Hey fellas. My fluid is a bit low, want to top off, maybe a gallon? Not sure whats in it currently. Would adding aw32 to top off do any harm if there's aw46 in it? Any thoughts? Thanks
All I can tell you is I've done it with mine ,and it's been fine for few years . Mine is AW 46 ,and I added about a gallon of SUDT 2 .
higher number thiner oil, aw50 is about what they use in aircraft (what I use in the snow plow units) I use aw32 in my splitter but it does not sit outside when not in use. I was always told not to mix brands & weights of oils - don't know if there is any substance to that.
What I have heard , mixing weights and brands, no problems. I did add aw32 in my electric splitter , don't know what was in it , no problems.
I lost some out of the breather last year and changed my filter. I topped it off with aw32, no issues after 20-22 cord.
AW50 flows better in cold than 32 or 46. take note of the oils used in your cars the norm is 20/50 or even 10/50. 50 being the key With VCT( variable cam timing ) on most units being hydraulically controlled it is of primary importance to have the pressure come up almost instantly. to slow and you get a lot of chain or belt slap that ultimately causes destruction of the various related parts and if real unlucky the total engine.
AW 50 does NOT flow better in the cold than 32 or 46...awful lot of misinformation flyin around here. I'll just post this link...Viscosity Charts - Bob is the Oil Guy I can't even say the last time I seen a car that was supposed to run 20/50 in it...if ever. 15W-40 maybe, if it's a diesel. All of my cars run 0W-20, 5W-20, or 5W-30, the oldest one being 2001. Here's a good explanation on motor oil viscosity Motor Oil Viscosity Grades Explained in Layman's Terms
It won't hurt anything. You can run about anything in them. ATF, hydraulic fluid, tractor trans fluid. There pretty forgiving. At least the plain ones.
Cars are, as you said, going to the lighter oils these days but bikes are still using heavy oil. My own bike, a Victory, specifies 20W40 semi-synthetic while HDs specify 20W50 in warm locations. I have to admit that finding 20W40 is a bit of a PITA because cars quit using such heavy oil many years ago and requiring JASO MA doesn't make the search any easier. JASO MA is formulated for wet clutches like most bikes other than HD have.
Yeah, bikes have their own set of challenges for oil. Many using heavier oils like you mentioned are air cooled, have higher horsepower than many cars, and have to lube the manual transmission too (and clutch as you mentioned) Air cooled ATVs have used 20W-40 or 50 for years...at least in the summertime. The way the oil is labeled as far as viscosity still applies though.
