The use of synthetic oil is not all about it generating
less friction, which it does to some extent, but about
it being able to handle heat better without breaking
down. In jet engines we have used synthetic oils for many
years for this very reason. The oil in a jet is not a
multi viscosity oil and the Exxon 2380 oil that is in
common use is almost clear coming out of the can. These
oils still burn and produce a build up in the engine but
withstand heat much better. The air cooled engines run at
higher temps than do liquid cooled engines. On the Triumph
all we have is the small oil cooler up front and since
there is no oil tank, all the oil is staying in the hot
engine all the time. Remember that the oil cooler is doing
very little when you are at a stop with no air flow.
