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Changing oil weights

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Old 07-07-2024, 11:56 AM
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Default Changing oil weights

I am new to motorcycles. I plan on doing an oil change in my 1982 FXWG. Since I am in very hot weather--100 degrees Fahrenheit plus--I was thinking of using 60 weight per suggestions I have seen online.
(Is this a good oil--Red Line 20W60?) (Is this a good oil--Red Line 20W60?)
I am not sure what oil is currently in the bike. Do I need to do anything special when changing oil weights or types? Or should I just got with 50 weight oil?
(Is this the regular oil I wojld need--Valvoline 20W50?) (Is this the regular oil I wojld need--Valvoline 20W50?)

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

P.S. Oil filter recommendations would be great too if you have them. Thanks again!
 

Last edited by Lava1900; 07-07-2024 at 12:49 PM.
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Old 07-07-2024, 12:15 PM
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If you are concerned about heat I'd go with synthetic oil, quality brands can stand 400F+ while conventional oil gets cooked at about 275F. I'm a big fan of Mobil 1 V Twin, use it in my Harleys and vintage cars and bikes. I get my filters at my local HD dealer, a good excuse to drop in occasionally and check out the bikes...

 

Last edited by 08xl1200r; 07-07-2024 at 03:04 PM.
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Old 07-07-2024, 12:28 PM
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Shovels don't care much for synthetic. Go with 60 weight DINO. Tried and true.
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 01:08 PM
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50 or 60 Dino is good suggestion Do Not run the filter the pimple faced kid at the stealership tries to sell ya..
use Wix 51215 if 3/4-16 threads ... 51032 if Metric threads (one mounted behind Tranny
Good quality replacements as long as No ADBV... not on Evo nor Shovelhead!!!!
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 01:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Racepres
No ADBV... not on Evo nor Shovelhead!!!!
Thousands of people are using filters with anti-drain back valves on EVO`s without issue.

When the twin cam oil filters came out there were the warning stories about how it would cause the oil not to return to the tank, blowing out the breather etc.

I have never seen a post describing this actually happening, now many years later.

The factory says it is ok to use the TC filters on EVO`s.

I have been using TC filters for years on my `89 Softail, never had an issue (the oil pump is original, not rebuilt, and has 150,000 miles on it).
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Lava1900
I am new to motorcycles. I plan on doing an oil change in my 1982 FXWG. Since I am in very hot weather--100 degrees Fahrenheit plus--I was thinking of using 60 weight per suggestions I have seen online. (Is this a good oil--Red Line 20W60?) I am not sure what oil is currently in the bike. Do I need to do anything special when changing oil weights or types? Or should I just got with 50 weight oil? (Is this the regular oil I wojld need--Valvoline 20W50?)

Thanks for any help/suggestions!

P.S. Oil filter recommendations would be great too if you have them. Thanks again!
Red Line 20w60 is an excellent oil. I ran synthetic in my last Shovel, last one I had was in 1998. If you want to run dino oil, Penngrade 70 weight is the Kendall original formula and made from the same base stock. It used to also be marketed under Brad Penn.

100°F is hot, and air cooled bikes with cast iron cylinders run really hot.


https://penngrade1shop.com/products/...e-oil-nitro-70
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 02:00 PM
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We use the 60weight valvoline and i add 1/2 quart of Lucas oil stabilizer to both the engine oil and trans oil shovel / pan and down to the first bike built

1000 people will tell you when you ask about oil something you had not thought of like adding peanuts -

100 machines have come to us over the last year and this is what we do NO ONE has complained and bought what we told them to buy
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 07:46 PM
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Originally Posted by johnjzjz

1000 people will tell you when you ask about oil something you had not thought of like adding peanuts -
You should only add peanuts if you have a banana caliper....
 
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Old 07-07-2024, 09:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Thousands of people are using filters with anti-drain back valves on EVO`s without issue.

When the twin cam oil filters came out there were the warning stories about how it would cause the oil not to return to the tank, blowing out the breather etc.

I have never seen a post describing this actually happening, now many years later.

The factory says it is ok to use the TC filters on EVO`s.
I will Not...because I know exactly How it Works!!!

I have been using TC filters for years on my `89 Softail, never had an issue (the oil pump is original, not rebuilt, and has 150,000 miles on it).
Cool...But...Not specked for yer Motor look in the OE Manual!!!
 

Last edited by Racepres; 07-07-2024 at 09:23 PM.
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Old 07-07-2024, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Racepres
Cool...But...Not specked for yer Motor look in the OE Manual!!!
Of course it is not in my OE manual, the TC did not exist when my Softail was built.
 
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