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modern equivalent oils/greases
modern equivalent oils/greases
ORIGINALE SPEC / MODERN ALTERNATIVE
1 - Oil in engine : Summer – SAE 40-50, Winter SAE 20-30 --> modern alternative: ?
2 - Oil in trasmission: : Summer – SAE 40-50, Winter SAE 20-30 ---> modern alternative: Gl4 85/90, 40/50W engine oil if are mounted original seals that are no meant to work with hypoid gear oil, VR1 40W
6 - Oil in Front Wheel Fork: SAE 20 --> modern alternative: ?
7- Oil in Propeller Shaft: Mobilube GX 90 or Shell Spirax 90 --> modern alternative: ?
3 - Grease Left rear suspension: Mobil Grease No.4 or Shell Retinax RB --> modern alternative: ?
hope it's opportunity to share best practices that in general are also valid for vintage bikes
- Micha
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Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
I think that the most critical issue in our motorcycles is the engine oil.
Here in my country for example, it is almost impossible to find good old 40 oil for these old engines. Only one place keeps it in stock (Castrol Classic Green). But, it is very expensive and there is no guarantee that they will continue to import such a slow moving item.
Back in the 90's, the guys that consumed 40 oil started to switch to 20-50, but guess what - nowadays you can't find that either.
Many of the old motorcycle owners no longer know how to solve this problem. They understand that modern motor oils should be avoided. I even once heard someone running his engine with modern SG or SH diesel oil, as he had no other choice.
Is it really possible to use another oil that is not 40 or 20/50? Assuming the oil is changed every six months?
R51/3 1952
Engine Nr. 529466
- schrader7032
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Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.
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Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
1. Valvoline VR-1 40W racing oil,it has zinc added.
2. Lucas 80-90W gear oil....makes noticable improvement in shifting in my exerience.
3. Grease,I use Moly grease I get in packets that come with European made CV boot kits for foreign cars.I have extras,and I use this. Moly grease is the way to go!
R69S - R60/2 - R67/2 - R51/3 - R69
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Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
R69S - R60/2 - R67/2 - R51/3 - R69
Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
initially you wrote Lucas 85-90W, was it a type error? I was looking for it but on the web i only found lucas 80-90w. Also in the picture of data sheet you share is mentioned 80-90W. Is it this the right one?
Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
Below is a partial set of results I found.1a is good, 1b less so, down through 4a & 4b, not good. Supposedly, an oil can be sold as GL4/GL5 which means that it's copper friendly and has the high pressure additives required by hypoid gears. Liqui-Moly has a gl4/5 75/90 mineral oil that I use. Not all oils have been subjected to the D130 test. Some suggest that we need an updated test for this.
Amsoil Long Life FGR 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Amsoil Severe Gr SVG 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Amsoil M/T Fluid MTF 5W-30 1A Light Orange
Amsoil MT & Gear MTG 75W-90 GL4 1B Dark Orange
Castrol Hypoy C 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Castrol SYNTEC 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Citgo Citgear Std XD 75W-90 GL4 1B Dark Orange
Delo Gear Lubric ESI 80W-90 GL5 2A Claret Red
Delo Trans Fluid ESI 50W 2A Claret Red
GM Synthetic Axle 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Lucas 75/90 Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 4B Graphite Blk
Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Mopar Synthetic
w/Mopar LS additive 75W-90 GL5 4A Trans Black
Pennzoil Gearplus 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Pennzoil Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Red Line MT-90 75W-90 GL4 1A Light Orange
Red Line NS Gear Oil 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Red Line 75W90 GL-5 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Royal Purple Max-Gear 75W-90 GL5 4A Trans Black
Torco SGO Synthetic
w/Torco Type G LS add 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Valvoline High Perf 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Valvoline SynPower 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
1964 BMW R69S
1968 Triumph T100R road racer
1972 Triumph T150V road racer
2019 BMW S1000R
- schrader7032
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Re: modern equivalent oils/greases
1A
Amsoil M/T Fluid MTF 5W-30 1A Light Orange
Red Line MT-90 75W-90 GL4 1A Light Orange
1B
Amsoil Long Life FGR 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Amsoil Severe Gr SVG 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Amsoil MT & Gear MTG 75W-90 GL4 1B Dark Orange
Castrol Hypoy C 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Castrol SYNTEC 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Citgo Citgear Std XD 75W-90 GL4 1B Dark Orange
GM Synthetic Axle 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Pennzoil Gearplus 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Pennzoil Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Red Line NS Gear Oil 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Red Line 75W90 GL-5 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
w/Torco Type G LS add 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Valvoline High Perf 80W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
Valvoline SynPower 75W-90 GL5 1B Dark Orange
2A
Delo Gear Lubric ESI 80W-90 GL5 2A Claret Red
Delo Trans Fluid ESI 50W 2A Claret Red
4A
w/Mopar LS additive 75W-90 GL5 4A Trans Black
Royal Purple Max-Gear 75W-90 GL5 4A Trans Black
4B
Lucas 75/90 Synthetic 75W-90 GL5 4B Graphite Blk
'78 R100/7 '69 R69S '52 R25/2
Fast. Neat. Average. Friendly. Good. Good.