K11 Owners Group

blue95lt · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:58 pm Post subject: Oil viscosity in cold weather

Hello again everybody,
Can any one say ,by personal expirence,that they have better cranking speed on our k bike engine in the winter if you use a lighter grade oil?
Do you guys feel its a good idea to use lighter oil in cold weather?
thanks guys

Ihave a 95 k11lt and use 20w50 but it seems to turn over slowly.

Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 2:42 pm Post subject:

Hi, Blue,
I used Mobil 1 15w50 synthetic (car oil) in both my K1100LT's and, as long as my battery was good, I never had a problem in starting and I never felt the engine was turning over slowly. The coldest I ever started the bike was in the 20's, so if you start yours in temperatures colder than that, I have no experience. I do know that synthetics have lower pour points than conventional oils.
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 6:31 pm Post subject: oil

Hoo boy!
More oil threads.

Kidding.

I run the 5W - 50W Mobil 1.

I rode to work one day last winter, dry roads, no precip excpected.
Left and it was 7 degrees, sat all day about 8 hours outside. Left and it was 10 degrees. Bike turned over & started AOK.

I like the Mobil 1. I probably change it too often at 5,000 miles, but that's only twice a year at most for me.
The bike is in teh garage on the charger ready to go. Hit 36 today, but the roads are wicked dirty with ice in the shadows so I'm biding my time.
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2009 11:42 pm Post subject:

The last oil change for me this fall I put in 5w-30 for the winter season.
Of course now that we have 2ft of snow on the ground I won't be riding much.

That's ok though as I have a laundry list of things I want to do to them now that I can't ride them.
_________________
Ride safe.

1997 K1100LT 0302488
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1995 K1100LT 0302044(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:18 am Post subject:

Johnny uses Wesson Oil.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
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Jim · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:22 am Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:24 am Post subject: Re: Oil viscosity in cold weather

blue95lt · Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 1:59 pm Post subject: Age of batt.

Jim. It's 5 yrs.old as of 10/01/09 I know ;I know i have no room to complain!
That being said,I dont have much money for parts "just because it's old,replace it way of thinking.
When we have the (extra money) to get a batt.I want to get a good one and as we all know most costly is not all the time the best one so i have been "talking to " my more expirenced rider buddies (you guys) (thanks),about your recomdations/expirences with the k bikes.

Now I have another problem.I go out to the garage to start the bike once in a while and last nite it turned over somewhat slowly but did start.
Let it warm up then shut it off and the headlight stayed on,the guage backlites stayed on and the instr.cluster backlites stayed on???
JIM ,anyone have some expirence like this? thanks for all your help,ideas and expirences with our problems. Keith

hockeyshifter · Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:03 am Post subject:

great question. i work with a guy who has a 2004 k1200lt with 140k. he is a rounder. awhile back the bike started to lug on very colds nites. took to the shop no issues.
but the shop manager told him this . the starter teeth are lubed by the engine oil and during cold starts the thicker oil with miles on it will act like molasses and cause hard starts and could burn out the starter motor . so in the winter he is using a 5-30w amsoil. i would not go above ?-40 w in the winter Mobile 1 makes a 0-20w but that is too thin for the K's.
remember the second number is the most important. that is how the oil acts when it is hot.
that is all folks
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fix the problem not the blame ; fix what is messed up ; NO one is to blame.