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[lvngd]

So took the 2012 in for the 1k and dealer ask me what oil I wanted to use. I said the book recommends syn 3 in all holes. What is everyone using in their 12s?

[LincolnUSA]

I use syn in all the bikes I have owned.

[JCZ]

I believe just about everybody uses synthetic but not Syn 3.  Most here use
Red Line or Amsoil.

You can use the search feature and find a lot of posts on this topic.

[mjb765]

I believe just about everybody uses synthetic but not Syn 3.  Most here use
Red Line or Amsoil.

You can use the search feature and find a lot of posts on this topic.

You mean there have been other threads on oil 

[North Georgia Hawg]

I don't use Syn3. I am currently using:

ENGINE: AMSOil MCV 20W-50 synthetic oil in the engine
PRIMARY: Mobil 1 synthetic ATF Multi-Vehicle Formula (I have also used AMSOil MCV 20W-50)
TRANSMISSION: Red Line synthetic V-Twin Transmission Oil with ShockProof

[mrmagloo]

Engine: Mobil1 20w50 V-Twin
Primary: Mobil1 10w40 4T
Trans:  Mobil1 75w140 Gear Lube

Much better than that Syn crap, and just as good as the rest of the best but readily available and priced more reasonably.

[Dead_Reckoning]

Amsoil
Primary - 10w-40
Trans - Severe gear 75w-100
Crankcase - 20W-50

[HOGMIKE]

Another oil thread??
 

http://www.thunderpress.net/Articles/editorial/Kip_Woodring/2011/07/Motorhead_Memo/

[grc]

Can someone please throw out a few bushels of oil dry to soak up all these oil threads?  My monitor is starting to ooze oil.


Jerry

[Twolanerider]

Can someone please throw out a few bushels of oil dry to soak up all these oil threads?  My monitor is starting to ooze oil.


Jerry

Jerry, there's actually an entirely new school of thought on oil choices we should discuss.  The use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is, I'm told by the voices, beneficial in matters of both lubrication and culinary practice.  So it's a win-win.  But it might be for use only in the primary ?

[BigLew55]

Jerry, there's actually an entirely new school of thought on oil choices we should discuss.  The use of Extra Virgin Olive Oil is, I'm told by the voices, beneficial in matters of both lubrication and culinary practice.  So it's a win-win.  But it might be for use only in the primary ?

I prefer peanut oil.  It tolerates the heat of the air-cooled engine much better.

[Twolanerider]

I prefer peanut oil.  It tolerates the heat of the air-cooled engine much better.

Viscosity?  And is there a (more expensive) full synthetic version?  Or is organic the better choice here?

[spydglide]

Engine: Mobil1 20w50 V-Twin
Primary: Mobil1 10w40 4T
Trans:  Mobil1 75w140 Gear Lube

Much better than that Syn crap, and just as good as the rest of the best but readily available and priced more reasonably.

What's wrong with Syn 3 (except the outrageous price)?  spyder

[flstfi2001]

Mobil 1 fully synthetic in the engine, and Redline heavy shockproof gear oil in gearbox, and MTL in the primary.

[RJ749]

What's wrong with Syn 3 (except the outrageous price)?  spyder

Ah geez, really    

[BigLew55]

Viscosity?  And is there a (more expensive) full synthetic version?  Or is organic the better choice here?

If you mix it with clarified butter, you'll get a much improved exhaust note!

[grc]

If you mix it with clarified butter, you'll get a much improved exhaust note!

I found that peanut oil should never be used when riding near a circus, however.  You may not be prepared for what follows you home.


Jerry

[Twolanerider]

I found that peanut oil should never be used when riding near a circus, however.  You may not be prepared for what follows you home.


Jerry

Hey, don't be knockin' the BSR.  

[BigLew55]

I found that peanut oil should never be used when riding near a circus, however.  You may not be prepared for what follows you home.


Jerry

True story!

 

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

If you mix it with clarified butter, you'll get a much improved exhaust note!

EVOO.

[petewerner]

RedLine oils specific for each of the 3 holes, I am running this since I got to the 1000 mile mark. I have no complaints and it seems to be available here at alot of places. It is a little harder to find Ams Oils here at a retail store level so u have to plan your oil changes a day or two sooner then I seem to do... I ran Amsoil in a couple of bikes and liked it as well. Of course I could stock it but I am happy with what I am running:

Red Line Synthetic 20W-50    Engine
Red Line Shock Proof 75-140  Transmission
Red Line  Primary Chain         Primary
   Case Oil

http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=19

[BigLew55]

EVOO.

