thats what im thinking

 

That's what I deferred many posts ago. Oil doesn't die; it gets polluted or diluted.

 

Automotive oil bad news in wet clutches over time !!! Synthetic automotive oil is even worse. Will ruin your clutch over time.

Synthetic MOTORCYCLE oil is what you need for wet clutches. Buy the less expensive automotive oil and pay later when you ruin your clutch.

 

The clutch basket on Harley big twins is separate from the motor. Mobil1 15/50 or Amsoil is fine.

 

Although i didnt read all of the posts, i will share my experience with Amsoil.

This past winter, I did my ape hanger install on my '06 RK and since i was due for an oil change... I decide to give Amsoil a try....plus a buddy was a dealer and I got it for about $8 something a qt and i used their filter. After about 2000 miles I had to add a qt to bring it back to level....and at the 6000 mile mark (this is when I change oil, no need to interject!) it would've had to have another qt to bring back to level.

I have since switched back to SYN3...and to be honest...the engine sounds quieter....tighter and is not drinking oil....

so, for my experience.....I will stick with SYN3

plus.....as my good buddy has told me....there are HD dealers all over the country...SYN3 is easy to find if you need to do an oil change on a road trip.....Amsoil may require some searching!

 

Mobil doesn't recommend the M1 15/50 in the primary.

 

I ran the mobil 1 15/50 in my primary on my last bike. It worked fine for 75,000 miles. It is pretty much the same oil as the 20/50 V-twin stuff. They both contain a little moly.

 

I didn't SAY put it in the primary. I SAID that our clutch basket was in a DIFFERENT oil bath- but even the Mobil tech RECOMMENDED the 15/50 for the engine. I can see where my latenight post could be construed as recommended for the clutch -
you guys were supposed to read my mind.
BUT...the tech recommended the V-twin oil for the primary. We know you can use regular oil in there if it doesn't contain friction modifiers. Perhaps Harley gets away with it because of so much plate pressure, compared to the ricers that slip easily.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronp42
If I were you Dave, I would send a sample of the oil you are running now in for test. I'm not so sure you don't have something else going on. I remember a guy back in VA. who ran Amsoil in a F-350 Ford Dually with a Diesel Engine. He had a simular problem as you just described. He quit using Amsoil because he and his mechanic said it was the oil. Later he had the same problem. He found out his engine was dumping too much fuel in diluting his oil. I know you have a lot of money in that engine and want to protect it. Just saying!

thats what im thinking


Can't believe this thread is still alive. I have riden my scoot for over 7K miles since this happened. The first oil was HD syn (Rapid City HD) and then changed again with same. I currently am running Redline. I have had no such problems since, so I do not think I have a problem with my engine running too rich. The spark plugs are running a tan color and I am averaging about 41 mpg. This doesn't suggest a too rich fuel problem.

 

It doesn't mean you didn't have a temporary problem when it happened either, which is what I suspect.