Follower scar oil tests (2018)

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bushman said:
Hello Jim, thanks so much for the oil test work - it is very enlightening.
I have question about LIQUI MOLY oils, specifically 20w50 4T Motorcycle oil - have you run a test on that?
Would be interested to find out as it seems to be gaining popularity here as a high end product.
Thanks
JIM
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I have not tested that oil, but I suspect the "HD synth 20-50 Street" would be suitable as it is designed for Harley Davidson air cooled twins.

The 4T is for a late model OHC and would not likely be suitable for a Norton.
 
Thank you, Jim, for all the effort you have put into this.
Here in Holland, Valvoline VR1 Racing 10W60 full synth is available.
I do not see it tested, any idea where this oil type roughly would compare to?
Thanks, Bennie.
 
slimslowslider said:
Thank you, Jim, for all the effort you have put into this.
Here in Holland, Valvoline VR1 Racing 10W60 full synth is available.
I do not see it tested, any idea where this oil type roughly would compare to?
Thanks, Bennie.
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I tested the 20-50 Full Synthetic. It was low friction but it did not carry much load before failure. I would not use it in a Norton.

The VR1 20-50 conventional carried much more load but it oxidized quickly. It would be good with frequent oil changes.

I did not test the 10W60 full Synthetic but I suspect the results would be about the same as the 20-50 Full Synthetic.
 
I've used the VR1 conventional for 60,000 miles in a Vincent and changed it frequently.
The bore wear at 60,000 was barely measureable, just 1 thou of total taper.
The high heat from friction might be a good thing for that engine. Stockish Vincents take forever to warm the oil to operating temps and seem to just run a lot cooler than the Norton engine.

Glen
 
Onder said:
How frequent is frequently?
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That depends on how it's used. Cool weather, lower speeds ect. make for lower oil temps and slower oxidation.

1000 miles in my bike, in hot weather, at interstate speed will turn VR1 into something like tar.

If it's black, change it.
 
Who knows, Jim, would love to, 2011 rally and USA trip was great.
I retire in February, so more time on hands then.
But, to be honest, the "dot on the horizon" is a trip to South America, of course with a Commando.
Cheers, Bennie.
 
I cannot find the chart of the results although it is mentioned that it is in the first post. Could someone point me in the right direction. Great project and thanks.
 
Go back to the Forum heading page, the first one is Norton Commando Motorcycles Classic. At the bottom of this section is the oil database
 
Hi, Im quite new to the thread and havent read everything yet but looked at the tests.
Its a very impressive test and interesting to read. The tests show the oil at its best new from the bottle. The oil has many important functions besides those tested. But I think its a good starter with an oil that has superior properties from start. However after use the oil gets polluted with carbon deposits, and other particles. The oil also gets diluted from the gasoline which detoriates its properties
Maybe it has been covered here or tested but I think it would be really interesting to test the oil when it has been run in an engine to see if the properties stays fine or if also there exist differences between oils under running conditions which possible could make a new perfect oil worse than a an oil with less good start characteristics. It could possibly be so.
 
Given the hours and hours of unpaid time and money that Jim has generously donated to his oil analysis for the benefit of the Norton community,
it might be a bit much to be asking him to start an entirely new evaluation. But, yes, it would be interesting to know which oils are best to
run for 3000 miles and why.
Me? I use Mobil1 20-50 V-Twin and change it every 1000 miles.
 
Whilst those stuck in the past like myself still dump Castrol 20w-50 GTX and change at 1-1.5K depending on ambient temp..... I've read the info also and am considering a switch.
 
Swetune said:
Hi, Im quite new to the thread and havent read everything yet but looked at the tests.
Its a very impressive test and interesting to read. The tests show the oil at its best new from the bottle. The oil has many important functions besides those tested. But I think its a good starter with an oil that has superior properties from start. However after use the oil gets polluted with carbon deposits, and other particles. The oil also gets diluted from the gasoline which detoriates its properties
Maybe it has been covered here or tested but I think it would be really interesting to test the oil when it has been run in an engine to see if the properties stays fine or if also there exist differences between oils under running conditions which possible could make a new perfect oil worse than a an oil with less good start characteristics. It could possibly be so.
Click to expand...

Jim already goes a long way towards explaining which oils break down too soon for use in a Norton.
 
People in general don't have a clue about oil. They think that they can go 10,000 miles between oil changes because the manufacturer claims the oil doesn't significantly break down before that point.... BUT, lubrication is only one thing your oil does. It also absorbs and filters the impurities that your engine creates from combustion. After 10,000 miles, you may not have lost the lubricity of the oil, but the oil is filthy... so you are driving around with the dirt in the oil grinding up your journals, bushings and bearings.

That's why the answer to the preventing engine wear issue is to use an oil that tested well for thermal breakdown and lubricity.

AND That's why the answer to the oil contaminated with impurities from combustion issue is having a filter and simply changing your oil more frequently, regardless of which oil you chose.
 
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What about oil in a diesel engine? It turns black very fast but lives a long life in an engine between usual factory recommended intervals.
Those engines last forever.
 
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