What oil??????????????
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
What oil??????????????
Howdy pards! I was told it is OK to switch from regular HD 20w-50w oil to Mobil 1 synthetic oil. I have 9350 miles on my 92 sportster. The advisor said to change the filter quite often to remove any sludge!???? am I dense or do this sound strange? Also, a biker friend said to keep using the HD oil and put some LUCAS oil stabilizer instead of using synthetic. this sounds better to me. let me know what y'all think. thanks DW
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,908
Likes: 2
From: Southeast Wisconsin
Everyone has their own oppinion.
Go to every employee in the same dealership and you'll get different answers.
2 salesmen I talked to the other night said similar things.
Both said first 500 miles with regular then syn. One salesmen said he only reccomends it on 05 and newer and other guy reccomends on everything.
Just gotta read and figure out what you think. I'm switching to syn.
Go to every employee in the same dealership and you'll get different answers.
2 salesmen I talked to the other night said similar things.
Both said first 500 miles with regular then syn. One salesmen said he only reccomends it on 05 and newer and other guy reccomends on everything.
Just gotta read and figure out what you think. I'm switching to syn.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
The reason he said to change the filter more than normal is because synthetic oil will break loose all (ALL) of the sludge gunk that is built up in the motor from dino oil. So go ahead and use the synthetic but change the filter every 500 miles or so and then at about 3,000 miles put in new oil and a new filter. The cleaning ability of synthetic is one reason why it's not recommended for high mileage vehicles.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
Additives
Like someone said, everyone has an opinion. Heres mine and I have over 30 years in as a mechanic. Personally I still have dino oil, but may switch to syn soon. I have an oil cooler and run the bike enough to get hot enough to burn off any moisture (when you dont burn off the moisture the oil breaks down faster and forms sulfuric acid, which kills the internal parts). I change the oil every 2500-4k miles depending on the conditions, and I have never had a problem even after pulling down an engine at 40k because of a failed valve seal. Thats me!
One bit of advice I will give and hope everyone will follow. STAY AWAY FROM ADDITIVES. Have you ever seen the sample gears on the parts counter advertising Lucas oil? Look at the trail of oil on the gears.....it look like goo, and this creates more drag than anything else in my professional opinion. Additives are like a religion not a science. Sort of along the same advertising lines as starting your car is the worst think you can do. BULL$HIT.
One bit of advice I will give and hope everyone will follow. STAY AWAY FROM ADDITIVES. Have you ever seen the sample gears on the parts counter advertising Lucas oil? Look at the trail of oil on the gears.....it look like goo, and this creates more drag than anything else in my professional opinion. Additives are like a religion not a science. Sort of along the same advertising lines as starting your car is the worst think you can do. BULL$HIT.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I'm a pi$$-poor wrench but I have to agree with bagman; oil should be left as is and without additives. Change your filter often 'cause they're a lot cheaper than an engine. I use Amsoil 20-50 and have no problems. Probably wouldn't running with dino either. No way for me to tell.
Due to Gray Beard advise from a different site, I clean out my bag every other oil change and maybe that makes a little difference too.
Due to Gray Beard advise from a different site, I clean out my bag every other oil change and maybe that makes a little difference too.
Trending Topics
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 686
Likes: 0
From: Lady's Island SC
Mobil 1 is the ONLY thing I use. Like mentioned it willclean like hell. Change the filter. You should notice it running coller as well. Good luck.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 5,615
Likes: 9
From: Escondido, CA
Oil additives. There are oil additives in every can of oil sold. When you add your own special miracle additive you are messing up the percentage of additives that the oil already had and are now messing up the way the oil was designed to work. I agree, stay away from additives.
Road Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,127
Likes: 0
From: Houston, TX
If you plan on keeping that bike a long time, and especially if it may ever have to run in high heat or traffic conditions, then go with the synthetic. Can't go wrong with Amsoil, Mobil 1, or Royal Purple. Odds are that you can find one of the three nearby. My temps went down when I switched to synthetic. The dino was struggling to keep cool in Houston summer traffic (around 280 usually). With synthetic it has never passed 260 and normally runs 220-230 on a hot day.
Last edited by spike95; Aug 7, 2008 at 06:38 PM.