Snake oil!  It's just another marketing ploy!

[cvo1717]

I use syn 3 in all 3 no problems

[Unbalanced]

Glad a few turned this into a more interesting thread.  Its great having all the new people just seems too many aren't using the search function.  Where's the thread police when ya need em.  Must be polishing those chrome hinges so they look good on the "fire" place.

[110tHunDer]

 
All oil threads should be "stickied" for easy reference.   Or, better yet, we could have a completely separate oil board, which would accomplish the same thing

Naitram did some maintenance to the site last night, but I think it was fans he removed, not the umpteen million oil threads.  Search 'em out, peeps!

[Twolanerider]

All oil threads should be "stickied" for easy reference.  

That's a bad idea Brian.  If all the oil threads got bundled together half the site would be in one long thread.  Maybe if just the redundant oil threads got bundled together?  No, it'd still be 49.9998%.  Never mind....


I got it!  First we have to take up a collection.  A collection for postal tacos.  After the fund is properly vested then everyone who starts a redundant oil thread gets two tacos in the mail!  

Only one taco if they tried using the search tool first though.

Wait a second.....  this idea sounds vaguely familiar.... hmmmmmm ?

[BigLew55]

That's a bad idea Brian.  If all the oil threads got bundled together half the site would be in one long thread.  Maybe if just the redundant oil threads got bundled together?  No, it'd still be 49.9998%.  Never mind....


I got it!  First we have to take up a collection.  A collection for postal tacos.  After the fund is properly vested then everyone who starts a redundant oil thread gets two tacos in the mail!  

Only one taco if they tried using the search tool first though.

Wait a second.....  this idea sounds vaguely familiar.... hmmmmmm ?

Or a burrito if they mention synthetic...

[North Georgia Hawg]

I think I'll start another oil thread, and see what types of Mexican Food show up in the mail!   

Anyone know how to make my exhaust smell like a Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur #1 Maduro???

[DJ56]

I think I'll start another oil thread, and see what types of Mexican Food show up in the mail!   

Anyone know how to make my exhaust smell like a Hoyo de Monterey Excalibur #1 Maduro???

Get 3 of them, put one in each muffler, and send one to me. 

[110tHunDer]

I think I'll start another oil thread, and see what types of Mexican Food show up in the mail!   

Careful what you ask for!

[Twolanerider]

Careful what you ask for!

Who needs to ask ?

[Willie D]

Another oil thread??
 

http://www.thunderpress.net/Articles/editorial/Kip_Woodring/2011/07/Motorhead_Memo/

And one that has some good info too !
Thx Mike.

WD

[8 U UP]

All Amsoil Syn including oil filter

[Willie D]

All Amsoil Syn including oil filter

Is it necessary to use Amsoil filter, or can I stay with the HD filter ?

[Twolanerider]

Is it necessary to use Amsoil filter, or can I stay with the HD filter ?

There is no necessary relationship between oil brands and filter brands.  A good filter is a good filter.  Don't worry about the name on the box.  Use any good filter you please.

[Willie D]

There is no necessary relationship between oil brands and filter brands.  A good filter is a good filter.  Don't worry about the name on the box.  Use any good filter you please.

Thx- that what I thought. Me thinks the Amsoil rep. Was just trying get another $18. :-p

[8 U UP]

I also use K&N oil filters.
I have seen comparisons between the Harley filter, Amsoil, and K&N.
They both perform better than the Harley filter.

[spydglide]

I also use K&N oil filters.
I have seen comparisons between the Harley filter, Amsoil, and K&N.
They both perform better than the Harley filter.

Wonder who funded the 'comparisons'?  spyder

[Willie D]

Wonder who funded the 'comparisons'?  spyder

       

[HUBBARD]

Here's a little test for all you "experts."  Put a cup of 20W-50, and a cup of water in a flask and shake it up.  The twain will separate.  Put a cup of syn, and a cup of water in a flask and shake that up.  Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinkin'.  There is no water in a V-Twin.  That's not my point.  My point is, syn is junk.  Don Tilley demonstrated that tid-bit of information to me.  There endeth the lesson.  Later--HUBBARD     

[Dead_Reckoning]

SCREAMIN' EAGLE® SYN3 SYNTHETIC MOTORCYCLE LUBRICANT
http://www.harley-davidson.com/pna/pa_chart_syn3_faqs.jsp

[glens]

Put a cup of 20W-50, and a cup of water in a flask and shake it up.  The twain will separate.  Put a cup of syn, and a cup of water in a flask and shake that up...  My point is, syn is junk...  There endeth the lesson.

