Amsoil experience
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,803
Likes: 11
From: El Paso, Texas
+1..........Been Riding/Driving 50 yrs now, and I've always had have good results with Dino. Call Me old school or whatever, but I will never use synthetic!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
Sorry to hear your having this problem Dave. Did you save a sample of the oil? I would send it to Amsoil and explain what happened. I'm having the opposite effect. I just switched from Mobil 1 to Amsoil because I couldn't keep it in my 08 UC and now with the 2010's my wife and I have, we get less engine noise. I guess like they say, every engine is different.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
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.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 31
From: Eastern PA
This thread has caught my attention for sure, so here is my two cent story...I tried Amzoil about two years ago on my 07 Ultra with my new HQ 103ci. Now let me say this first, no grass grows under my bike. My riding style is quick (I don't dolly-op when pulling an intersection, rain is a challenge not an inconvenience), smooth (I keep my head up and look through the turns), and defensive (I trust no one-thing/person or intersection), I am aggressive in all three categories. My Amzoil 20-50w experience came one day when engine noise was growing and diagnosed by me as a lifter was starting to collapse along with top-end excessive noise...it came on quickly and stuck around. So I changed the oil to straight 50w HD dino oil. The lifter noise slowly went away along with top end rattle but I had pinging unless I stayed at a higher RPM (2600 and up) at 10-20% throttle. I have since went in and changed my map to add fuel at 10-20% throttle and at idle with very little effect to my fuel mileage, I am leaving this Thursday for AZ, ME, UT, CO, SD with a fresh batch of Amzoil 20-50 (crank), Amzoil 85-110 severe gear (trans), ATF (primary), Amzoil 5wt (forks) and a fresh batch of HD Dot 4 Brake fluid front and rear. As of about 400 miles on these new fluids the "Old Stead" is running and sounding superb. It would not surprise me one bit if lifter and top-end noise starts to return, if this happens I will change out while on the trip to 20-50 Syn3 and go from there.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
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.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,783
Likes: 10
From: Oh
Ultra.....I wanted to add I have NO pinging, even when running 91 octane out west in the higher altitudes, so I think my tune is correct. My buddies bike experienced pinging on this grade of gas and his bike is completely stock.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
I am in the middle of a 5000 mile trip from Georgia to Washington state and return on an '09 Ultra Classic. I put in Amsoil 20-50 just before I left home and just checked and it looks like new oil. The trip out included many hours cruising at 80 MPH in temps over 90 degrees with no problems at all. Without an analysis of the oil I would question the conclusion that the Amsoil was at fault when it is entirely possible there were other things involved that may have caused the problems cited.
Ride safe.
Steve.
Ride safe.
Steve.
There isn't anyone here that can look at oil and determine viscosity or protection levels. That's what UOA is for. I beat the hell out of my bikes and change the oil (Amsoil) every 5,000 miles. My UOA, which is posted here in the Touring Forum, shows nearly insignificant breakdown.
There's something else going on, and I would say the same if the OP was using Mobil 1 or Redline.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,964
Likes: 2,076
From: Ohio
Hopefully you did save a sample,Amsoil will have it analyzed and see what the damage was caused from.Their oil products are so good they offer that service.If engine damage occurs because of oil failure they pick up the tab.That speaks for itself.Been using Amsoil in everything I own including my hot rodded Harleys for 20 yrs.
