I hear about a lot of guys changing their first oil change with synthetic oil. Why not just stick with the standard 20w-50w dino oil?

 

Took me a long time to switch from Dino to Synthetic. I am happy I did. The synthetic can go longer between oil changes.

I used GTX for decades, but the top end would start getting a little louder around 3K miles.

I have used Royal Purple, and in the last few years, Redline, and can go 5K miles and the top end is still just as quiet at 5k as it was when I put it in.

Lots of guys go longer than 5k on synthetic. I still change between 4k and 5k.

 

Sweet! Oil thread.

 

Toss a coin.....they both do the same thing. The difference is in the hype, not the fluid.

 

I noticed the difference in top end noise (or lack thereof) first time I changed to synthetic and I'll stick to it from now on.

 

You don't have to especially if you don't plan to extend the replacement interval. Me, I was using synthetic from the 1k service and at 6k went back to a 50w dino for two reasons; 1) I rarely go 5k It's more like 3k....so it's a waste of $. 2) synthetic is associated with louder top end noise with mine and many other riders, read the thread below and decide for yourself:

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...ning-50wt.html

 

That's what I think as well; oil is oil. Why spend double the money if you don't have to.

 

Not double, probably an extra 10 bucks if your doing it yourself.

 

Cause the oils cooling and lubrication proprieties will have diminished after about 3-5000 miles, change the oil filter too.

On a possible serious note, Synthetic oil will withstand the higher temps generated by the EPA mandates for late model motors before contamination/breakdown.
Other than the exhaust and some wind, oil is the key element to keep the parts cool enough to keep turning.

 

1) Better wear protection.
2) Runs cooler due to a uniform molecule size.
3) Better cold starts.
4) Better high heat protection.
5) Extended oil change intervals.

Those are all scientifically studied points where a synthetic oil surpasses a mineral oil. There is nothing wrong with mineral oil at all; it's just that synthetic does everything better.