BadBikerBob wrote:
I personally have switched oil from Yamalube to Shell Rotella S.A.E. 5W-40 with no ill effects. Actually, my top-end noise when hot has disappeared!


Bob,

That's the most interesting thing I've read lately. Yamaha blames thinning oil for the noise. Thicker synthetic oil hasn't helped mine. And you're running 40 wt. and your top end is quiet. I'm jealous!

Did you do anything else to quiet down the racket, or do you attribute it to the oil?

MS07

Just changed over to Mobil 1 v-twin & a Pure One filter. Did a run out through the country. About 5 miles at 60 or so then 3 or 4 miles at 75 & 80 in 90 deg. weather. Came to the stop sign at the end of the road & just let her idle & listened. No valvetrain noise! Engine runs noticeably quieter. In fact quieter than the day I brought her home. As an unexpected side effect, it also shifts smoother. I was already running 20-50 so the only change was to synthetic oil. I'm a believer! Synthetic gear oil for the txfr case is next.

Thicker oil is not always better! It flows slower, especially at high revs. I use Shell Rotella T synthetic 5w-40 with a Purolator PureOne filter. I ride my bike all year around from 20 degrees in the winter to 105 in the summer. And I run it HARD! I think these bikes actually run better the harder you run them! I got the valve noise with Yamalube 10w-40 that the dealer put in, I switched to Castrol Activo (I think that's what it's called) 20W-50 & STILL had the noise. I did some research & according to it & my buddy Jim (who runs RJ Classics motorcycle shop if y'all need any parts or service: <http://rjclassicsinc.com/> , 10% off to IronButt or Southern Cruiser members!) the Rotella is the best thing for motorcycles since the introduction of chrome-plating! It has high levels of zinc (which is GREAT for non-catalyst equipped engines!) & has no friction modifiers (which are not good for wet clutches). Now, with the engine at full operating temperature on 100+ degree days my valves are quiet and happy! I think it also helps to hit the rev limiter (preferably set to 5k-5.5k RPM) at least once every time you ride to combat SVS. I ride mine like a sportbike, keep the revs high & she loves it!

One more thing, I don't know how much it helps, but I'm also running a Buck's oil filter cooler/protector. I bought it mainly for the "protection" factor as the filter on these bikes is very exposed, but I do believe that it helps somewhat helps with cooling the engine oil as well with it's cooling fins.

I like synthetic oil and I like Rotella oil and I tried the sythetic Rotella in my Roadie and my Venture a few months ago, but... both of them got noisier when I did it so I drained it and went back to the 15w40 dino Rotella and all is good with them now. If they made it in the 15w40 I would love it in the bikes. I saved what I drained and will use it in the Caprice. Think I'll go Mobil 1 next change.

FYI, the Cummins in my 3500 Ram LOVED the Rotella Synthetic. I was skeptical at what I was seeing on my first tank of fuel after the change but after 3-4 tanks of checking my mileage since changing from the 15w40 dino to the 5w40 syn, my mileage jumped from 12.5 mpg on short(3 miles and about 8 stop signs or lights)in-town trips up to 14.5 mpg. On long trips at 70-75mph I used to get 19 mpg avg... I drove 500 miles to Houston and turned around an hour later and returned. 22.5 mpg going and 23.5 mpg coming back.
Yeah, I'm impressed.

Yeah I like Rotella and used it in a Suzuki a few years ago. Shifting was vastly improved, and that motor was quiet all over (except the Cobra drag pipes )

I just wonder if it's right for the R*. I'd hate to dump my Mobil 1 20/50 right now just to try it.

Somehow I've got to make this thing cool down and stop pinging, though. Driving me nuts.....still!

Really, I'm sure my valves are not the problem. I have a combustion-related issue. Just a tiny crack of the throttle cruising through town causes the knock/ping. Also, if I twist it more the noise goes away. And this happens at all rpms, all gears. PMS adjustment sometimes helps a little, sometimes not.

I'm thinking of going up one on the pilot jet, since the plugs do look a little lean. If it helps I'll report back.

You wanna hear something crazy about synthetic?

My dad runs a freightliner big rig, and he went to Ams-Oil synthetic about 100,000 miles ago. Since then has changed his filter 3 times and topped off his oil at each change. That's it. He really took them at their word when they say NEVER breaks down. N ow he's very conservative as a big-rig driver, the lower your RPMs the more money you save, etc... But that amazes me!