oil and air pressure?

[dixieandbacon]

i would like to know what weight and brand oil you guys are running in your engines? what are you average weather temps where you live? how many hours on your machine? what tire pressure are you running and why? what kind of terrain do you mostly ride in? thanks guys

[Roger S]

Straight weight oil doesn't lose it's viscosity like a multiweight when the polymers break down. I think that's why some small engines recommend it. I use synthetic 10-40 but change it often. After break in that is, the rings have a hard time seating with synthetic. I heard the government reduced the allowable level of critical additives that give multiweight their variable viscosity, for 10-30, 10-40, etc. If you go to a 20-X it's not affected. Harder to find, though.

Tire pressure.. lower is better but requires care in where you place your tires and how hard you bump the sidewall and rim into objects. Low and slow lets the tires wrap around rocks and logs and a cushy ride. If you're going to fly down the trail with abandon, you need enough air so the sidewall doesn't get smashed and pinched by the wheel bead. You can lean out and watch the tires as you drive over stuff and watch how they compress and get an idea of how much air you need. Also how much passenger weight is a big factor. One 100 lb teenager or 400 lbs of adults.. The front wheels/tires on an argo will be the most exposed, since it's front heavy.

[Silverbullet75]

it's amazing how much tire pressure affects the ride! I put mine up to 7 for riding on hard trails (as a starting point)... then dropped by 2 at every break. Wow... I'm at 3 now and love it.

[Silverbullet75]

Dixieandbacon,
I have a request for you as a new Frontier owner...
Could you please watch/listen/feel for chain slap from under the floor pan during the first 20ish hrs? Mine has been really annoying, and I'm real curious to see if it is just mine. I'm thinking of cutting the floor where the chains hit, and mounting a cover.
Thanks! and CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR PURCHASES!!!

[Mike]

Jim, it is amazing how much of a difference just a pound can make. If you have some beadlock wheels you can really drop the pressure. I usually run 1-2 psi. If you haven't done so already go get a low pressure gauge. The low tire pressure combined with extra padding in my new seat completely changed the way my Max rides. Where it used to break my back on every bump it is now very comfortable. In fact even after a whole day of riding I don't notice much soreness where I used to be bedridden

Now if the Max IV just had beadlocks and some tires other than the stiff 26" ones.

[lager99]

I just use 10W30. Run 3lbs or less...most riding is rock, mud, muskeg. I've gone less but I also blew both front tires on the same trip.

[Roger S]

I'd consider 3 lbs in a frontier tire a lot. If you havn't tried 2.5, try it out. They won't lose a bead at low psi.

[ArgoGirb67]

i usualy run 3.5 fronts,3.0 mid and rear(trying to compensate for the nose heavy thing)on runamucks

[GREASEMONKEY]

I have adjusted my chains and still get chain slap on occasion! No biggie!

I use Casteroil SAE 30W in the summer, and 15/40W in the winter. The souther summers will kill air cooled engines if you dont keep an eye on them! I'm looking at adding a cheapo oil temp gauge to keep track of it!

BTW: I am in the process of changing everything I own to AMSOIL products! Awsome stuff!
AMSOIL - Synthetic Oil, Synthetic Motor oil, Synthetic Engine Oil, Air Filters, Oil Filters and Synthetic Greases

[Roger S]

Have you seen the briggs oil cooler kit? I should have one myself.

[m350]

When we put the BigFoot back together I changed the oil to Amsoil 15-40 Diesel/Marine,,I had asked a few yrs ago now about putting that oil in a older rebuilt Cub-Cadet w/12HP Kohler,,the Amsoil dealer said that the 15-40 would work fine ,,and actually is much more advanced then any old 30-W oil,,should drop the oil temps by 50 degrees to,,Cant tell if it has or not.

I have Amsoil in other stuff,,have had good luck so far with it,,and I have friends that use it also.,,,Mark

[thejunkman]

oil

after 100 hrs break in i run amsoil as well full synthetic 10w-40

[Russh]

I'm running a old hulser with a 18 hp kohler, running 30 w, Keeping the tire at 4-5 pds, I just got new swompers that have a lot more grip than I am used to. Norther IL one day is mud, the next is dry corn fields, a lot of timber trails.

[hdble]

Amsoil, or Redline synthetics are top flite for lubrication and protection.
Engines I have run them in(after break-in) run cooler, and smoother.

[Rock Doctor]

i would like to know what weight and brand oil you guys are running in your engines? what are you average weather temps where you live? how many hours on your machine? what tire pressure are you running and why? what kind of terrain do you mostly ride in? thanks guys

Hey man,
I use Quaker Synthetic 10W30 Summer and 5W30 in the Winter
Average temps ......... anywhere between -40 to +40
Machine Hours about 400 hrs on one and about 800 hrs on the other.
Tire pressure 3psi, but I think with the Frontier Tires on the Conquest I will drop to 2psi. (Frontier Tires are a little stiffer than Runamucks)
Terrain: Jagged Rocks, Stumps, Mud, Muskeg, Snow, Ice, Water, ect.

RD