odd running klr

[Jeff Saline]

Listers, I just received my 7th oil analysis report on Rottela T 15w/40 from my 2003 KLR650 with just over 25,000 miles. The lab I use is a Caterpillar Certified - Full Service Laboratory. I've been tracking this for 2 1/2 years starting with an oil change interval of 1,000 miles and increasing in 250 mile increments. I had a glitch in the testing cycle last year and had to do two 1,000 mile tests before I could get back to the higher mile intervals. My most recent and now last oil analysis was on a 2,000 mile oil change interval. The Rotella T 15w/40 still tested as a 40 weight and showed it is still protecting the components in this oil compartment. I've been running a 14/46 sprocket combo which is 14.6% lower than a stock KLR which uses a 15/43 combo. So I think it's safe to assume my engine really did 14.6% more work than a stock KLR. That means my 2,000 miles is close to just under 2,300 miles with the stock gearing. I'm gonna continue to use Rotella T 15w/40 in my KLR. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Click here to choose from a huge selection of shipping supplies! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/Ioyw6i3n4ViDWRxLX303Y2k2w22yCQi59xu7b2YCGDNuhdVFUSthfm/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Tengai Mark Van Horn]

At 6:50 AM -0600 6/26/08, Jeff Saline wrote:

>I just received my 7th oil analysis report on Rottela T 15w/40... >I'm gonna continue to use Rotella T 15w/40 in my KLR.

Hey Jeff, Have you ever tested the Rotella synthetic 5W-40? I'm curious to see how it stacks up against their dino oil. I like the 5W factor for the cold weather startups. Thanks, Mark

[Jeff Saline]

On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:43:35 -0400 Tengai Mark Van Horn writes:

> Hey Jeff, > > Have you ever tested the Rotella synthetic 5W-40? I'm curious to > see > how it stacks up against their dino oil. I like the 5W factor for > the > cold weather startups. > > Thanks, > Mark

<><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><> Mark, No experience at all with any synthetic oils. On KLR650.net folks seem to think the Rotella Synthetic is good. Even on 20 degree days my bike is first started at a temp of no colder than 55 degrees as that's the shop temp when it's not in use. I take it easy on the bike when it's been sitting in the cold (20 degrees) for more than an hour or so. It sure doesn't take long for a cold wind to remove all the heat from the engine. I run the 15w/40 year round now. I suppose if the engine was cold soaked the 5w might be a little nicer for the cams but I don't think it's a significant issue if the engine is getting to operating temp. In my opinion running a 195 degree stat like with the Thermo-Bob is probably more important for cool/cold weather riding than the 5w or 15w oil. Best, Jeff ____________________________________________________________ Sweepstakes!!! Enter for your chance to WIN a summer spa getaway! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/JKFkuJi7UjkIrvEeu3T29sQlr6cPvL29WTuNGpLGKwBNk0f7fumLUQ/

[Reverend]

Way cool. Any chance you can scan/link to the reports? One thing I wonder about is the low oil change interval, why start at 1000 miles? I'd be real curious to see what the oil looks like at 3000 miles, 5000 and 10000 miles. Obviously depending on riding style. Lots of dirtbiking and trails and dusty stuff would probably warrant shorter intervals. The reason I give those miles is that from what I've read, the oil actually gets better at filtering out dirt and contaminants with a little age (obviously to a limit). It's been an interesting topic of discussion a few times a year. Then again, a Volvo red lines at 6-7K and is specified at 10K oil changes, whereas the KLR goes red at 7K and runs around 5K frequently. Ahhh well, it's just a few ponderings. Rev

> -----Original Message----- > Behalf Of Jeff Saline > years starting with an oil change interval of 1,000 miles and > increasing in 250 mile increments. I had a glitch in the testing cycle

last year

[Reverend]

Some background; I got the Studebaker jetkit and installed it with the 'stock' upgrade. #138 jet (if I remember right) and the needle shimmed at #3 slot. I drilled the slide with the 7/64 drill included in the kit and turned my pilot screw out 2 turns. I've had some issues with the pilot circuit being lean, so last weekend I turned it out to 2.5 turns which made it lots better off idle. Two days ago I come to a fairly hard stop exiting the freeway to go home and the bike stalled. Trying to start it left a puddle of gas on the ground. I finally got it started by bumping it (there was a hill nearby) and I rode home. Well, I rode it again yesterday and things were good, until I pulled into my driveway and it stalled. It's been doing a strange lean-surge thing too, but only when it got real hot (needle over half-way mark on the gauge). This morning, the bike doesn't start. Not even a sputter. I hook up the jump starter and the bike starts (it's cold) with NO choke, and won't idle. Looking down, it's pouring gas on the garage floor. Now, my thinking is a stuck float, and I hope that it is part of the reason why I have a hot lean-surge (which is also why it gets that hot to begin with) because it's dumping more gas than it wants. I can't tell exactly what tube it's dumping out of, but I'll verify that tonight. Any ideas? I figure I have to drop the bowl and float and clean everything out. If the float sticks, it'll dump the excess fuel, and stop when the engine is off as there's no vacuum to the petcock. Does that sound reasonable? Rev - knowing now why the rear wheel felt "slippery' on the road yesterday and the mileage has dropped!