Hey everyone, I searched for this topic thinking that someone must have had the same question before but I turned up with nothing. I have an '89 Electra Glide Ultra Classic with 68k on the original motor. I have always gone to Harley for the past three years since I've had the bike for the primary case oil. (20w-50) A buddy of mine recently became an AMSOIL dealer, and I went through him this time to order the primary oil after putting all the bikes info into the online catalog database. Come to find out AMSOIL recommends using synthetic 20w-50 oil in the bike. My question for the community is, whether I should switch to synthetic or stay with the conventional oil? I've heard from some old timer friends that that old EVO's did not like the synthetic oils, and run better with the conventional (since the tolerances are not tight enough for synthetic oil use.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Synthetics in an EVO make it noisier and increases its potential to leak.
That said a good gasket kit will keep it from leaking if you run synthetics.

Me personally I go to the auto parts store for all my oil needs.

 

"Everyone says" that Evos will leak if you put synth in them.

I don't know if that's true or not, since I've never tried.

FWIW, my philosophy about synth is that it is nice in certain automotive applications where it allows for extended change intervals. Beyond that, it's a waste of money.

Which is itself a stupid thing for me to say, since I buy relatively expensive Lucas conventional 20W-50 stuff anyway. I only do that because I'm a dolt and it makes me feel like I am doing something nice for my bike, which I pretend it cares about, but in truth, it's a machine and it doesn't care.

If you want to throw your buddy a bone and buy some Amsoil, it's not going to hurt anything but your wallet. If your motor weeps a bit of it out, no real harm done.

 

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the insight! I am really cautious with whatever I do to this old bike, shes an old girl and everything I can do to make it easier on the motor I try desperately to do. I think I will forgo the synth and keep with the conventional 20w-50 in the bike. The old saying "if it still works why change it" attitude wins out.

Thanks again and happy riding

 

Amsoil seemed quieter in my EVO. I run Pennzoil 20w-50 dino now as I don't put the miles on as before.

 

fwiw I run catrol 20w50 conventional oil in my engine, dexron atf in my primary, and 80w90 gear oil in my trans. I once ran spectro 20w50 synthetic in my engine. It didn't like it. She leaked out of every possible orfice imaginable. It was noisier too

 

FYI, I tried Mobil-1 V Twin synthetic oil in my Evo and the base gaskets started seeping and, the engine was much noisier. I went back to HD-20w-50 Conventional oil and the gaskets stopped leaking almost immediately. Some people have good luck with the synthetics. YMMV

 

Lucas synthetic in my 97 Electra Glide. No problems.

 

Oil?

 

Yeah, this.....