Oil Archive (no new posts) An archive of oil related questions and comments.

..one more post on OIL

 
Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 11:12 AM
  #681  
GVan's Avatar
GVan
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 147
Likes: 20
From: Oregon Coast
Default

Originally Posted by Ape_Hanger
Valvoline VR-1 20w50 dino in the motor, regular Valvoline 20w50 in the primary, and Mobil 1 75w140 gear oil in the transmission.
Just curious about your experience with the Valvoline VR-1. Did you run anything before moving to the VR-1? If so, did you notice if your engine used any more/less oil between oil changes?
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 11:18 AM
  #682  
dyna rider's Avatar
dyna rider
Club Member
Veteran: Army
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Default Fall Oil Change

You should change the oil before storage because exhaust and water form acid. I've seen it on military airplanes where said acid has eaten the rear wing spar almost to failure from the combination of exhaust gases (blow-by on your bike) and water (condensation).
I'm not saying it will eat your bike engine up but it might etch the parts in the engine. Probably will not make the bike fail at any point but it can't possibly be healthy.
BTW Use gear oil in the transmission.
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 11:29 AM
  #683  
tnriverluver's Avatar
tnriverluver
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 443
From: West Tennessee
Default

I'm using the Harley full Syn engine oil and their Trans and primary oil. Stuff is way too expensive at right at $100 with filter and primary gasket.
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 11:53 AM
  #684  
sharkey's Avatar
sharkey
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 498
From: Alberta
Default

They ALL work fine, but as we tour far from home on our bikes I use HD oil 'cause if we need it, it's not hard to find...probably stopping at dealers anyhow for souvineers. When I say far from home; we have even had our bikes shipped as much as 2500 miles away, then fly to ride, but that's a different thread.
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 01:02 PM
  #685  
tnriverluver's Avatar
tnriverluver
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 443
From: West Tennessee
Default

Originally Posted by sharkey
They ALL work fine, but as we tour far from home on our bikes I use HD oil 'cause if we need it, it's not hard to find...probably stopping at dealers anyhow for souvineers. When I say far from home; we have even had our bikes shipped as much as 2500 miles away, then fly to ride, but that's a different thread.
That's probably the best argument I have heard for sticking with the Harley oil. Never really crossed my mind but the others usually are on most store shelves ,at least not around here.
 

Last edited by tnriverluver; Mar 22, 2016 at 01:29 PM.
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 01:15 PM
  #686  
OldEnuf2NoBtr's Avatar
OldEnuf2NoBtr
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,156
Likes: 1,903
From: Doghouse... mostly
Default

 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 05:31 PM
  #687  
Ape_Hanger's Avatar
Ape_Hanger
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 946
Likes: 29
From: my house
Default

Originally Posted by GVan
Just curious about your experience with the Valvoline VR-1. Did you run anything before moving to the VR-1? If so, did you notice if your engine used any more/less oil between oil changes?
I have no complaints at all with the VR1. I tried synthetic but it made the top end on my Evo real noisy so I switched to the VR1. Bike runs smooth and quiet. My bike maybe uses 1/4 quart between changes, maybe. The local guy that recommended the VR1 to me had at the time 150,000+ miles on his Evo Dyna and he hadn't been into the motor yet.
 
Old Mar 22, 2016 | 06:00 PM
  #688  
sharkey's Avatar
sharkey
Grand HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,870
Likes: 498
From: Alberta
Default

Originally Posted by tnriverluver
That's probably the best argument I have heard for sticking with the Harley oil. Never really crossed my mind but the others usually are on most store shelves ,at least not around here.
When I'm on a touring holiday, two of the last things I want to concern myself with:
1. Where am I gonna get my snake oil, if I need it and didn't pack extra
2. How much money am I gonna save on oil
 
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 23, 2016 | 06:43 AM
  #689  
HKMark23's Avatar
HKMark23
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,174
Likes: 1,960
From: Great State of Canada
Default

Originally Posted by spiritwarrior
,,,,,, I sell AMSOIL, but only because it makes sense/cents. With extended life oil and filters from AMSOIL. Many folks can change the oil once or twice a year that savings more than compensates for the higher price, plus eliminates some bike downtime.
Mike
Though I'm firmly convinced of the superiority of Synthetic oil over Dino, this ^^ is one rationalization I soundly reject. IMO, If you want to save money, buy Dino. If you want better oil, buy Synthetic.

Fooling with change intervals in some parsimonious attempt to justify the small difference in operating costs your oil choice makes,, is foolish ! Considering only an oil's basic resistance to chemical breakdown and none of the other factors (dirt, additives depletion) that affect engine wear is,, foolish ! I'd opt for frequently changed Dino over extended change & Synthetic all day long, if those were the only parameters to consider. They aren't !
 
Old Mar 23, 2016 | 07:02 AM
  #690  
Cbb129's Avatar
Cbb129
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 125
Likes: 5
From: Norwood, MA
Default

I've read a lot on here about using synthetic 20-50 in all three holes. This makes sense to me as all my sport bikes use one oil across the board as that's how they're built, and those motors are higher compression and spin much faster than a V-Twin. Sorry if anyone is annoyed by another oil post, but if you don't like it don't read it. That simple.
 



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:50 AM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE