5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (bamaTrider) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:13:29 GMT

dukey33 wrote:

HaChayalBoded wrote:

Extreme cases of sulfation will build a salt bridge and cause shorting between plates. Sometimes the lead plates can weaken and break, also resulting in an internal short. If fresh acid is added to a shorted battery, an explosion can result.

That's exactly what the local battery shop said...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (dukey33) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:11:45 GMT

HaChayalBoded wrote:
Wait, then why do they sell acid in auto parts stores? Even says "rejuvenate your old battery" on the box. Are you sure when you say not to add fresh acid to an old battery or was there anything else about the battery or the acid that might have caused the explosion?

You can buy dry charged batteries. Most places ship mail order batteries without acid. I did buy one m/c battery...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (burninfilm) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 16:20:25 GMT

A spark in the presence of hydrogen is a bad thing.......Glad you are ok..Bob <><

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (HaChayalBoded) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:16:48 GMT

Wait, then why do they sell acid in auto parts stores? Even says "rejuvenate your old battery" on the box. Are you sure when you say not to add fresh acid to an old battery or was there anything else about the battery or the acid that might have caused the explosion?

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (Fredrider) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:08:18 GMT

Stan,

I certainly appreciate the warning. I have some acid left over from the last battery I bought, but now I just think I will recycle it.

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 07:35:15 GMT

Considering that batteries are vented, the fact that yours exploded just goes to prove how volatile that reaction was. If the battery had been on a work bench or with others around, this could have been a disastrous situation. I'm glad I learned about this by only reading of it.

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (bamaTrider) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 21:59:39 GMT

I tried this in my old '74 Honda CB350Four several years ago. I had extra acid left over from a previous battery and had decided to try and revive the 350's battery enough to start it. The bike had a kick start and I did get enough juice out of it for it to start, but about 30 seconds after it started....the battery exploded and blew acid all over my right pants leg and the bike. I was outside in the back yard at the time and there I was.....stripped down to my underwear trying to get...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:57:32 GMT

bamaTrider wrote:
Do not add fresh acid to an old battery. I had one to explode on me from doing that many years ago. Batteries go bad from oxidation of the plates inside. They slowly start to choke and or short out from the oxidation internally. Go spend the $40 for a new one and save yourself from that danger. Repairing the damage caused by an exploded battery can cost you dearly, both the...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (bamaTrider) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:00:47 GMT

Do not add fresh acid to an old battery. I had one to explode on me from doing that many years ago. Batteries go bad from oxidation of the plates inside. They slowly start to choke and or short out from the oxidation internally. Go spend the $40 for a new one and save yourself from that danger. Repairing the damage caused by an exploded battery can cost you dearly, both the bike and you. Just speaking from experiences here.

Stan

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (HaChayalBoded) — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:09:42 GMT

rod rounds wrote:
HaChayalBoded,

If your battery is good and with the battery charger on it you should check the volts that are going to the battery from the charger. I had one go bad several years ago and it was only putting out 11.2 volts. If the battery is good and the charger is putting out 13/14 volts then you have other problems that need to be fixed. My bike is also cold-blooded but with the small charger...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (dynodon1) — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:56:39 GMT

Amsoil makes great motorcycle blend oils in 10-40 and 20-50, a synthetic should help with cold starting.

As for battery chargers, I have found HF to have pretty poor quality on a lot of their equipment. I use Battery Tender products exclusively on all my stuff. the Battery Tender Jr. works great and is very affordable. The best price I have found is at Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse:

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (rod rounds) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 14:32:45 GMT

HaChayalBoded,

If your battery is good and with the battery charger on it you should check the volts that are going to the battery from the charger. I had one go bad several years ago and it was only putting out 11.2 volts. If the battery is good and the charger is putting out 13/14 volts then you have other problems that need to be fixed. My bike is also cold-blooded but with the small charger on it, it starts right up even when its cold(24*). I hope you can get this fixed easily...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:48:27 GMT

HaChayalBoded wrote:
I don't live in FL, and alepel I don't live in your home town either, I'm in Brooklyn NY

I know you are Eddie....but when I looked at your Yuku profile yesterday it said Rochester, New York. I look at it this morning and it says Brooklyn, New York. This is weird. I thought that if the city and state were blank in the profile it would pick up anyones city and state as your...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (HaChayalBoded) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:52:09 GMT

I don't live in FL, and alepel I don't live in your home town either, I'm in Brooklyn NY

I have a battery tender and it's hooked up every day.

I picked up some 5w40 today and a battery, unfortunately the battery is an inch too tall, guess their cross reference book was wrong.

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (bamaTrider) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:33:39 GMT

rod rounds wrote:
Get one of these

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292

it will keep your battery fully charged so it should start right up when its cold, i know it does mine.

ROD

And HF just put them back on sale for $6.99 until 2/11/08.

Stan

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (alepel) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:41:44 GMT

southside bob wrote:
Also it say on our little guest map your in St.Petersburg fl.. If so I am too and I bought my battery out near Pinellas Park.

No he's not! It Yuku doing it weird little thing with locations. If I look him up he lives in my hometown.

I've got a feeling that if you don't post a city, state in your profile, then anyone that looks at your profile will always see their...

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (southside bob) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:19:48 GMT

Hey, give me a chance to check. I'll have to do it tomorrow.Also it say on our little guest map your in St.Petersburg fl.. If so I am too and I bought my battery out near Pinellas Park.

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (rod rounds) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:42:36 GMT

Get one of these
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42292
it will keep your battery fully charged so it should start right up when its cold, i know it does mine.

ROD

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (HaChayalBoded) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:16:32 GMT

Bob, which specific battery did you get? I can't seem to find one that is normal shaped, sealed AND has more CCA than the OEM battery. Whats the CCA of your battery?

Re: 5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (southside bob) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:15:42 GMT

It seems to me that oil weight does help in the winter .I went from 20w 50 year round to10w40 finally 5w 50 summer and 5w 40 winter.It helps but what helped me the most was the battery .I looked around and found a sealed battery with a little more cranking amps ( but not as long) and leaving it on the battery tender every night.It took along time to get this figured out but mine will start in 30 f

5w30 or 5w40 for the winter?

feeds@yuku.com (HaChayalBoded) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:35:16 GMT

Been using 5w40 Rotella, thinking of switching to 5w30. Starting this thing in 20 degree weather is iffy at best. I almost always need a jump. Oil is just too thick to crank this thing over. Any opinions? Rotella doesn't make a 5w30 so I will have to improvise.