Amsoil experience
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,451
Likes: 1
From: South Florida
I ran Amsoil 20w-50 in all three holes in my 2012 Street Glide from 1,000 miles to the 5,000 mile service. Oil was brown like normal wear after 4,000 miles. Had factory Dino oil in it prior to 1,000 miles.
First thing I noticed was how noisy, lifter noise and rattle, the bike ran on Amsoil. Read the threads and saw that the increased noise was somewhat normal. Changed to Mobil 1 20W-50 V-Twin, Redline Primary Oil and Redline Transmission Oil with Shockproof at 5,000 mile service. Immediately noticed less lifter noise and felt smoother especially at higher rpm. HUGE......repeat...HUGE improvement in transmission performance. Smooth, easy shifts and a lot less "whine".
Of all HD dealers and indy's I've spoken with face to face, at least 90% recommend Mobil 1. But when it comes to transmission lubricants, the HD dealers I've spoken to seem "clueless" on the real benefits of a good gear oil.
Personally, IMO, I see no added benefit of running Amsoil over Mobil 1. When it comes to cost, Mobil 1 at half the cost of Amsoil, and availability, Mobil 1 wins.....no comparison. JMHO.
Roger That
First thing I noticed was how noisy, lifter noise and rattle, the bike ran on Amsoil. Read the threads and saw that the increased noise was somewhat normal. Changed to Mobil 1 20W-50 V-Twin, Redline Primary Oil and Redline Transmission Oil with Shockproof at 5,000 mile service. Immediately noticed less lifter noise and felt smoother especially at higher rpm. HUGE......repeat...HUGE improvement in transmission performance. Smooth, easy shifts and a lot less "whine".
Of all HD dealers and indy's I've spoken with face to face, at least 90% recommend Mobil 1. But when it comes to transmission lubricants, the HD dealers I've spoken to seem "clueless" on the real benefits of a good gear oil.
Personally, IMO, I see no added benefit of running Amsoil over Mobil 1. When it comes to cost, Mobil 1 at half the cost of Amsoil, and availability, Mobil 1 wins.....no comparison. JMHO.
Roger That
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
I was a loyal user of Amsoil for years in my cars & trucks but found that Mobil 1 does the same job, is cheaper and easier to find locally. In my bikes I also switched to Mobil 1 because I found it dampened the top end noise more then the Amsoil.
Not knocking Amsoil, just stating my personal experience with it and Mobil 1.
Not knocking Amsoil, just stating my personal experience with it and Mobil 1.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: North Shore of Minnesota
OP said the lifters were loud and the oil was black and thin. Black is from carbon. Carbon is from insufficient fuel burn. Thin is from the synthetic oil picking up simple carbon molecules (smaller than the oils hydro carbon long chain synthetic molecules). The long chain oil molecules can't adhere to each other (become longer or larger) because they are covered by the simple carbon. This makes the oil appear to be thiner. The base oil viscosity has not really changed and thats why there was no signs of damage. Loud is from "thin oil".
Amsoil does not produce or manufacture anything. They just blend stuff together. This need for the base oils and all the other different additives they blend to be able to accept and be compatible to each other also makes the oil susceptible to the process described above.
Amsoil and other batch synthetics are great in controlled tight tolerance (laboratory) conditions / applications. Thats where they were created, to meet a specific condition. They are an engineered smart oil. That big air compressor under your seat is far to crude, and has too many environmental and operating variables to be able to use such a specifically designed oil in my opinion.
If you run a stock engine, using Harley stock mineral oil and changing it out often is probably your best bet. The containments in all the air that gets pumped through that thing is the biggest risk. Mineral oils have natural "detergents" or surfactants that basically load with carbon and other contaminants and break from the oil molecule, clumping together and depositing in your filter or oil pan. Some synthetics just hold on to this stuff.
Amsoil does not produce or manufacture anything. They just blend stuff together. This need for the base oils and all the other different additives they blend to be able to accept and be compatible to each other also makes the oil susceptible to the process described above.
Amsoil and other batch synthetics are great in controlled tight tolerance (laboratory) conditions / applications. Thats where they were created, to meet a specific condition. They are an engineered smart oil. That big air compressor under your seat is far to crude, and has too many environmental and operating variables to be able to use such a specifically designed oil in my opinion.
If you run a stock engine, using Harley stock mineral oil and changing it out often is probably your best bet. The containments in all the air that gets pumped through that thing is the biggest risk. Mineral oils have natural "detergents" or surfactants that basically load with carbon and other contaminants and break from the oil molecule, clumping together and depositing in your filter or oil pan. Some synthetics just hold on to this stuff.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 395
Likes: 11
From: Oklahoma
Amsoil for me. I run it in all of my vehicles, diesel trucks, pickups, cars and motorcycles. Tens and tens of thousands of miles, no problems at all. If you want it and can't find it, send me a message and I'll direct you to my website and you can order away.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 9
From: Southern Illinois
Have run Amsoil for 45000 miles in my 01 Ultra with no problems. Run it in my 02 Monte Carlo also as well as Amsoil transmission fluid and have 273000 miles on it without any problems ( daughter still driving it), have 149000 0n my 07 Nissan with it and 189000 on my F-250 Diesel with Amsoil Trans fluid as well. Will continue to run it til something i own develops a major problem due to Amsoil, until then, i'm a believer.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,012
Likes: 298
From: Central Fl
If you dig deep enough, as synthetic oil makers like to hide this info,true synthetics many times cause more wear in an engine.Here's why-if you have ever poured synthetic oil in a funnel as you near the end of the bottle where the oil is trickling out,you may notice it kind of beads up and runs right off the funnel,it doesn't flow or stick on an object the way regular oil does.It does the same on the metal inside your engine,it doesn't cling to the metal like dino oil does,so at startup you dont have much lubricating the engine until the oil is pumped up,actually causing more wear at startup.That's why engines running synthetic generally sound like crap at startup.This problem is even exaggerated on a motorcycle that goes for longer periods of time between startups.If you think I am just giving an opinion you are wrong,I spent much time studying oil as I raced cars with high revving expensive engines,so I spent much time studying engine oils.
This is likely the stupidest statement I have ever heard.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 538
Likes: 3
From: Florida
I was a loyal user of Amsoil for years in my cars & trucks but found that Mobil 1 does the same job, is cheaper and easier to find locally. In my bikes I also switched to Mobil 1 because I found it dampened the top end noise more then the Amsoil.
Not knocking Amsoil, just stating my personal experience with it and Mobil 1.
Not knocking Amsoil, just stating my personal experience with it and Mobil 1.
Have run Amsoil for 45000 miles in my 01 Ultra with no problems. Run it in my 02 Monte Carlo also as well as Amsoil transmission fluid and have 273000 miles on it without any problems ( daughter still driving it), have 149000 0n my 07 Nissan with it and 189000 on my F-250 Diesel with Amsoil Trans fluid as well. Will continue to run it til something i own develops a major problem due to Amsoil, until then, i'm a believer.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 594
Likes: 10
From: Seminole County, FL
Wow. I though i was being cheap using Mobil1, but will sleep a little better after not searching for Amsoil. Mobil1 c an be had almost anywhere including WallyMart.
I will continue to use BelRay in the tranny; less whine and clunk!
I will continue to use BelRay in the tranny; less whine and clunk!