klr spotted up butterfield canyon, utah

[Norm Keller]

>Just out of curiosity I'm wondering why you're >running a 30w oil. Seems >kind of light to me.

Depends on the operating temperature of the engine. 5W30 Rotella keeps good oil pressure in mine (according to my dash gauge) at much warmer temperatures than we are seeing here right now. I've run 5W30 up to 70 degrees with no low pressure signs while running at 70 mph on the highway for 20 or 30 miles. IMO people often run too heavy an oil viscosity in the mistaken impression that heavier (thicker, more viscous) oil is better. As long as the oil is able to maintain an oil wedge it is heavy enough. The job of preventing gear tooth galling is more dependent on EP (extreme pressure) components that of oil thickness. On the other hand, running too thick an oil risks oil starvation to areas such as camshaft bearings and lobes during start up. As an experiment we ran 30 weight oil in a Dodge 2.5 engine at minus 30 while observing oil deliver to the camshaft area through a Plexiglas cover. There was smoke rolling off the bearings and several were destroyed before oil flow began. Several cam lobes were squealing because they were dry for so long that the EP deposits were destroyed. Norm [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Thor Lancelot Simon]

On Fri, Mar 16, 2007 at 10:01:20PM -0700, Norm Keller wrote:

> >Just out of curiosity I'm wondering why you're >running a 30w oil. Seems > >kind of light to me. > > Depends on the operating temperature of the engine. 5W30 Rotella > keeps good oil pressure in mine (according to my dash gauge) at much > warmer temperatures than we are seeing here right now.

I think both you guys mean 5w40, don't you? At least around here, Rotella comes in 15w40 dino and 5w40 synth, but no 5w30. Thor

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Norm Keller" wrote:

> > Depends on the operating temperature of the engine. 5W30 Rotella keeps good oil

pressure in mine (according to my dash gauge) at much warmer temperatures than we are seeing here right now. I've run 5W30 up to 70 degrees with no low pressure signs while running at 70 mph on the highway for 20 or 30 miles.

>

Cognitive dissonance here. A couple of posts back, Eric Green said there is no such thing as 5w30 Rotella. Let's get to the bottom of this. Anyone? Bueller?

[Harry Seifert]

Mr. Moose, 5W30 seems really kinda light for a KLR. The lightest weight oil that the factory recommends is 10W40. And that's in areas where the ambient air temperature remains above 60 degrees F. I was surprised when I found out that my new Toyota FJ uses 5W30, but then again, the Toyota engine is an relatively recent design, whereas our venerable KLR engine was designed in WW2. Or just afterwards. You might want to re-think your oil choice. Harry Seifert bseifert71@...

> [Original Message] > From: Jeff Saline > To: > Cc: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com> > Date: 3/16/2007 1:09:53 PM > Subject: Re: [DSN_KLR650] Quick oil question > > On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 17:18:08 -0000 "paladin_1176" > writes: > > When I did the doohickey upgrade, I drained all the oil as it needed > > it > > anyways. I loaded it back up with a new filter and Rotella 5w-30 > > oil. > > I've only put around 200 miles on the bike, and my oil is almost > > black. Is this typical? Most vehicles I have will keep a golden > > look > > to the oil up to the 2k-3k range if it's running good. Could it be > > > > that the fresh oil flushed a bunch of carbon out and I should just > > drain the oil and replace? > > > > Moose > <><><><><><><> > <><><><><><><> > > Moose, > > I'd suggest that's fairly typical of the KLR and oil color view through > the site glass. > > Just out of curiosity I'm wondering why you're running a 30w oil. Seems > kind of light to me. > > Best, > > Jeff Saline > ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal > Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org > The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota > 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > >

[daylan darby]

I had a nice chat with a fellow KLR'r up Butterfield Canyon (it was blocked by snow). He said he was on his way to pick up Hot dog buns - there's no stores within 5 miles! I occasionally get lost like that also. Nice to meet you sir.