Basic Conventional Oil in Twin Cam
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: Cold Lake
Basic Conventional Oil in Twin Cam
Has anyone luck with their twin cam running a basic 20W50 conventional motor oil like Penzoil, Quaker State etc..?
Does it need to be motorcycle specific?
I've traditionally ran synthetic in mine since I've had it, but heard conventional makes for a quieter engine
Planning to break it in with conventional 20W50 after my 103" upgrade and maybe stick with it
Thanks
Does it need to be motorcycle specific?
I've traditionally ran synthetic in mine since I've had it, but heard conventional makes for a quieter engine
Planning to break it in with conventional 20W50 after my 103" upgrade and maybe stick with it
Thanks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 21,091
Likes: 7,612
From: Poolville
I like conventional dino oil with higher zink properties. I believe they help to protect the motor better. You're going to get a lot of ups and downs with this and that's fine.. You got to do what you need to satisfy your needs..
Here's an issue I had with my wife's Chevy Malibu.
The recommended oil which is what I always used 5w20 in my wife's Chevy 2.5 Malibu. Turned out it wasn't giving me the wear protection I needed. I started losing the tolerances on my oil pump. With that said when hot my oil pressure's were lower causing the vehicle to go into a limp in mode because the cam phasing wasn't seeing high oil pressure. So I went to conventional 10W40 with a quart of Lucas additive.. Screw what they're trying to sell you with all that bullshit that synthetics are better. They didn't protect my car motor.
I run regular Dino VR1 Valvoline 20W50 in my built Dyna no issues..
Edited, also use it in my built Evo .
Good luck with your thread..
Here's an issue I had with my wife's Chevy Malibu.
The recommended oil which is what I always used 5w20 in my wife's Chevy 2.5 Malibu. Turned out it wasn't giving me the wear protection I needed. I started losing the tolerances on my oil pump. With that said when hot my oil pressure's were lower causing the vehicle to go into a limp in mode because the cam phasing wasn't seeing high oil pressure. So I went to conventional 10W40 with a quart of Lucas additive.. Screw what they're trying to sell you with all that bullshit that synthetics are better. They didn't protect my car motor.
I run regular Dino VR1 Valvoline 20W50 in my built Dyna no issues..
Edited, also use it in my built Evo .
Good luck with your thread..
Last edited by 98hotrodfatboy; Jan 8, 2025 at 09:10 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 18,249
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From: backwoods
When I break engines in I use cheap dino 20w50. I do switch to syn. But you don't need to. Harley sells dino oil. So pick a dino oil you like. For jap bikes they say you need an oil made for it because everything was using same oi, engine, tranny, and clutch. I am sure this is debated.
So I can't say I have done it for a life time, but obvioualy people were running dino oil before syn.
So I can't say I have done it for a life time, but obvioualy people were running dino oil before syn.
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From: SE Louisiana
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 972
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From: Knoxville
Gotta dig an oil tread. VR1 is good stuff. I run Mobil 1 from Wally World in the air cooled stuff; syn with about the same level of zinc as VR1. I drop mine at 3k, so any oil would work conv or syn.
For the vehicles, I really don’t worry about the type of oil as long as it meets the spec.
Think like a manufacturer, cheapest oil that meets spec and change it early and often.
For the vehicles, I really don’t worry about the type of oil as long as it meets the spec.
Think like a manufacturer, cheapest oil that meets spec and change it early and often.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 449
Likes: 22
From: In a van, down by the river
Past 20 years I have tried just about every type of oil in my bikes including the Supertech stuff. What I have learned is, I have way too many bikes and dont ride any one bike enough to warrant a top of the line full syn oil, cheap dino Supertech is overkill for my situation, not a joke. With that said, I currently use Mobil1 15w50 in just about all my bikes including the bikes where the engine and trans share the same oil. In the Harleys the Mobil1 is used in the engine only. 5qt jug of the stuff is cheap enough to continue using it.
Last edited by Max96; Jan 10, 2025 at 08:34 AM.