I just got the latest used oil analysis on one of our 05' XL1200Cs. It was my son's Sporty and he rides it to work every day. Almost all of the riding has been on 100 Degree days mixed highway and stop-n-go. A little over 2500 miles on the second load of Havoline 20W-50 with HD filter. With as little wear as this, why would I use anything else. I'm sold on the Havoline, a well kept secret.
UOA
Steve: You have a nice wearing Harley engine at 6724 miles. Universal averages show typical wear metals for this type of engine after 1,550 miles on the oil. Your oil was in use 2,580 miles, and we found all wear from the engine below average levels and in the correct balance to show normal mechanical parts inside. Silicon at 4 ppm shows very good air filtration. The 0.1% insolubles level indicates good oil filtration. This 20W/50 engine oil is about average viscosity for that grade and there was no gas or moisture. Check back to establish trends.

Al 4
Chrom 1
Iron 7
Coppr 3
Lead 0
Tin 0
Moly 221
Nick 0
Mang 0
Silvr 0
Titanium 0
Ka 3
Boron 174
Si 4
NA 1
Ca 2470
Magnesium 51
Phos 977
Zinc 1094
Barium 0

Viscosity 79.0,
Flash point 426
Fuel < 0.3
Insol 0.1

 

Havoline is fine for a dino oil.......but I would change it at 2500-3000 miles. My $.02.

 

This stuff is what I've been running in the winter. With a UOA like this in your hot summer, it makes no sense to use anything else. While it might not go to a 5k mile OCI, at the price of the Havoline, who cares! When are y'all going to change it?

 

I have heard that Havoline lubricates better if you use a chrome oil filter.....

 

Yes, I would change oil at 2500-3000 miles. Any oil.

 

Here we have scientific proof that the oil is still in excellent condition at 2,500 miles. If the trend continues, it will still be in excellent condition at 5,000 miles. And yet you say change at 2,500 miles? Doesn't make sense. Why not just buy more oil and another filter, then just pitch it in the trash on the way out of the store? Sure would save time and effort, results would be the same.

Sorry, that just doesn't make sense to me. But I guess you have to do whatever helps you sleep at night.

 

It might go 5000 without a hitch, but at $13 / case, why risk it. This is south Texas. Over 100 degrees every day with who knows what pavement temps. I never ran Mobil 1 more than 3000, and I won't any other oil.

 

How could he possibly be at risk? The data tells you exactly what's going on, and there's no risk. I'm a very conservative guy. I use the best oil I can get, and change probably a little more often than necessary. But I try not to get rediculous about it. You could change the oil every 1,000 miles if you want to. But it won't change anything, except making you wallet lighter.

You, OTOH, ride in a very differant environment. You might need to change every 3,000 miles. But have you done the analysis? Maybe you should. But then again, if it helps you to sleep at night why bother.

Like I said before, I try to follow the science. But in the end you gotta do whatever feels right. If I were Honus, I'de continue to use that oil, and change every 5,000 miles.

 

The whole purpose of doing the Oil analysis is to determine how His bike being driven by him under the conditions he drives fairs out for oil change intervals. You have to leave the oil in the bike or you waisted the time to do the analysis in the first place. Send them a sample of the oil at 5K when you change it like is recommended by the manufacture. I'm sure the report will come back and tell you it's time to change, or you can wait and make a decision depending on the report.

I took a Volvo engine that is suppose to have a 7500 mile interval on it and sampled every 1K, all the way to 7K. What the data showed was the numbers began to double at the 4K and up, so with all seven sheets layed out in front of the customer they knew 4K was it, then they did what ever they wanted to do based on real data. Ya...................... you know it, it was a leased car and they did 7500-9000 changes anyway. In the "well educated" mind of the consumer today, if the factory says 7500, we all know the engineers build in safety so 9-10K is fine right. Trust me I see it every day, it's the norm not the exception.

 

I agree with some of the responses. 3k all the way.