This friend of a friend (who'll be on the road with us this weekend) put 50 Weight oil in his 05 Road Glide by mistake. He called me 3 times last night, sent me a text message at 2 am, and called again at 6 am to ask if he'd be okay. I'm not comfortable answering if he'd be okay, so I told him to call and ask Harley. Since he will be on the road with us (and if he breaks down it'll affect all) I need to know if I should worry. He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you catch my drift...

 

In the heat of the summer, especially this summer, he will be fine. Change it out before chilly weather hits.

 

My manual says you can run straight 50 when the lowest ambient temperature is above 60 or 70 degrees, can't remember which. Initial starting when the motor is cold is where the low end of multiweights (15w, 20w) really come into play. If the outside temp is high enough, it's not an issue.

 

complete oil change or a top off?

if a top off both oils are same type, synthetic or petroleum no problem.

if a complete change: ( and the oil is rated for air cooled motorcycles)


IF it is s synthetic oil, and he has been running synthetic then he'll be fine.

If is is a straight 50 weight and not a multigrade, it'll be a little thick in the cool mornings, so take a couple of minutes to get the oil warm and flowing before starting off.

If it is a petroleum based oil, and he has been running synthetic, he will miss out of the advantages of synthetic, and may want to change it out.
esp with the heat wave hitting parts of the country.

so ask him what exactly has been done.

sharp knife---one day my pal calls me, he stopped for gas and when he started up to leave, the bike fired, and died before he could ride off, wouldn't restart--- I go down with truck and ramp, there he sits at the DIESEL pump!

mike

 

Oops! Now that's just bad...

 

Thanks for ALL the replies, I really appreciate you guys. It was a complete oil change (he initially said he only put in 4 qts, not his usual 6.5/7qts (). I doubt he'll know what it is, be it synthetic or dino, but I will let him know what you all said.

As for MKGuitar's sharp knife story...YIKES! This guy used to haul fuel as a truck driver and shut down an entire station (of the big diesel trucks who are getting their load) because he put diesel in one of the containers instead of unleaded...I'm just saying...

 

I run 50w dino oil all summer.

 

Curious if it quiets the motor any? I've heard the heavy mono-grade oils are noticeably quieter as far as the usual motor noises.

I've thought of trying a 50W or 60W for summer.

 

so if he is that worried about it, just drain the oil and put in 20/50. For and extra $20-$25 .... no worries.

 

attention!...your "friend" has violated the Officially-sanctioned, correct, Harley approved, oil type...he will be reported now to the proper Harley authority, and removed from any warranty lists he may be on....that is all........aww-shucks...no big deal...as others have said...as long as it aint cold in the am he'll be fine...these bikes are not fussy when it comes to oil...