the top up (probably 3000km since service), such as Mobil. But should I drain the mineral oil and go for a synthetic?!
If it was mine i would use synthetic, please dont ask which one......
Mate honestly, ANY good 20W50 mineral oil which is changed regular is good to go for that engine, I use Castrol GTX, never had an issue and my bike is modified. Better still use a good 15W40 diesel oil like Caltex Delo 400, the diesel has a better additive package than just about any other oil out there. I use the Delo in winter. I am a diesel fitter and condition monitoring technician in the mines and I know a bit about oils, don't get ripped off mate, good luck.
20/50 is like water on a hot day i don't even stock 20/50 all Harley oils i stock are above 20/50
Good on ya!
The only obvious solution is to use Olive Oil when I change the mineral oil at 5,000km.
popeye's dick never went rusty because i dipped in Olive oil
I have a heap of mates that live in FNQ and NT and they work in the mines as well, they all use 15W40 diesel oil, I think it gets a bit hotter up there than Sydney. Just relax and don't get too excited, everyone is entitled to an opinion. I am a diesel fitter and a condition monitoring technician, I have NEVER seen 20W50 oil breakdown and "turn to water" not here to argue, just saying.
Dyna only has 2 1/2 ltr oil tank inc da oil filter sump mounted under da engine G/box heat off the road on a 100 deg day would be greater, poor old style air cooled pushrod engine , engine set up lean from the factory to past da epa etcneeds all da help they can get , oils is always a subject, i tell the fella's to change oil tank fluids @ 2.500 klms do da filter @ 5.000 klms that way it's keep clean in between if ya know what i mean
when i change da oils i do a hot dump straight away after they pull up , not wait untill it's cool enough to work on , when ya do a hot dump you can see how thin the oil is @ operating temp straight up ,
Another question! ......
My FXR has the oil drain tube (no drain bolt and o ring etc), accessible by popping out the left side cover. Changing the oil just means unclipping the oil tube and letting it drain into a bottle. My oil tank is 2.84L capacity. Is it worth it topping it off with 1L or should I just drain and refill (current oil has somewhere between 2,000-3,000km)? And if I do drain and refill, any thoughts on whether I should be doing the change where, with oil filter off, I run the bike until I see the cleaner new oil wash out, shut down and top up? Does that extra cup of oil that would remain by not doing so make much difference to a 3L change if changing mineral oil under 5,000km?
In case the info is relevant, my oil filter has been moved from its original FXR odd position of under the bike in front of the back wheel to the now-conventional front of the bike. The Ultima 107ci I have in her chews more oil than my old Evo 80ci (oil pressure gauge keeps tabs, never an over hearing problem thus far), hence the topping up idea.
PS: this is all part of taking over all the maintenance etc tasks with regard to the bike that I can, both to save money but also to simply know more. My practice before importing the bike back with me from overseas was twice-yearly services by an Indy shop (and I still think leave it to the experts for many things!)
FXR's are a great bike i am building a FXR-145 ci S&S engine & another FXR with a 106 ci mountian motor repica ,i ve built both engines , when changing the oil do it hot as, refill with Penrite Enduro grade run mot with the oiul filter untill fresh oil is seen cuming out then screw on new filter top up run & re check level hot with bike in upright possie, oil filter line is on the scavenge side of the oil pump so it is safe to do this on FXR models bigger aftermarket engine will need the upgraded W oil , cheers Bob
Daddyracer, thanks for the tips. Is that Penrite oil you mention then 25W70? I read the description and it species pre-1992 Evo engines but then notes the oil is suitable for engines that specify 20W50 but burn excessive oil. That's the Ultima 107 for sure! Ever since my Evo went to Harlry heaven and the Ultima replaced the Evo (3-4 yrs ago) the bike burns excessive oil, mineral or synthetic making no difference.
I am sure you probably know this already, but make sure you have new rubber mounts in those FXR rebuilds and be careful to align the engine properly. The extra vibration taxes the mounts and the clearance. Otherwise, I hear some say the whole "FXR is the best bike Harley built" claim is myth, but I love my FXR and have ridden the later performance bikes like the V-Rod and CVO and I honestly prefer my 22 year old beast for lean angle and overall ride. I'm probably biased of course!
if i was to build a Big Twin Harley for myself it would be & FXR the rubber mounts are a bit weak for there job in life there were meant for cruzing not racing , for the 145ci FXR we will have stronger rubber mounts + stablizer top & bottom of swingingarm pivot etc , + a frame mounted adjustable stopper to min the amount of engine torque lift so it doesn't rip the front rubber mount , all very interestingthe motor will lift @ the front in hard use
