OIL
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Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 493
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From: Oceanside, CA
OIL
I have been told by many guys in the automotive service area that there are only a few manufacturers of motor oil and that there is no real differences in the oil itself except the label on each can and what that company thinks they can get the buying public to pay for a quart with their pretty label. We have built and owned many hot rods over the years and for many years used wal mart brand oils in them and had no problems with vehicles that have 100,000 plus miles. Do you all use HD brand oil or something else?
Novice
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 23
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From:
RE: OIL
Can't go wrong using the Harley oil...especially if you have a warranty..what are you saving a few pennies on three quarts???? not worth it to me..Just like some people will go out of their way to save five cents a gallon on gas to get 20 gallons and save what, a dollar...whew I spend that with just my thoughts.......
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,744
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From:
RE: OIL
The absolute one and ONLY reason I use HD oil exclusively, is that if something were to go wrong in my motor, primary, etc. due to a friction issue, I don't want them to use another oil as an excuse for why THEIR parts failed. That, in my experience, is the first thing they ask people when something goes wrong is "Well, were you using blah blah blah though?" if you can answer yes at that point, it shuts down a lot of arguing. I have faith in Harley parts...I just know the stealership will try to get you anyway they can (at least most of them)
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,033
Likes: 29
RE: OIL
There are lots of oils that meet the requirements that are specified in your owner's manual. Read the manual, read the label on the bottle, and get whatever oil you choose if you don't want to use HD oil. HD can't void your warranty as long as service is done at specified intervals and approved fluids are used.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 666
Likes: 1
From: Cavendish, Pei
RE: OIL
Harley puts out tenders for thier oil, whoever bids the lowest and has the proper rating for air cooled engines, gets to sell thier oil to them withthe HD brand name on it. Not sure who has the contract now but I buy cheap regular 20/50oil (usually Penzoil) and change it at the factory recommended interval. The only product that I buy is thier Sportrans fluid. I hear a lot of guys switching over to synthetic , but in our colder climate in the Toronto area for me it is a waste of money. If you ride on a regular basis in 100 degree plus temps or lots of stop and go traffic, there could be some bennefit to using a sybthetic oil. It's thermal break down is higher than regular motor oil. ..Mark...
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: OIL
Everything you want to know about oil & then some:
http://www.xlrator.com/personal/oil/...Motorcycle.pdf
http://www.xlrator.com/personal/oil/...Motorcycle.pdf
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Road Warrior
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From:
RE: OIL
Markdt, I respectfully disagree with your thinking that colder climates do not warrant synthetic lubricants. In my cars and pick-ups I use dyno oil during the three season other than winter. In the winter I switch to synthetic so as to afford better lubricaiton during that critical cold-start period. Take two quarts of oil, one dyno and the other synthetic, same viscosity ratings, put them both int he freezer overnight and then pour (or try to pour) a little out and see what is protecting (or not protecting) your moving parts in the cold prioir to getitng everything up to operating temp. That little demonstraiton will make a believer out of you.
Back to the thread, the post above about spec oil at proper intervals is spot on. The Mangnussen-Moss Warranty Act says that you do not have to use the manufacturer's oil and filter unless they provide it to you for free. You must, however, use oil and filters meeting manufacturers' specificaitons and service at proper intervals. I leave the technical oil talk to the multiple and informative oil threads around here.
Back to the thread, the post above about spec oil at proper intervals is spot on. The Mangnussen-Moss Warranty Act says that you do not have to use the manufacturer's oil and filter unless they provide it to you for free. You must, however, use oil and filters meeting manufacturers' specificaitons and service at proper intervals. I leave the technical oil talk to the multiple and informative oil threads around here.
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