Amsoil experience
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Erie, PA
I am in agreement with the possibility of an aftermarket filter not having the by pass valve. Seems like the only logical explanation to me, assuming that it was amsoil that was in fact put in the first place...never know, who ever changed that oil might have just been mad at the world that day..just sayin
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
My noise issue was the compensator which I initially thought was engine noise (oil starvation) on start up. Oil needed changing anyway, so no lose. I'll continue to use Amsoil or Mobil 1 in the engine until facts are presented that shows they are harmful to the motor.
Last edited by HDV-GLIDE; Nov 11, 2010 at 06:17 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 433
Sorry for not getting back sooner, I had to go out after my post and never got back. Never thought I would get this many responses. I will try and answer them all.
First off I have been doing my own oil changes on Harleys for over 45 years. Before the trip I put in Amsoil 20-50 with a new K&N oil filter. The oil had maybe 50 miles on it before I left. I have been running the K&N oil filter for over 10 years and using Amsoil for about 2 years with no problems. I get average about 42 mpg on the highway and do not believe the I am washing the cyl's with excessive gas as I have never smelled gas in any oil changes or seen the oil as thin. Also the trip out to Sturgis does not involve any steep grades where you coast down long grades. The mechanic at Black Hills Harley cut apart my K&N filter and found no metal particles in the can ( good thing). My motor had over 4K on my new build before this trip and had been through 2 oil changes with no issues.
After the teardown and installing HD syn oil I rode another 5k over the hot desert twice and the bike ran fine. No black oil when I changed it again back home and no engine noises, so I don't believe I have an engine problem. I am not trying to sway anyone either way about what oil they use, only relate what happened to me. I like many others have used many other brands of oil but, this is the first time this has happened to me with ANY oil. I am as perplexed about this as the many that have posted but, feel I can no longer trust this brand of oil.
First off I have been doing my own oil changes on Harleys for over 45 years. Before the trip I put in Amsoil 20-50 with a new K&N oil filter. The oil had maybe 50 miles on it before I left. I have been running the K&N oil filter for over 10 years and using Amsoil for about 2 years with no problems. I get average about 42 mpg on the highway and do not believe the I am washing the cyl's with excessive gas as I have never smelled gas in any oil changes or seen the oil as thin. Also the trip out to Sturgis does not involve any steep grades where you coast down long grades. The mechanic at Black Hills Harley cut apart my K&N filter and found no metal particles in the can ( good thing). My motor had over 4K on my new build before this trip and had been through 2 oil changes with no issues.
After the teardown and installing HD syn oil I rode another 5k over the hot desert twice and the bike ran fine. No black oil when I changed it again back home and no engine noises, so I don't believe I have an engine problem. I am not trying to sway anyone either way about what oil they use, only relate what happened to me. I like many others have used many other brands of oil but, this is the first time this has happened to me with ANY oil. I am as perplexed about this as the many that have posted but, feel I can no longer trust this brand of oil.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 401
Likes: 11
From: Escondido, CA
I went to auto zone here in boston the other day to get new oil for my bike. Im guesing my bike has the HD oil in it as I have never done an oil change yet. This will be be my first oil change on my bike and I bought Mobil 1 V twin 20w-50 oil for it. I took a while to find as it was hidden in the store and not near the Mobil 1 20w-50 "CAR" oil. So is there a difference from my v twin 20w-50 oil than your mobil 1 NON v twin 20-50 oil. I was told that all the other oils are meant for cars not motorcycles.
any input here???
any input here???
About your question in particular they say:
So how is Mobil 1 for passenger cars different from Mobil 1 for motorcycles?
First, let's be clear about Mobil 1's overall benefits compared to those of conventional motor oils, whether for passenger cars or motorcycles:- Superior long-term engine protection.
- Superior high-temperature stability.
- Excellent low-temperature starting.
- Outstanding engine performance.
- Low volatility/low oil consumption
- Additive packages balanced differently for motorcycle engine and transmission operation. For passenger vehicles, fuel economy and emission system protection are higher priorities. These require low phosphorus systems and the use of friction modifiers. Motorcycle oils do not require friction modifiers for fuel economy and for better clutch friction less/no friction modifier is optimum. Motorcycle oils allow the use of higher levels of antiwear additives such as ZDDP (phosphorous).
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
I put amsoil in all 3 holes at my last oil change. After about 900 miles while i was checking the oil, it seemed real dark and rather thin. I ended up draining the oil with just over 1000 miles on it and it came out black and almost like water. I recently drained the primary to change out the clutch spring and it looked the same dark and very thin. Not sure what went wrong but Im not using Amsoil again
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The Mobil tech and I talked about the non-mc oil for cars and since we don't have a clutch sharing the engine oil, he said it was fine to use, so It's been Mobil1 for me lately.
No problems at all.
No problems at all.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 836
Likes: 1
From: Rocky Hill, CT.
I think Amsoil full synthetic or any full synthetic for that matter can not be blamed for this failure.
The failure was mechanical only.
Of any oil on the market Amsoil and Mobil 1 could never be blamed for an engine failure due to viscosity break down.
