Swith to any Synthetic from HD fossil
Harley Oil & LubricationDiscuss Swith to any Synthetic from HD fossil in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; Perhaps this is like closing the barn door after the horse gets out, but:
I ride a '01 RK with 95 k miles, carb, stage one and bartel pipes - ...
Perhaps this is like closing the barn door after the horse gets out, but:
I ride a '01 RK with 95 k miles, carb, stage one and bartel pipes - pretty much stock and have always used HD fossil 20-50W. Have had one top end job done at 58 k. I have been changing engine oil every 2500 miles. I live in Houston, and almost 100% highway miles at speed limit.
From a practical standpoint is there any benefit in switching to synthetic oil now at this mileage? Has anyone switched oils after this amount of mileage?
There should still be some benefit in making the change to synthetic. I gather that the bottom end of the engine hasn't been rebuilt yet, it would be interesting to see just how long you can run it.
Sysns are better for 2 things. Higher temps and extended drains.
Air cooled twins qualify for high temps.
And I wouldn't feel the least bit apprehensive about going 5k on it.
Downside. syns have increased solvenscy as compared to fossil oils. So if you have a leak waiting to happen that is only sealed by crud, well then, it';s gonna happen with the syn.,
The syn will clean out the crud and the leak will show up. It'll be a pre-existing leak, it's just been plugged by crud before.
It's a risk. But if you've been good about keeping it clean anyway, it's likely a small risk.
And don't forget, 5 micron filter. (check the service manual, I know my 07 is specced at 5.)
Everything BluesFan said is 100 percent correct. You shouldn't have a problem
with seals leaking, your bike is fairly new. With synthetic, you'll run cooler and the synthetic will clean the sludge and varnish out of your motor, which you can bet you do have, running petroleum, you'll have sludge and varnish, nature of the beast. Switching to synthetic, although you can run ur oil longer, it may take a few changes to get all that gunk outa there.
Harley makes a great filter. Amsoil makes one that will go twice as long to match their oil change interval, twice OEM. Either way, its a smart move if'n you want you bike to last a very very long time.
If you have used quality crude oil, you won't have the "doom and gloom" sludge your being warned about. I've run my '94 on rev tec pure since it came out, '95 or '96. No sludge, doom or gloom. I'm not as confident that you won't have a leak, and I personally am not convinced that syn is good for roller brgs, especially with your mileage. There's some wear in your brgs, and the reduction in friction may cause the bearing to spin in it's bore instead of rolling. Bluesfan is correct about the cleaning ability of syn oil, and that's a good warning. Cleaning these deposits from the ring lan area of the piston WILL cause it to SMOKE.
I can't believe a synthetic oil expert is trying to convince someone with 95,000 miles on their bike to change to syn. I think it's bad advice. But, do as you wish, and good luck.
Syn is just trying to sell some product. I agree that you may see some smoke because of the cleaning action and you may float a bearing. I will stand behind the fossil product as I always have. I feel if synthetics were that much better makers of industrial equipment would be using them. I have worked in the molding industry for 20 years and no one even mentions synthetics for hydraulic systems.
Long chain polymers in synthetics will definately tolerate more heat before beginning to break down than dino oil. As far as running cooler, I'd really like to see a controlled test on that.
If someone is judging their engine running cooler simply by looking at the temp gauge stuck in their oil bag, that's not a dependable indicator as there are too many variables.
If synthetics were as 'slick' as the manufacturers want us to think, we'd have darned near a frictionless engine. Maybe that will happen some day, but it's not happened yet.
I can tell you this, my job takes me into many different companies day in and day out. The logging industry and the trucking industry are mostly using Amsoil in there engines
They do the oil testing and are getting 200,000 miles plus before oil changes are needed and that is saving them some big bucks.
So its out there and will be even more previlent with the cost of a barrel of oil going up and up
I agree with mr. 94flhtcu and enjoy his posts.
I am new to this, so hope I don't screw it up.
I don't put too many miles on each year, so don't need syn since all oils loose package by years end anyway, and I dont run in traffic or high heat dessert, at least not yet.
I will give you link to test that says one downside of syn is it takes so long to warm up. MKL's Harley-Davidson Sportster 1200 Custom - Mobil 1 Synthetic Oil Impressions
I was about to change to synth in my 12 year old 12,000 mi softail I just bought used when I met a oldschool biker that said stick with 20/50 dino oil as it is thicker/more visc. and will not leak out of base gaskets at bottom of cylinders like syn can as it happened to him with the same year range EVO as my 96. He said the newer HD models have a new machining tolerance and the gaskets will not leak with synth. Also he said since syn lubes better and is more slippery it actually makes the engine more rattly/noisy/clatter. This contradicts the link above as it says saome riders say it less noisy/more smooth?? This link make me shy away from synth even more than before as it takes so long to warm up , esp on cool days/nights. Plus you great guys talking about how is too slippery and bearings will not roll, but spin-causing damage-teach me invaluable new stuff all the time.
Anyway, I called local HD dealer and they say YES they have heard of syn leaking problems also, so until Amsoil says it has made a new syn and it is thicker and definitely will not leak out of base gasket, i will not use it as my riding does not need it and I have to change at least every year anyway.
If I do change to synth, which I prob won't as dino is fine and prob will get even more heat stable as they reformulate it even better in future for big twin air cooled, and it is cheap (I use Valvoline reg V twin motorcycle oil), I will start with synth blend High Milleage Oil which may swell gaskets before going to pure Amsoil Synth, or I will wait for Ams to come out with a new pure synth High Milleage big twin air cooled 10/50 oil that is thick like 20/50 dino, or it is thinner but does not leak out of base gasket------"If it aint broke don't fix it" & Cannot make EVOSBIGJUGS leak (as they are Beautiful), ever!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Mr. 94FLHTCU and AIM readers.
Please respond and keep me informed as I want to change to a better oil/more slick if it is actually BETTER for my motor and my riding than DINO oil,
but will not change over until the oil debate is settled and the Fat Bimbo sings.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 94flhtcu
If you have used quality crude oil, you won't have the "doom and gloom" sludge your being warned about. I've run my '94 on rev tec pure since it came out, '95 or '96. No sludge, doom or gloom. I'm not as confident that you won't have a leak, and I personally am not convinced that syn is good for roller brgs, especially with your mileage. There's some wear in your brgs, and the reduction in friction may cause the bearing to spin in it's bore instead of rolling. Bluesfan is correct about the cleaning ability of syn oil, and that's a good warning. Cleaning these deposits from the ring lan area of the piston WILL cause it to SMOKE.
I can't believe a synthetic oil expert is trying to convince someone with 95,000 miles on their bike to change to syn. I think it's bad advice. But, do as you wish, and good luck.
Swith to any Synthetic from HD fossil 
Oil Debate/Dino vs. Synthetic Oil 
debate is settled and the Fat Bimbo sings.
Linear Mode