Please, continue the lesson and explain why that test is indicative of syn's junkiness.

[HOGMIKE]

You're missing the "BIG PICTURE".........My brother in law works for one of the big oil refineries and tested various oils against the synthetic products and it proved that straight 40wt is the best.
Does that leave the door open to those of you with "cabin fever"?? LOL

 

[Willie D]

SCREAMIN' EAGLE® SYN3 SYNTHETIC MOTORCYCLE LUBRICANT
http://www.harley-davidson.com/pna/pa_chart_syn3_faqs.jsp

Right from the MoCo, what else would you expect   

[grc]

You're missing the "BIG PICTURE".........My brother in law works for one of the big oil refineries and tested various oils against the synthetic products and it proved that straight 40wt is the best.
Does that leave the door open to those of you with "cabin fever"?? LOL

 

No question, straight 40 weight IS the best.  It's really good for keeping down the dust on those bare spots in the back yard.


Jerry

oops.  Don't tell anyone at the EPA I said that.

[Dead_Reckoning]

Right from the MoCo, what else would you expect   

  I have always used Amsoil.
My point was that even MoCo is now saying Synthetic Oil, granted they are promotong their own "Hugo" Oil is acceptable.

I do not really care one way or the other what someone else uses in their ride.
I spent 14 years working on texaco Tankers. I could go into the Lube Oil Canning Plant in port Arthur and pick a plethora of weel known brands. And they all came from one of two Texaco Lube Oil Ships.
I have sailed on Large Motor Ships, up to 96,000 BHP, where the Main Engine holds 5,500 Gallons of Lube Oil. Yes we have LO Purifiers and yes we send out LO Samples.
Pretty much the main reason we ever changed from Exxon to Mobil to Shell etc was for Service & Price.

IMHO, generally the Material Safety Data Sheet is provided by the real canner/manufacturer.
Look at the MSDS for your favorite Lube Oil and see who canned it.

[HOGMIKE]

No question, straight 40 weight IS the best.  It's really good for keeping down the dust on those bare spots in the back yard.


Jerry

oops.  Don't tell anyone at the EPA I said that.

Don't worry about that!
Do you really think anyone reads this stuff, other than the bored? Or the ones "house-bound"?
LOL
 

[Dead_Reckoning]

Don't worry about that!
Do you really think anyone reads this stuff, other than the bored? Or the ones "house-bound"?
LOL
 

  - Never warmed up to freezing today and snow and ice on the ground.

[LC110]

I have spent a lot of money over the years on oil analysis and worked with a number of tribologist. 
I will let you in on a little secret. The best oil is always lemon fresh.
I would love to see that oil filter test. The (Champion Laboratories) made Harley oil filter is a very well made filter.

[HUBBARD]

Please, continue the lesson and explain why that test is indicative of syn's junkiness.

Ain't no use studying after the test.  Later--HUBBARD

[Willie D]

Ain't no use studying after the test.  Later--HUBBARD

Now that's funny Hub. I plan to drain the Syn3this week, got 500 miles and I have always felt that living here in MI, and the cold morning starts, I like the 15w50 Mobil 1 - that being said I still would like to try the Amsoil for the 5k interval?

JMHO

[2018_FLTRXSE]

No question, straight 40 weight IS the best.  It's really good for keeping down the dust on those bare spots in the back yard.


Jerry

oops.  Don't tell anyone at the EPA I said that.

Jerry.. thats what I use my recycled ATF from my truck for!

