EVO Oil Recommendations

Buddy WMC · #1 05-19-2007, 06:10 AM

Morning All,
Computer has been down for a week and had some catching up to do. I do not want to start an oil war, just get some good advice. I have read as many posts as I could and was interested in Poco's oil comparison thread until it died. I contacted the mechanic who worked on the 93 FXLR that I bought. He told me not to use synthetic oil as the engine is too old.

Bike has only 19,000 miles and was serviced before I bought it. I plan to change all the fluids at 20,000, so I have a reference point. Common sense tells me that running synthetic in the engine and trans would be beneficial due to the high ambient air temps here in Florida.

The local Autozone carries 20-50 Mobil 1 V-Twin @8.95 per qt. They also carry 15-50 Mobil 1 extended interval (Gold Cap) @ 5.95 per qt and Mobil 1 75-140 gear oil. What do you guys think about the synthetic 15-50 extended interval and the 75-140 gear oil combo? BTW, we use 10-30 Mobil 1 in both our cars.

1yrb4hd · #2 05-19-2007, 07:21 AM

I'd be interested in this as well as I am new to Harley's and the EVO engine..

Hackd · #3 05-19-2007, 09:05 AM

I've always (for the last 14 years anyway since the bike was new), run the regular Harley Dino oil in the engine on my 93 FLHS. I'd run the HD semi-syn trans oil and their dino primary oil too. Now all the dealers stock is the Syn-3, so I swapped to regular Mobil-1 gear oil for the trans, and run the Syn-3 in the primary. I now have an unexplained 'whirling' noise coming from the primary. The trans, I notice no real difference. I'm still using the regular HD dino oil in the motor.

Not that I've never considered changing oil mfg's, just that with only two or three oil changes during the short riding season in Michigan, it's no big deal to run over to the dealer and get the fluids/filter.

My recommend: Find an oil that you 'like', that is readily available, that meets all the 'requirements' of the application. Then change it regularly, with special emphasis on severe conditions. I posed aQ on another oil related thread: 'What do the riders that own airplanes do?' Personally, I'd be more anile about my Cessna's, Piper's, or Beechcraft's engine's oil needs. Trash one of those motors and you're talking serious $$$. Not to mention the 'unscheduled landing'.

Mokey · #4 05-21-2007, 04:45 AM

I run Castrol 20W50 in the motor, Castrol 10W40 in the primary and 75W90 gear oil in the tranny.
You can run a 3600 fram filter. This means you can get it all at the local autoparts store and save a trip to the dealer. I can change my oil 3 times for what it costs to buy oil at the harley shop so I change it about every 2500 miles. Over 100,000 miles combined on my bikes and never had an oil related problem.

I don't use synthetic oil in anything I own. Tried it several times and always developed a leaking gasket.

Hackd · #5 05-21-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Mokey...I run Castrol 20W50 in the motor, Castrol 10W40 in the primary and 75W90 gear oil in the tranny. You can run a 3600 fram filter. This means you can get it all at the local autoparts store...

I like that idea. Ireally do think there is too much paranoia about oil on this forum. Pick an oil that meets the requirements of the application, and change it regularly. I've also used theFram filters, a buddy and Isplit a case of them a number of years ago.Like Isaid, I'll probably switch to a differentprimary oilthe next change.

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Mokey ...I don't use synthetic oil in anything I own. Tried it several times and always developed a leaking gasket..

I've heard that too. And from a number of people. Although, the syn oil mfg's (and syn oil fanatics)will refute that claim. My 1999 C5 Corvette (30K miles)came with Mobil1'from the factory', and it has a small oil drip, but it's hard to say if it's from the syn oil or the fact it doesn't get driven much. My 2002 Cavalier Z24, that I switched to Mobil1 at5000 miles, was nice a dry when I sold it at 58K miles. My 2002 Blazer (alsoswitched to Mobil1 at 37K, has developed a number of small leaks. Including have the timing cover replaced.

A service writer at one of the local HD dealships told me that they were getting a bunch of bikes in for gaskets because of syn oil use....Can't 'verify' that.

The debate rages on.

EVOrider · #6 05-21-2007, 09:46 AM

I've never used synthetic in the EVO. If it were to be feasible....then I might consider it. Until then, no....

I use 80w90 GL5 in the transmission. I never really paid attention to who made it though. Synthetic or dino....makes no difference to me. It gets changed every 10,000 miles or yearly.

I use nothing but 15w40 diesel oil in the primary. It has never been synthetic and I don't care who makes it either.

The engine gets 15w40 in the winter and 20w50 in the warmer months. I'll use aftermarket 20w50, Castrol GTX, HD360.....and various ones. Currently, it has Valvoline VR1 in there and it was rated pretty good. The 15w40 is made by whomever......

The EVO is pretty much happy on just about any 20w50 or even 15w40 for cooler climates.

mp · #7 05-21-2007, 04:33 PM

At only 19K, I doubt you'd have a leak problem with syn oil. But I think it's insane to pay $9 a quart for oil!
I use Kendall dino 20w50 ($1.99) in the engine, with red ATF (for leak identification) in the primary and syn gear oil in the tranny.

Buddy WMC · #8 05-22-2007, 05:26 AM

Thanks to all who posted. Not quite sure which way I'll go yet. One thing for sure is a transmission oil change. First I have to figure out why there is such an off idle hesitation in the S&S Super. Once that is fixed the bike just needs to be ridden for awhile

.

MikeyB · #9 05-22-2007, 11:06 AM

I was running HD 20w-50 and switched to 15w-40. The engine seems to be smoother with the 15w-40. May switch back to 20w-50 to see if it's my imagination.
Also running an oil cooler.

MikeyB

riden2low · #10 05-22-2007, 01:57 PM

Amsoil here. Never had any problems with it.