brownie0486
Well-known member
My thoughts exactly. If it has oil in it and a failure occurs, unless it comes out like molasses, they won't look further.
As I'm reading this, I'm just wondering and trying to apply a bit of logic. From what I've read, the most wear on the engine occurs in the first seconds of startup when the oil has drained. So to get the oil to the places that need it, a lighter weight oil is better than a heavier weight oil.
Now once the engine gets running, does it care what the outside temperature is? Maybe in Fairbanks in December. But for most of us, I'm not sure it matters after a minute or two. Parts are moving on bearings and everything is heating up quickly.
After a few minutes, the engine is at full operating temperature. It's hot. Really hot. From what I've experienced, it doesn't matter if the outside temperature is 35F, or 105F, if I'm in stop-n-go traffic, the fan will eventually kick in...indicating the engine and everything inside it, is hot. At 105F, obviously the fan kicks in more often...but it never overheats.
So my point in this long-winded post is I don't know that our rationale for using heavier weight oils on a water-cooled engine really is valid any more. On an air-cooled engine, yes. But as long as the fan is working and the engine temp doesn't exceed the normal operating temperature...the engine oil really doesn't know what's happening outside the engine. The heat inside the engine is far greater than anything outside of it...and the radiator and cooling system is doing what it is designed to do...maintain the engine temperature at the optimum for performance and emissions.
I think you need to find another cure for your noisy engine. STP was the answer back when I was growing up. Of course the oil was incredibly thick and could be compared to molasses...
Chris
I'm running an oil cooled 2012, so the mechanic probably knows of what he's talking about in the desert heat here. In any event, I'm following his lead, he's the experienced mechanic who works on a lot of GS's, not me.