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

Here's a little test for all you "experts."  Put a cup of 20W-50, and a cup of water in a flask and shake it up.  The twain will separate.  Put a cup of syn, and a cup of water in a flask and shake that up.  Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinkin'.  There is no water in a V-Twin.  That's not my point.  My point is, syn is junk.  Don Tilley demonstrated that tid-bit of information to me.  There endeth the lesson.  Later--HUBBARD     

With some vinegar and seasonings, sounds like it would be good for a salad.
Scott

[timo482]

the best steam cylinder oil will dissolve in water and maintain its lubricity - no ill effects.

the best oils dissolve and hold ALL contaminates to prevent the contaminates from settling to the bottom of the sump when the engine is off and getting sucked in one big gulp into the pump - id think having the water of condensation pool in the oil pan to provide a big slug of water to the bearings on startup a really BAD thing

oil engineers know that some folks run engines a few blocks and shut them off again - eventually the oil will start holding a lot of water - if it separates from the oil in the sump the engine will slurp up the pure water and boom the engine is junk

your magician just proved that syn oils are better - but made you think otherwise - give him a rotten banana

to

[Twolanerider]

Here's a little test for all you "experts."  Put a cup of 20W-50, and a cup of water in a flask and shake it up.  The twain will separate.  Put a cup of syn, and a cup of water in a flask and shake that up.  Yeah, yeah I know what you're thinkin'.  There is no water in a V-Twin.  That's not my point.  My point is, syn is junk.  Don Tilley demonstrated that tid-bit of information to me.  There endeth the lesson.  Later--HUBBARD     

Carl my friend, the "lesson" may have been visually interesting.  The differences between the examples may have been dramatic.  But the perceived value of the outcomes you witnessed was flawed.

Consider another visual demonstration.  Say, for example, I hit Naitram's toe with a hammer and I hit Firedood's toe with a marshmallow.  Visually the dancing hopping Naitram is much more interesting.  So, therefore, hammers are better.

No, they're not.  They're just different.  All you see is that the materials processes are different.  Different in a way that, in actual practice, does not reflect on how they work as lubricants.  But different indeed.  That's the kind of Barnum and Bailey sales pitch that has sold snake oil curatives for as long as there has been people willing to watch without seeing.

[Midnight Rider]

I want to see that test...can we do it in Maggie Valley this year?  Ball Peen or Claw?  The wrong end of the Ball Peen may "skate" accross Neal's toe, so I guess I should bring a framing hammer to be sure of reaching conclusive outcomes of each.  I don't think Marshmellow brands will matter, other than we don't need to use the ones you put in Coco, but rather the ones we roast over a fire.  Size does matter.


It never ceases to amaze me how long some of these old wive's tales hang on concerning the "downsides" to synthetic oil.  Too slick; bearings skating; blah, blah, blah.  There is simply no proof of it...period.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  I guess all those car manufacturers like Ferrari, Porche, etc don't know chit from shineola to be putting synthetic oil in their engines coming off the assembly line.  And the billions of miles/hours on engines that are under a LOT more stress than a HD Twin Cam, don't provide any empirical evidence either.

"Old School" thinking is valuable in many ways, but in the case of Syn vs Dino, it is absolutely, positively, incorrect.

[Aussie]

And one that has some good info too !
Thx Mike.

WD

Very interseting and to see Mobil 1 has a high ZDDP '1700' to Amsoil '1281'
Doest that mean Mobil 1 is better than Amsoil 20w50?

[Fired00d]

Carl my friend, the "lesson" may have been visually interesting.  The differences between the examples may have been dramatic.  But the perceived value of the outcomes you witnessed was flawed.

Consider another visual demonstration.  Say, for example, I hit Naitram's toe with a hammer and I hit Firedood's toe with a marshmallow.  Visually the dancing hopping Naitram is much more interesting.  So, therefore, hammers are better.

No, they're not.  They're just different.  All you see is that the materials processes are different.  Different in a way that, in actual practice, does not reflect on how they work as lubricants.  But different indeed.  That's the kind of Barnum and Bailey sales pitch that has sold snake oil curatives for as long as there has been people willing to watch without seeing.

I want to see that test...can we do it in Maggie Valley this year?  Ball Peen or Claw?  The wrong end of the Ball Peen may "skate" accross Neal's toe, so I guess I should bring a framing hammer to be sure of reaching conclusive outcomes of each.  I don't think Marshmellow brands will matter, other than we don't need to use the ones you put in Coco, but rather the ones we roast over a fire.  Size does matter.


It never ceases to amaze me how long some of these old wive's tales hang on concerning the "downsides" to synthetic oil.  Too slick; bearings skating; blah, blah, blah.  There is simply no proof of it...period.  Quite the contrary, in fact.  I guess all those car manufacturers like Ferrari, Porche, etc don't know chit from shineola to be putting synthetic oil in their engines coming off the assembly line.  And the billions of miles/hours on engines that are under a LOT more stress than a HD Twin Cam, don't provide any empirical evidence either.

