1931 Harley VL - SAE 20/50wt oil if 50wt not available when traveling long distance?

[Buster]

When doing a multiple day couple thousand mile trip on my 1931 VL and I cannot carry enough 50wt oil on bike, will readily available SAE 20/50 wt oil used for multiple days do any harm to motor? This is not meant to be an oil debate post.

[Jerry Wieland]

Buster Your engine should be fine with 20/50. I find my 1941 Knucklehead might leak a little more but seems fine. I have had real good luck finding 50W oil though at HD dealerships.

Jerry

When doing a multiple day couple thousand mile trip on my 1931 VL and I cannot carry enough 50wt oil on bike, will readily available SAE 20/50 wt oil used for multiple days do any harm to motor? This is not meant to be an oil debate post.

[34VLRay]

On my long trips most NAPA Stores carry 50/60 wt Valvoline.

[Steve Slocombe]

I would stay away from 20/50 if possible, as it is a 20 weight base oil with chemical thickeners to simulate the 50 weight.

[T. Cotten]

If your regular oil contains zinc (ZDDP), Buster,..

Enough of it should be adhered to bearing surfaces to allow protection for a few hundred miles without.

There's really only two rules for oil: Keep it clean, and keep it full.

....Cotten

[Architect]

50wt should be easy enough to find in a decent auto parts store or motorcycle store, but for sure a HD dealership. Brands will vary, but again you should be able to find some 50.

If you have a planned midway point to your trip, maybe ship a couple of quarts in advance of your preferred oil. Good luck with the trip.