A while back, about 18 months or so ago, when I bought my RK, I had no spare oil in the shed, and went to the dealer for a bottle of Syn3. They were out of stock of litre bottles, so one of the techs filled an empty bottle from the workshop drum for me. He even wrote syn3 on the bottle in marker pen, so I am fairly confident he put the correct oil in the bottle. It sat in the shed un-needed since then.

I recently laid the softy up for the winter and bought three new bottles of Syn3 rather than use the old bottle I had already, for the oil change.

I decanted some of the new, and old into a half litre bottle to take on my winter road trip and found that the oil from the workshop drum is a different colour, to that in the new litre bottles. Or should I say shade of colour. The old stuff is very much lighter in colour. Viscosity seems about the same.

So why the colour difference?

I know HD outsource the oil manufacture. Have they changed manufacturers?
Didn't Syn3 use to be part synthetic?

Anyhow I would be interested to know the answer. It is winter after all, and I'm bored.

 

I thought they called it Syn3 because its group III. Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

I have no idea what that means.

 

I wouldn't trust it! I wouldn't pour anything from a previously to me opened container into my bike, car or lawnmower! It might be fine, but then again.....

 

I agree. I switched my bikes over to Amsoil partly because I did not trust the bulk oil the dealer was selling me. Amsoil from the same dealership comes in a nice sealed bottle (and my FB shifted a little better after switching).

 

Yes I agree, but then where do you draw the line. If you are tied to dealer servicing for warranty, do you stand over the tech in the workshop whilst he does the oil change to see that he puts the correct oil in it, from a clean measuring jug or whatever?

I never actually had to use the oil, but was more interested to see why, if both oils were Syn3 separated by a year or so of manufacture, there would be a colour change.

 

Dealer probably sold you exactly what they use for oil changes for their customers, maybe the bulk oil is dyed a different color, maybe they changed color at some point in time. Why would they cheat you?
You either trust them or you don't, if you don't, dump the oil.

 

No they wouldn't cheat me. I've worked with a couple of the guys there, and they all know me.
I think the colour change is most likely, but wanted it confirmed. It would make sense to make it a shade darker, so it would be easier to see the level after an oil change.

 

I would dump it at AutoZone recycle. No big deal. Over the years, I have noticed same brand oil will differ in color just like the last Folgers coffee taste different then the last. Bet it's their standard bulk oil. Only the big man knows what's in his bulk tank. SYN in my older 2008 Harley genuine Accs and Part says SYN is a blend of three synthetic base stocks.. Know this is going to make this an oil thread but look at the new owner manuals for Harleys. SYN is now the the second recommendation for transmissions and primary on nearly all new Harleys except the CVO manual line.. Their Formula + is a better choice if you trust their engineers. I do.

 

Group IV and V oils are undisputed synthetics. Group III is more controversial, being a highly refined dino product that won the legal right to be called "synthetic" in North America. Group II etc. is dino.