Just wondering if anyone has concidered the use of aviation oils in motorcycles.Major oil companys produce aviation oils in 20w15 semi syn.,20w50,30W thru 60W.Air cooled aircraft engines take as much or more abuse than motorcycles and run for over 2000 hours before overhaul....(if properly maintained) Plus Aviation oil is about half the cost of top line MC oils.($3.00-$4.00qt.)

 

Don't do it. Aviation Oils are for Aircraft Engines.

 

While you might be able to get by with some of the piston-engine oils, I would definitely stay away from turbine oils like MobilJet 1 and MobilJet 254, all the MIL-L turbine variants like 23699, etc. Turbine synthetics, with their unique additive and detergent packages, have no place in low rpm and (relatively) low temp air-cooled piston engines.
I have heard of some folks using MIL-H-5606 aviation hydraulic fluid in automobile automatic transmissions, but I never saw any long-term results. Considering auto trannies generally only need new fluid every 50k miles or so, I don't think I'd try to save a few bucks by using free, non-applicatin specific hydraulic fluid in the $4000 transmission in my pickup... [8D]

As for engine oil, you can get a premium quality dino oil like Rotella for about $2 a qt, automotive synthetic blends for about $3 a qt, or Mobil 1 for about $4-$5 a qt (or less on sale) at Wal Mart, and any of these will provide more than adequate protection for your engine and are very affordable.

I can get just about any aviation oil available at no cost thru work, but for my bike I wouldn't even consider using aviation oil in my motorcycle (or car) engine. You could always volunteer to be the guinea pig tho...

 

Bad idea. Aviation oils are missing some ingredients that make good things happen for your bike. Generally, aviation oil is non-detergent, and some common anti-wear additives are alsomissing. They aren't there because they might cause a plug to foul. That can be a bad thing 10,000 ft up!

You want a good non-synthetic oil for your bike? Try some Havoline 20w-50. Very inexpensive and I've seen tests that showed less wear using it than some high dollar synthetics.

 

+1

 

I need to clarify or correct something from what I posted above. Concerning aviation oils the terms detergent and non-detergent are no longerused. The term detergent is replaced by ashless, as in ashless dispersant aviation oil. The term non-detergent is replaced by mineral. Mineral means a non-additive version of regular ashless oil used duringengine break-in.

Detergent or ashless, the additive package in aviation oil is different than automotive/car oil. The oil makers will not say you can use aviation oil in a bike. In fact, doing so will definitely void any warranty as the oils do not meet the car-type oil specs.

 

Your Harley will have a quick death with aviation oil. I use it in my aircraft for it's ashless qualities, but always thought it was crap in the world of oils. The only one that may have some hope is AeroShell 15/50 which is a mix of dino and syn with some anti scuff additives. Costs an arm and a leg but in my view the cheapest car oil out there would do a better job in the Harley. Back in the 70s we tried av oil in a shovel. Even though the oil was an SAE 50 weight the lifters clattered so badly when hot we drained it out.
Ron

 

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JUST SPEND THE MONEY
Get a good syn oil. don't try and use things not designed (or tested) for a bike.

A good oil and you'll get 150K iles outa a twin cam.
...gene