Prefered engine lubricant type

[Sylvester]

I use Motul 20/50 Mineral oil with no problems. I do find the airheads really need regular oil changes more than other bikes. By that I mean that I notice that the engines have more mechanical noise when the oil has done a few thousand miles/kilos more than other bikes I've had especialy in summer. I change oil every six months. I don't do many miles at the moment but the bike runs sweeter with fresh oil. It made me wonder if the sump extension would be a good idea.
I also looked at the round rocker covers but they seem to be less robust than the square ones and as mine doesn't seem to burn oil, I dont see the need to stick the filler cap in a place that could get damaged. They do look good though!!!!

 

[Racoon]

I noticed lots of moisture in the airbox and on into the carbs when I used it. I had the same problem using Halfords Classic 20/50. The Halfords oil seems to go "Off" quickly as well needing more frequent oil changes.

I'd be interested to hear why Proff and Thunder came to the same conclusion.

just put halfords classic in mine how can i tell when it goes off?

 

[Rob Farmer]

My bike got rattly after one or two thousand miles. Changing the oil quietened everything down again. Best to make your own mind up about these things though

 

[Rob Farmer]

If you get moisture, perhaps you don't ride it far enough

It's not an issue now I'm using Fuchs. I've no grudge against Duckhams after all it was in the engine for me to find an issue with moisture.

 

[(RIP) Proff]

I MUST NOT ANSWER "WHAT OIL THREADS"

repeat at least 1000 times Proff
I fall for it every time

 

[John Armstrong]

I MUST NOT ANSWER "WHAT OIL THREADS"
I fall for it every time

But you already have

 

[cookie]

I MUST NOT ANSWER "WHAT OIL THREADS"

repeat at least 1000 times Proff
I fall for it every time

me too

 

[Rob Farmer]

Well don't f%cking read them


I find it quite interesting

 

[cookie]

Well don't f%cking read them

it's not the reading, it's the answering.

oil choice seems to be largely personal prejudice based on little technical knowledge, small experience and 2nd hand anecdotal evidence. i include my replies in that BTW

bottom line for me, is that i rarely hear of*, let alone see, any engines that have been damaged by oil choice.
99% of the time, damage is caused by running out of oil. whereupon the fcuktard owner will declare "but the red light only just came on"

the other 0.9% is made up of people who use the same oil for years on end until it turns to grinding paste.

*0.1% are the people who put the wrong oil in sensitive engines. VW TDI PDs for instance.

note: all figures are a figment of my imagination

 

[Rob Farmer]

Thats why I was curious why Proff and Thunder had picked up on the Duckhams oil, They both have years of riding under their belts. My only issue was the emulsified goo from it clogging my carbs. I tried another oil and the problem went away, back to Duckhams and it came back.

I've got plenty of worn parts if you ever want pictures

 

[cookie]

I've got plenty of worn parts if you ever want pictures

only if wear was caused by incorrect lube choice.

 

[Thunder]

Thats why I was curious why Proff and Thunder had picked up on the Duckhams oil, They both have years of riding under their belts. My only issue was the emulsified goo from it clogging my carbs. I tried another oil and the problem went away, back to Duckhams and it came back.

I've got plenty of worn parts if you ever want pictures

Doh missed your earlier question

Previous experience with Duckhams and conversations with the wiley old Cider Pimp and Jaythro when I was about to take the easy way out and nip down to Halfrauds for 5 litres of their Classic Oil revealed its true identity.

I'd had bad experience with it years ago just did not seem to last and when I changed to another oil the bike ran smoother and quieter.

Its just a personal opinion honestly.

As for the years of riding you young pup I'll come down there and whack you with me zimmer frame for that!!!

 

[bowser]

the "black death" was very common in the CVH and seemed to me to largely be the result of idle, feckwit owners failing to change the oil.
of course it would have been more prevalent in engines using duckhams if that's what ford were selling as Ford oil, and filling with at services

my xr3 never suffered and my escort van did when purchased, but got markedly better simply by changing the oil now and again.

the old essex engines used to get it as well, but were so agricultural that they never seemed to suffer for it

persistant shagged cams in the cortina (and others) pinto engines, was solved by increasing the bore of the oil feed pipe to the cam.

i have no materiel interest in duckhams, but have used a fair amount of it over the years with none of the problems mentioned in this thread.

"duckams is crap" = urban myth IMO.

I have to say I have use it in my harleys, the airhead and now the oil heads, for the last 20 odd years and cant say I have ever had any particular problem with it at all. I have always chosen it over anything else to use in an "old" engine.

 

[(RIP) pastyman]

I've been using Comma 20/50 in mine. Seems ok and from what I can gather it i s a decent oil at a very low cost. I do tend to change the oil pretty frequently though. Trago mills had it for abou £4 for 5ltrs so I grabbed myself a few gals.

 

[nick.ct]

I've heard about you 'grabbing a few gals'

Nick