Engine Oil Question
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Tourer
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 289
Likes: 4
From: Canada
Engine Oil Question
This probably has been covered here a million times but is there a difference in using HD 20w50 @ $9.95 a litre as opposed to Castrol 20w50 @ $5.25 a litre, for example.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,553
Likes: 36
From: Four Corners
Automotive oil is regulated and has mandatory additives that are harmful to your bike's motor. HD branded oil certainly isn't the best out there, but if you're going on the cheap, at least get oil specific to motorcycles. This is the recommendation from S&S who makes a ton of aftermarket V-twins!
Automotive oil is regulated and has mandatory additives that are harmful to your bike's motor. HD branded oil certainly isn't the best out there, but if you're going on the cheap, at least get oil specific to motorcycles. This is the recommendation from S&S who makes a ton of aftermarket V-twins!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
bah. i disagree. you can use any automotive oil (of the proper viscosity) in your engine sump and not experience any adverse affects. now, you'll want to keep it out of your primary, due to the friction modifiers, it can cause your clutch to slip. thats where most of these warnings come from anyway, motorcycles with shared sumps, which other than a sportster, hd does not have.
if you want to see, go over to bob is the oil guy forums. you can find copies of used oil analyses on just about any motor oil you can think of. plus a wealth of other information.
if you want to see, go over to bob is the oil guy forums. you can find copies of used oil analyses on just about any motor oil you can think of. plus a wealth of other information.
Tourer
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 30
From: Canada, Thailand
Castrol makes a 20w50 oil for motorcycles, I use it all the time and my bike actually runs quieter and cooler with the dino castrol than synthetic. I know a lot of people will not agree but I have learned this through my own experience and I can change my oil 3 times for the same cost of synthetic.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Southern Oregon
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
If you read your owners manual you will find that the factory recommends using an oil for diesel engines, when HD oil is not available.
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 20
From: In a van, down by the river
bah. i disagree. you can use any automotive oil (of the proper viscosity) in your engine sump and not experience any adverse affects. now, you'll want to keep it out of your primary, due to the friction modifiers, it can cause your clutch to slip. thats where most of these warnings come from anyway, motorcycles with shared sumps, which other than a sportster, hd does not have.
if you want to see, go over to bob is the oil guy forums. you can find copies of used oil analyses on just about any motor oil you can think of. plus a wealth of other information.
if you want to see, go over to bob is the oil guy forums. you can find copies of used oil analyses on just about any motor oil you can think of. plus a wealth of other information.
