Hi Jim
I see that a separated heading has been added and the oil analysis graphs are there, but did we get any closer to getting all the data applied into an excel spreadsheet???
I have more oils to test.
I don't know the prices of the UK oils but here the winner for the lowest priced oil suitable for a Norton is the Castrol GTX 20-50.
I probably wouldn't head out across the great basin in 100 degree temps at 100 mph using it, but I wouldn't be afraid of it for normal use.
Many of the oils I don't recommend for a Norton fail because they can't stand the heat of the air cooled motor, but at 220 degrees in my tester there are a lot of them that will bury the load needle.
Jim, if I recall correctly, the GTX had great load, but high friction.
How about GTX with Activ8?
Yes the load may reduce, but so might the friction.
Might just be a good economy option for Brit / EU Nortoneers...?
Couldn’t agree more with that Jim!It might work.
One thing for sure is, I will not be adding any additives without doing some testing first to see what happens.
Now I know why the oil engineer I talked to said "the results may not be what you expect"
Castrol GTX 20/50 is available in the UK but costs a bit more (Amazon UK) than Bel Ray EXP 20/50.
The Bel Ray exp had 400 lbs film strength vs 257 for GTX . Bel Ray also had much lower friction at 1.99 vs 7.87 for the GTX.
Glen
So the next question is how does it do in the oil change frequency contest? If you can safely double the change frequency then you
can withstand increase in cost per quart/litre.
While I appreciate the sentiment, it's hard to hear – I for one am already doing what I can. For example, I subscribed to a shipment of oil samples to Jim from the UK. So they're wise words, but I'm not riding for now because the bike's waiting on a top-end repair that I currently can't afford … I just do my best.
The worst thing, which I'm only flagging here in case anyone's tempted to say it, is when someone says 'if you can't afford to look after your Norton properly, you shouldn't have it'. I've seen that said more than once online. I bought my Commando when I could afford it, more than 20 years ago – if anyone thinks I shouldn't have it now, they can come and take it from my cold, dead hands …!
Jim, I know this is not a fair request, but on the off chance that there is at least one other owner who is as technically illiterate as I am, could you summarize your findings for each oil for a five year old? (Line stolen from a movie). For example you say Mobil 1 15-50 has almost no friction but loses its properties quickly when temperatures go up. Does that mean it should not be used on a (I'm guessing) typical bike that does less than 1,000 miles a year? I know your test data is probably the most accurate independent oil testing on the internet, but I'm beyond being embarrassed about saying that I don't really understand much of it. Thanks
Im running Fuchs Super4_20-50 not the comp4. At 1200 miles it is getting darker. Not black but noticeably darker.
I do mostly 75 mile runs non stop. A mix of green lane and A-B roads. Not a lot of dual carriage but when I do it
is 3800 rpm 70mph.
Im thinking that the semi syn BelRay10-50 V Twin might do. The 10w may well ease starting too.
What would be the suggested change interval? Im in the cool southwest.
Sorry, SteveA, maybe you've got the wrong end of the stick? I meant no offence to you at all. I simply flagged up something that hasn't been said yet, by you or anyone else on this thread, as a line in the sand. Because I've seen it said before online. That's all. That's why I emphasised the word 'flagging'. I too will spend the extra when I have to, once I have it. I hope you get that now, and no hard feelings?That isn't what I said at all!
....and Airhead BMW's. Plenty of gnashing of teeth over oil selection on those forums.It's been BIG DEAL for many years in just about every old/vintage OHV engined-car and moto forum. Of course, for Motos that pretty much just means, with a few exceptions, old brittbikes and Harleys! In the rest of the vehicle world, it is like worrying about who makes the best buggy whips!