Racing Oil

[Tekime]

Yes, I'm asking about oil, apologies in advance 

I recently switched to Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40 on my '89 FJ1200 for day-to-day use.

Does anyone have a specific preference/recommendation for track day/racing, knowing you'll be rev'ing it all day hard? Any reason to consider something else?

Thanks!

P.S. I did search on racing oil but nothing came up, or I missed it, also SMF search function like most forums is not great 

[FJmonkey]

Yes, I'm asking about oil, apologies in advance 

I recently switched to Rotella T6 Synthetic 5W-40 on my '89 FJ1200 for day-to-day use.

Does anyone have a specific preference/recommendation for track day/racing, knowing you'll be rev'ing it all day hard? Any reason to consider something else?

Thanks!

P.S. I did search on racing oil but nothing came up, or I missed it, also SMF search function like most forums is not great 

Randy and his sons are experienced and winning racers with the FJ engine. Give them an email for their oil of choice.

[Pat Conlon]

20w-50 for hard hot track duty.

[CutterBill]

Anything with "Racing" on the label will make your bike go faster.
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[Tekime]

Randy and his sons are experienced and winning racers with the FJ engine. Give them an email for their oil of choice.

Will do!

20w-50 for hard hot track duty.

Yeah I was thinking something more viscous. After a few days with the Rotella 5W I'm wondering if it's too thin.. this motor gets very hot.

Anything with "Racing" on the label will make your bike go faster.
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Why do you think I run this in my Suzuki? 

[gumby302ho]

  5w40 in an air cooled engine the likes of the FJ in my humble opinion should never be used. Hot summer riding 20w50 for my bike, actually at the moment I am running 15w40 rottella dyno oil cause it was cheap , I should practice what I preach. Not sure why the big three auto companies have dropped to the thinner oil, a guy I worked with had an F150 that took 0w20. Money/greed modern engineering that does not require heavier weights in motor design or the oil has been engineerded better, all the above maybe.

[Tuneforkfreak]

I was told that the newer engines have tighter tolerances and that thicker oil would not pass through the journals. Anyway glad i found this thread, my engine was just screaming hot today so I was on here looking up what oils all you guys run on these hot days, I have 10 w-40 in it now.

[a.graham52]

  5w40 in an air cooled engine the likes of the FJ in my humble opinion should never be used. Hot summer riding 20w50 for my bike, actually at the moment I am running 15w40 rottella dyno oil cause it was cheap , I should practice what I preach. Not sure why the big three auto companies have dropped to the thinner oil, a guy I worked with had an F150 that took 0w20. Money/greed modern engineering that does not require heavier weights in motor design or the oil has been engineerded better, all the above maybe.

Auto companies use thinner oil for less parasitic power loss. Thinner oil Is easier to push then thicker. Also oil is doing a lot more then lubing cam bearings and crankshafts. They now use oil pressure and solenoids to control camshaft timing, cylinder deactivation. And veriable valve lift. The later two use tiny little locks in the lifters or in case of vvl, locking pawls on the rocker arm it's self. All driven by oil pressure. Because of these, oil age and viscosity is critical to proper operation and longevity.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/lcv/
Visit that page on the GM 2.5 and take a look at pictures. They have an example of the VVL.

10 years as a gm tech...

[Tekime]

  5w40 in an air cooled engine the likes of the FJ in my humble opinion should never be used. Hot summer riding 20w50 for my bike, actually at the moment I am running 15w40 rottella dyno oil cause it was cheap , I should practice what I preach. Not sure why the big three auto companies have dropped to the thinner oil, a guy I worked with had an F150 that took 0w20. Money/greed modern engineering that does not require heavier weights in motor design or the oil has been engineerded better, all the above maybe.

So I've been running the Rotella 5W40 for a few weeks now and I'm switching back to at least a 10W-40 ASAP. We've had some hot days and cool nights, and there's a noticeable difference. Clunkier shifting and I swear it's losing some power on those hot afternoons. At night the bike perks right up. Maybe other factors too, but I'm not in love with this stuff! It was so cheap but consider the Mobil 1 4T, I always run it in my other bike and always shift and pulls smooth. Nowhere near as hot as the FJ though.

I actually had a terrible dream the other night I was on my FJ and it was pulling like a slug, just wringing its neck and getting nothing, lol.. sad I know, way too many dreams involving motorcycles 

Auto companies use thinner oil for less parasitic power loss. Thinner oil Is easier to push then thicker. Also oil is doing a lot more then lubing cam bearings and crankshafts. They now use oil pressure and solenoids to control camshaft timing, cylinder deactivation. And veriable valve lift. The later two use tiny little locks in the lifters or in case of vvl, locking pawls on the rocker arm it's self. All driven by oil pressure. Because of these, oil age and viscosity is critical to proper operation and longevity.

http://gmauthority.com/blog/gm/gm-engines/lcv/
Visit that page on the GM 2.5 and take a look at pictures. They have an example of the VVL.

10 years as a gm tech...

Very interesting. Assuming none of this crazy tech applies to the FJ. Seems like a great way for them to improve performance/economy AND lock us into a handful of oil choices!