Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 614
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From: Northern Ontario, Canada
Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
I have an 07 Dyna Super Glide with about 10,000 miles on it.
The last 5,000 miles I have been running a semi syn.
Can anyone with really high mileage tell me about their experience regarding synthetic oil specifically?
The last 5,000 miles I have been running a semi syn.
Can anyone with really high mileage tell me about their experience regarding synthetic oil specifically?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
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From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
I have an Evo that has over 130,000 on it. Most of the miles are with synthetic, though I bought it used and have no idea what went through it before I got it. It's being replaced due to a cracked crankcase, but that was the fault of the previous owner and a little repair he did, or should I say a repair he attempted to do. When I had the heads and cyinders off to replace the base gaskets there was still about 90% of the cross-hatching visible on the cylinder walls. The valves looked really good, too. Has great compression, doesn't burn any oil at all, and still runs great. I believe it would've easily been a 200,000 mile motor.
Account Suspended
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RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
My pickup has 101000 miles on synthetic. Every turbine engine aircraft you see flying is using synthetic. My V-rod is pushing 17k on synthetic. I put 187000 on an 87 GMC Jimmy using only synthetic. Some older bikes don't like getting synthetic oil on the clutch.
What was the question? Why is this a question?
What was the question? Why is this a question?
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 614
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From: Northern Ontario, Canada
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
I have been reading the oil related posts with great interest and found mostly positive comments about synthetics.
My concern stems from the fact that before my brand new Dyna, I had a Sportster that I put Spectro 20W-50 synthetic in that developed a catastrophic connecting rod failure within 2000 miles of the syn oil change. The bike had no sign of trouble or indications of impending doom until into the oil change (a noise just "developed" from an otherwise, unusually quiete Sportster motor, that resulted in the crankpin being eaten to the point that needle and cage literally blew out and left a 1/16" gouge in the pin).
I am a logical and reasonably intellegent (and modest) person and understand that the likelyhood of the oil being the cause of my problems is near zero, but after a $2300 repair bill, I am a little gun shy.
I am seeking motorcyle related input on high mileage bikes for comfort I guess, but my investment in my new bike is a huge investment for me and I want it to last as long as possible.
I hear wonderful things about the lifespan of Evo motors, but know little about the Twin Cams.
My concern stems from the fact that before my brand new Dyna, I had a Sportster that I put Spectro 20W-50 synthetic in that developed a catastrophic connecting rod failure within 2000 miles of the syn oil change. The bike had no sign of trouble or indications of impending doom until into the oil change (a noise just "developed" from an otherwise, unusually quiete Sportster motor, that resulted in the crankpin being eaten to the point that needle and cage literally blew out and left a 1/16" gouge in the pin).
I am a logical and reasonably intellegent (and modest) person and understand that the likelyhood of the oil being the cause of my problems is near zero, but after a $2300 repair bill, I am a little gun shy.
I am seeking motorcyle related input on high mileage bikes for comfort I guess, but my investment in my new bike is a huge investment for me and I want it to last as long as possible.
I hear wonderful things about the lifespan of Evo motors, but know little about the Twin Cams.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Alabama
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
I doubt the oil was the cause of the failure, but to put your mind at ease why not just continue with the semi-syn you've been using, or go with a quality dino like HD 360, Valvoline 4-stroke, Havoline, Pennzoil, Rotella, Delo, etc.?
The main reason to use synthetics in TC's is resistance to thermal breakdown in extreme heat, but in your climate this is not really a consideration. Any good dino will do a fine job of protecting your engine.
The main reason to use synthetics in TC's is resistance to thermal breakdown in extreme heat, but in your climate this is not really a consideration. Any good dino will do a fine job of protecting your engine.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 614
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From: Northern Ontario, Canada
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
Thank you for reasurance Lost1.
I ride fairly hard and find the TC does get pretty hot. Summertime temps during the day will often reach low to mid 80's with high humidity. Certainly not the type of heat you would find in say, Texas etc.
I am planning on riding to Sturgis this summer and I am just looking to be convinced about Synthetics I guess.
Again, thanks for the input Lost1.
I ride fairly hard and find the TC does get pretty hot. Summertime temps during the day will often reach low to mid 80's with high humidity. Certainly not the type of heat you would find in say, Texas etc.
I am planning on riding to Sturgis this summer and I am just looking to be convinced about Synthetics I guess.
Again, thanks for the input Lost1.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
My last bike was a '96 RK (Evo) that had 106k on the clock before trading on the '07 SG. I used synthetic in it from 9K on up, changing every 5k, and the heads were never off that bike. No engine problems at all, and static compression was 160/160 in early 2006 the last time I checked it (155/160 the first check in 1998), no change in oil consumption in that nine-year period, and ran perfect. I started my '07 off on the same oil at 1700 and will continue that practice.
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Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2007
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From: Northern Ontario, Canada
RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
It would seem that I would not go too far wrong if I used MOBIL1 Super Syn V-Twin 20w-50.
This is:
1. Readily availble
2. Very well rated
3. Very well used and accepted by the Harley crowd.
Thanks to all who replied to my post and feel free to add more input.
This is:
1. Readily availble
2. Very well rated
3. Very well used and accepted by the Harley crowd.
Thanks to all who replied to my post and feel free to add more input.
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Novice
Joined: Dec 2007
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RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
If you want your bike to last a long time and not hear all kinds of engine noise. Stick with the SYN3 from Harley.
I tried the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 in my 07 Road King. It's too thick for Harleys. You will get noise that you will hear at around 2500 RPM. Once you get the noise it's hard to get rid of it.
This forum is full of post from people that are concerned about noise in ther engine. It's because they used other oils. I don't think the noise hurts anything.
But when you drop $20,000 for a bike, you don't want to hear engine noises.
I tried the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 in my 07 Road King. It's too thick for Harleys. You will get noise that you will hear at around 2500 RPM. Once you get the noise it's hard to get rid of it.
This forum is full of post from people that are concerned about noise in ther engine. It's because they used other oils. I don't think the noise hurts anything.
But when you drop $20,000 for a bike, you don't want to hear engine noises.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
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RE: Who has very high mileage engines on synthetic oil?
ORIGINAL: Jdartfordct
If you want your bike to last a long time and not hear all kinds of engine noise. Stick with the SYN3 from Harley.
I tried the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 in my 07 Road King. It's too thick for Harleys. You will get noise that you will hear at around 2500 RPM. Once you get the noise it's hard to get rid of it.
If you want your bike to last a long time and not hear all kinds of engine noise. Stick with the SYN3 from Harley.
I tried the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w50 in my 07 Road King. It's too thick for Harleys. You will get noise that you will hear at around 2500 RPM. Once you get the noise it's hard to get rid of it.
Pure B.S., IMO, and I'm not a user of either oil. I don't believe that one 20w-50 oil is any "thicker" than another. If it were, then what would be the point of a universal weight rating system?