Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Amsoil vs. Syn3

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 02:28 PM
  #11  
gdkenoyer's Avatar
gdkenoyer
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

You can run the same in all 3, be it AMSOIL or M1, butwhy?

Put a good 20/15W-50 SYN in the engine (I use M1 VT currently, but will switch to M! 15W-50 next time, pretty much the same oil, fewer $$)
Put a SYN tranny oil in the gearcase, 75W-90 or 75W-140 if it's loose or noisy (I use M1 75W-90 and have no reason to switch)
Put a good DINO 10W-40 in the Primary, using SYN there is a waste (I use Shell Rotella)
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 02:31 PM
  #12  
nine11c2's Avatar
nine11c2
Stellar HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,703
Likes: 94
From:
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

They either can't accept change, or want more of your money.

Syn is better in a car (water cooled) motor, it lasts longer. In an air cooled motor, it is exceptionally better. If the air cooled motor gets hot, it will break down conventional oil at a much lower temperature, subjecting your motor to virtually no protection for the next 1,000, 1,500 or 2,500 miles until you change the oil. It's not even a reasonable question - with an air cooled motor, where heat can spike for a short period of time (think NJ shore traffice or a parade in August) it's Synthetic.

I have a Nissan Pathfinder. Mobil 1 every 5,000 miles since new. Has 150,000 miles on it - no engine work, period. Runs like it was new. The question is which syn (and I'd tell you Amsoil and Mobil 1 are both awesome) not if syn.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 02:32 PM
  #13  
twincam47's Avatar
twincam47
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 634
Likes: 8
From: Plum & Nearly
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

Baby Oil in the primary, Tractor Hydraulic Grease in the tranny and a diluted concentrate of brylcream and water for the engine....
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 02:52 PM
  #14  
rde's Avatar
rde
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From:
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

Syn3 is made by Citgo and sold by HD. Why would you allow Hugo Chavez to profit from your choice of motorcycle oils? That alone is reason enough not to use Syn3 IMHO.

I use Amsoil 20W-50 in engine and primary, and 75W-90 in tranny.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:09 PM
  #15  
SoCal_Pappy's Avatar
SoCal_Pappy
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,602
Likes: 5
From: Southern California - Palm Springs Area
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

AMSOIL in all 3 holes & K&N Oil Filter (Most User Friendly Filter for the HD)!!!
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:23 PM
  #16  
Flying Horse's Avatar
Flying Horse
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,989
Likes: 11
From: Right Coast
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

ORIGINAL: mike79

I am a new Harley owner. Bought a 03 RK classic in December and have not ridden it yet. I have asked 3 different Harley dealers about oil. They all recommended regular vs synthetic. They all said synthetic thins out and results in a noisy engine. I know they are referring to Syn3. Any advise is appreciated.
They're all shoveling you a load of crap. Synthetic oil will prolong engine life. SYN3 will be noisier in your tranny. I have used SYN3 since the beginning but am changing over to Amsoils which is a better product. Synthetic oil is a no-brainer.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:32 PM
  #17  
jivo's Avatar
jivo
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Melrose, FL
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 Engine and primary
Amsoil Severe Gear 75W-90 in the transmission
Mobil 1 and Amsoil are both great oils.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:50 PM
  #18  
Jrsess's Avatar
Jrsess
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,907
Likes: 69
From: Wesley Chapel Fl.
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

Amsoil all three holes.[sm=shades.gif]
 
Reply
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 Feb 22, 2008 | 03:50 PM
  #19  
Moby's Avatar
Moby
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: West Greenwich, RI
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

So, when (miles) is it OK to switch to synthetic in the engine and transmission? On BMWs the conventional wisdom is to wait until 10 to 20 K miles for the engine. I don't know about the transmission. With respect to the engine, the concern is that switching too early will not allow the rings to seat properly and result in excessive oil consumption over the life of the bike.
 
Reply
Old Feb 22, 2008 | 03:59 PM
  #20  
Chicago Spike's Avatar
Chicago Spike
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,738
Likes: 7
From: St. Charles, IL
Default RE: Amsoil vs. Syn3

I'll help. Harley-Davidson does NOT make oil. They, like all other vehicle manufacturers out there, put out a bid for an oil to be supplied that meets certain specs. Once a winning bid is accepted(usually the lowest bidder ) they supply them with H-D labels, and then mark that oil up substantially to the customer. You can find a much better oil for the same, or lower, price. AMSOIL will do you much better
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:50 PM.

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