When we had the 1k service done on my wife's bike I had them pit red line in the primary and trans. It is time for its next service and I plan on doing it myself. The question I have is should I stay with redline or go with a different synthetic oil? I have heard people say that getting all the old redline out is hard so would it matter if I mixed a different synthetic in after I drained it all, or should I just stay with the redline?


Thanks
Kevin

 

Redline...I use it on both my bikes...been using it for years. I let it drain till no more drops comes out...i am in no hurry...gives me time to drink some more beer...

 

Why did you have them put in the Redline? Why do you want to change?

 

I've been using amsoil in all three holes with great luck for the last few years. Not the cheapest oil around, but I found it quiets the motor down and shifts way better. There should be no issues changing brands. Everyone on here that recommends their favorite oil must have made the change at some point, right?

 

kevin-n, I also curious as to why you want to drop Red Line. In my case, i am leaving Am Soil because the last summer if almost boiled in the tank and began bubbling and I had to stop to let the bike cool off when it began to sputter in stop and go traffic. From what I have read about Red Line, it is the way to go. Do you have a specific reason for not staying with it?

 

Why the change?

 

Redline for me

 

Keep what you want, change what you don't. Only the most debated topic on this forum.

 

I have run redline in all three for the last 10 years on 3 different bikes, was feeling cheap and tried amsoil in the engine oil for an oil change. Rattled like crazy and had a ton more valve train noise. Switched back to redline after only 2k miles. Won't try that again...

Is amsoil good oil? Sure, seemed fine, just louder to my ears. I doubt there would be any real difference between the two after an equal number of miles. I'll just keep to my redline and be happy.

 

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" i am leaving Am Soil because the last summer if almost boiled in the tank and began bubbling and I had to stop to let the bike cool off when it began to sputter in stop and go traffic. "

DUDE,after reading your above statement " you need to address the root cause "of your bikes problem which is " excessive heat" caused by riding cond where you live with hot summer heat and maybe a lot of traffic at times too.

And why not stay with redline since thats whats already in the bike because its a good product.

But if redline bike oil is hard to get in your area there are other good bike oils for your HD too.

Since you say your air cooled HD motor is getting hot enough to practically boil a quality full syn oil like Amsoil then your bike is a prime candidate for an ultracool oil cooler thats dual elec cooling fans significantly reducing oil temp (which reduces engine temp at same time too!) approx 30-50 deg depending on motor setup and cond you ride in.

If you modded your bike to stage-1 or or esp stage-2 w-cams the motor could maybe be running excessively lean adding to engine & oil over heating issues too so keep that in mind too.

With the thermostatically controlled dual elec cooling fans on the ultracool oil cooler it's especially effective / useful when sitting still in traffic @ stoplights & or when in slow moving stop & go traffic too because the dual elec cooling move a lot of cooler air thru the oil cooler when sitting still.

But a std / regular oil cooler without cooling fans is totally useless (when needed most!) like sitting still in traffic or at stoplights due to lack of or NO airflow thru the oil cooler when sitting still at stoplights or when in slow moving stop & go traffic where there's also very little to no airflow thru oil cooler at times too.

I'd also rec installing Wards cooling fans that target cooling heads and upper cyls along with the ultracool oil cooler with dual elec cooling fans.

I installed both those cooling system units / mods on my 09 FLHTCU TC 96" and working together collectively as a team they reduced oil temp 50+ deg on hot HHH 90-95+ deg summer days which resulted in multiple positive improvements in engine perf and general riding comfort too which were:

* OIL TEMP WAS REDUCED 50+ DEG IN 90-95DEG HHH SUMMER HEAT.

* MOTOR STOPPED DETONATING ON HD'S REC 91 OCTANE FUEL.

* VALVETRAIN REMAINED MUCH QUIETER WHEN HOT.

* OIL PRESSURE ON HOT SUMMER DAYS WENT FROM 8-10PSI @ IDLE & 32-35PSI AT CRUISE WITHOUT THE 2 COOLING SYSTEM MODS TO 18-20PSI @ IDLE & 45-47PSI @ CRUISE IN 90-95DEG HHH SUMMER HEAT ON.

NOTE: MANY GUYS INSTALL HI PERF AFTERMARKET OIL PUMPS ,PLATES TRYING TO IMPROVE OIL PRESSURE ON HOT SUMMER DAYS AT IDLE AND AT CRUISE WHEN ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS ADDRESS TE ROOT CAUSE WHICH IS EXCESSIVE HEAT BY INSTALLING THE 2 COOLING MODS I DID TO GET SAME OR BETTER INCREASE IN HOT OIL PRESSURE I GOT WITHOUT HAVING TO TEAR INTO THE MOTOR AT ALL WHICH PUTS YOU & THE MOTOR IN A POSITION TO HAVE ISSUES LATER POST OPENING UP VS IF THEY HAD OPTED TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE (EXCESSIVE HEAT) & DOING THE MUCH EASIER & QUICKER INSTALL OF THE EXTERNAL OIL COOLER AND WARDS COOLING FANS LIKE I DID & REC .

* LITTLE LESS HEAT IS COMING OFF MOTOR SO BIKE WAS A BIT MORE COMFORTABLE TO RIDE IN SUMMER HEAT.

* MOTOR STARTS FASTER/EASIER LIKE WHEN FOR EXAMPLE RESTARTING POST FUELING UP ESP ON A HOT SUMMER DAY SO LESS STRESS ON STARTER AND BATTERY LIKELY EXTENDING THEIR SRV'C LIFE.

* ENGINE RETAINS MORE OF IT'S PWR / TRQ ESP IN HOT SUMMER HEAT BECAUSE THE ENGINE,OIL,INTAKE AND FUEL AREN'T AS HOT & OR AS HEAT SOAKED.

* CANT PROVE IT BUT WITH OIL RUNNING 50+ DEG COOLER IN HOT SUMMER HEAT I'D BET SRV'C LIFE WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY EXTENDED ON ALL GASKETS & SEALS (ESP VALVE SEALS!) IN THE MOTOR ALONG WITH EXTENDING THE MOTORS SRV'C LIFE IN GENERAL TOO.

When i posted this last yr/last summer more then a few guys responded with negative comments and or stated air cooler HD's dont need additional cooling when my multiple improvements / positive results in improved engine perf and riding comfort proves they are misinformed / WRONG!!!/LOL!!!!

AFTER READING ALL THE POSITIVE RESULTS/IMPROVEMENTS IN PERF & RIDING COMFORT I GOT ON MY BIKE POST INSTALLING THE 2 COOLING SYSTEMS ANYONE WOULD HAVE TO BE FOOL TO TRY TO ARGUE THE FACT AN AIR COOLED TC HD MOTOR CAN BENEFIT A LOT FROM THE 2 COOLING SYSTEMS I INSTALLED & REC HERE ,BUT I BET SOMEONE WILL TRY ANYWAY!/LOL!.

I go by results and the fact is i got great results reducing the oil temp 50+ deg on my basically stock (AC & slipons) 09 TC 96" HD post installing those 2 cooling system mods.

That has been the best $$$$ i have spent on the bike thus far that resulted in 7-8 great positive improvements in engine perf & riding comfort right off the bat which many guys dont seem to believe is the case or for some reason cant wrap their head around .

All i can say is post installing the 2 cooling systems i am NOW (Wife too!) much happier camper's riding that TC-96" bike in 90-95deg + HHH summer heat then we were prior to installing the 2 cooling systems i rec above,the bike & motor say they are much happier too!/LOL!!

Scott