Primary Oil Change
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 11
From: Houston area
Primary Oil Change
What is the "standard" time / mileage for changing the Primary Oil? It appears there are a lot of choices as to what to use. I guess I will use Mobil I 20-50.
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: Primary Oil Change
Just go by the owner's manual. The primary oil change is the least critical of the three holes. The primary oil is nothing more than an oil bath to lube the chain. The product used in there doesn't have to be that high tech. Some guys use ATF, some regular motor oil, some high buck stuff.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 8,978
Likes: 34
From: Cedar Point, NC
RE: Primary Oil Change
I've been using the HD stuff, though I have been looking for a cheaper oil that does the same job...another thread suggested Drag Specialties stuff, supposed to be just as a good, buck and half less. I change mine every 5K as scheduled in the maintenance manual when I change all the others.
Mac
Mac
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 265
Likes: 11
From: Houston area
RE: Primary Oil Change
Looks like a wide variety of choices with oil changes at or before 5,000 miles. Thanks for the help.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
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From:
RE: Primary Oil Change
Change it when you do the engine oil, it's only less than one quart in the primary. Most any 10/30 or 10/40 NON synthetic oil will work well in there. Synthetics can cause some clutch slippage.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
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From: Canton, Michigan
RE: Primary Oil Change
ORIGINAL: xxxflhrci...The primary oil change is the least critical of the three holes. The primary oil is nothing more than an oil bath to lube the chain...
The primary 'oil' also bathes the clutch and regular changes helps flush out any crap from the discs. And different models require more (or less) oil. My 93 Evo Electra Glide uses 42-44oz in the primary. I 'normally' change the primary oil when I change the engine oil (somewhere around 2500-3000 miles). But on occasion will go every other engine oil change, depending on how I racked up the miles. I'm presently using Formula+ in there after 47,000 miles of regular HD Primary oil. I don't notice much difference between the two. I just might experiment with a synthetic once I use the last of the Formula+ I've got on the shelf. But I'm also looking at cost and not having to 'stock' a bunch of different oils, so when I swap the motor (just got the top re-done) over to Mobil 1 V-Twin, I might try it in the primary also.
Just my .02.