Preferred Oil
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Preferred Oil
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 for the engine and primary. Mobil 1 75W-90 for the tranny. Both are readily available anywhere. Have the 2007 5th gear whine on my RK. The 75W-90 didn't eliminate it completely but really quieted it down a whole bunch.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Leesburg, FL
RE: Preferred Oil
ORIGINAL: hogjockey
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 for the engine and primary. Mobil 1 75W-90 for the tranny. Both are readily available anywhere.
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 for the engine and primary. Mobil 1 75W-90 for the tranny. Both are readily available anywhere.
J
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Preferred Oil
ORIGINAL: jmxp
I can't find Mobile 1 V-twin at any retail location where I live. I've tried Autozone, Advance, Walmart, nobody carries it. I wish they did. I know Amsoil is a solid choice, I'd just like to be able to buy it off the shelf and not pay/wait for shipping.
J
ORIGINAL: hogjockey
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 for the engine and primary. Mobil 1 75W-90 for the tranny. Both are readily available anywhere.
Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W-50 for the engine and primary. Mobil 1 75W-90 for the tranny. Both are readily available anywhere.
J
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: Preferred Oil
maltezebluez96, If your dealer put synthetic in all three holes then it is Syn3. This is not a pure synthetic, but a synthetic blend which H-D had developed for use in engine, primary, and transmission. Opinions on Syn3 are numerous and all over the spectrum. My opinion? It is perfectly adequate for the engine and primary chain case, but I'd rather use a good gear oil for the trans. My choice of transmission lubricant is Redline Shockproof Heavy. Others have already been mentioned in the preceding replys and I agree they are good choices also. As for the engine and primary, I use Amsoil 20-50. The best thing you can do is look at the threads in the tech section about oil related subjects. So much info there you will probably get confused. I did! But in the end you wind up making a much better informed choice. Just my .02.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
RE: Preferred Oil
I can't find Mobile 1 V-twin at any retail location where I live. I've tried Autozone, Advance, Walmart, nobody carries it. I wish they did.
[/quote]
My local Autozone had it in the back,I had to ask for it.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
RE: Preferred Oil
I put syn 3 in my tranny when harley first introduced it, a year later my spedo sensor went. When I pulled it out the magnetic sensor that is actually bathed in oil was covered with a fair amount of fine particles. I replaced the sensor, and fluid with 80-90 gear oil and had no further problems. I had also run 15-50 mobil one for a year, (3000 mi. for me) and had no adverse affects. I also have been reading alot on oil on the net, and came across a post on an oil forum. The guy there claimes he flame analized the mobil 15-50 stuff and the chemical break down showed that it was primarily Mineral oil. I am sticking with 20-50 mobil 1. I just have not made up my mind on what Oil filter to use. my 02.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 11,068
Likes: 1,473
From: Texas! Ya mean there's someplace else?
RE: Preferred Oil
Time to correct what seems to be a common misconception:
Syn 3 HD oil is a synthetic. It is not a blend. It has never been a blend. It is a Group III synthetic oil, meaning that it is a hydro-cracked "dino" oil. It is considered synthetic because the refining process so changes the molecular structure that it is essentially identical to "regular" synthetic oil. This basically means that each molecule is identical to every other molecule, and all are "long-chain" molecules.
Where many feel Syn 3 falls short is that it doesn't measure up to the better synthetics, especially those in Group IV and Group V. Given that Syn 3's price is usually higher than Mobil 1, redline, Amsoil, etc., it seems foolish to many to spend the extra money on a proven inferior product.
Another aspect of Syn 3 that disturbs many is that it is manufactured by CITGO, a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company of Venezuela, whose current leader wishes ill to the US.
If you want an easy to find spare quart to carry with you, grab some of the Mobil 1 15w-50 car oil. It's a better oil than Syn 3, available just about everywhere, and there isn't enough difference between it and the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50 to justify the latter's much higher price.
Syn 3 HD oil is a synthetic. It is not a blend. It has never been a blend. It is a Group III synthetic oil, meaning that it is a hydro-cracked "dino" oil. It is considered synthetic because the refining process so changes the molecular structure that it is essentially identical to "regular" synthetic oil. This basically means that each molecule is identical to every other molecule, and all are "long-chain" molecules.
Where many feel Syn 3 falls short is that it doesn't measure up to the better synthetics, especially those in Group IV and Group V. Given that Syn 3's price is usually higher than Mobil 1, redline, Amsoil, etc., it seems foolish to many to spend the extra money on a proven inferior product.
Another aspect of Syn 3 that disturbs many is that it is manufactured by CITGO, a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company of Venezuela, whose current leader wishes ill to the US.
If you want an easy to find spare quart to carry with you, grab some of the Mobil 1 15w-50 car oil. It's a better oil than Syn 3, available just about everywhere, and there isn't enough difference between it and the Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50 to justify the latter's much higher price.