"Old School" thinking is valuable in many ways, but in the case of Syn vs Dino, it is absolutely, positively, incorrect.

Oh... I know... another oil thread ... 

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[BostonboyDH]

   I'M NOT SURE I FULLY UNDERSTOOD???   COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE SPLAIN IT TO ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!    BOSTONBOY

[grc]

  I'M NOT SURE I FULLY UNDERSTOOD   COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE SPLAIN IT TO ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!    BOSTONBOY

I know how that could be; it's a slippery subject.


Jerry

[Twolanerider]

  I'M NOT SURE I FULLY UNDERSTOOD???   COULD SOMEBODY PLEASE SPLAIN IT TO ME AGAIN!!!!!!!!    BOSTONBOY

It's like this.  If Firedood was thrown under a little bus there'd only be a few Dood-Pieces scattered about and some slightly squishy Dood-noises to go along with it.  But if Firedood was thrown under a big assed bus with rollers and spikes and gyrating widgets and flashing torpedos that shot BBQ ribs out its top and looked like a Mad-Max vision of school bus hell as it did the Dood-smush there would be many many many Dood-Pieces and a beautiful Dood-Spray of Dood-ish-innards-that-are-now-outards cascading before the sunset in prismatic and kaleidoscopic beauty.  Ergo big busses are better (and fortunately D00d can quickly reconstitute like the liquid guy in Terminator).

But just because big busses may smush Dood better does not mean that big busses themselves are, in fact, better.  Short busses are important and necessary too.  Everytime there's a new oil thread.

[Fired00d]

It's like this.  If Firedood was thrown under a little bus there'd only be a few Dood-Pieces scattered about and some slightly squishy Dood-noises to go along with it.  But if Firedood was thrown under a big assed bus with rollers and spikes and gyrating widgets and flashing torpedos that shot BBQ ribs out its top and looked like a Mad-Max vision of school bus hell as it did the Dood-smush there would be many many many Dood-Pieces and a beautiful Dood-Spray of Dood-ish-innards-that-are-now-outards cascading before the sunset in prismatic and kaleidoscopic beauty.  Ergo big busses are better (and fortunately D00d can quickly reconstitute like the liquid guy in Terminator).

But just because big busses may smush Dood better does not mean that big busses themselves are, in fact, better.  Short busses are important and necessary too.  Everytime there's a new oil thread.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[Twolanerider]

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

uh...., whut?

[BostonboyDH]

It's like this.  If Firedood was thrown under a little bus there'd only be a few Dood-Pieces scattered about and some slightly squishy Dood-noises to go along with it.  But if Firedood was thrown under a big assed bus with rollers and spikes and gyrating widgets and flashing torpedos that shot BBQ ribs out its top and looked like a Mad-Max vision of school bus hell as it did the Dood-smush there would be many many many Dood-Pieces and a beautiful Dood-Spray of Dood-ish-innards-that-are-now-outards cascading before the sunset in prismatic and kaleidoscopic beauty.  Ergo big busses are better (and fortunately D00d can quickly reconstitute like the liquid guy in Terminator).

But just because big busses may smush Dood better does not mean that big busses themselves are, in fact, better.  Short busses are important and necessary too.  Everytime there's a new oil thread.

               THANKS FOR SPLAININ THAT!   O

[Lever]

just use syn oil 

[glens]

Back to the subject...

Here's another test.  Take some dino oil and throw it on a burning pile of branches.  Come back the next morning and what will you find?  Ashes.

Through some syn on a similar fire and what will you find the next morning?  A pile of grease.

[HUBBARD]

the best steam cylinder oil will dissolve in water and maintain its lubricity - no ill effects.

the best oils dissolve and hold ALL contaminates to prevent the contaminates from settling to the bottom of the sump when the engine is off and getting sucked in one big gulp into the pump - id think having the water of condensation pool in the oil pan to provide a big slug of water to the bearings on startup a really BAD thing

oil engineers know that some folks run engines a few blocks and shut them off again - eventually the oil will start holding a lot of water - if it separates from the oil in the sump the engine will slurp up the pure water and boom the engine is junk

your magician just proved that syn oils are better - but made you think otherwise - give him a rotten banana

to

I'd bet you gotta' STOP GLOBAL WARMING sticker on your car!   There's another "proven" theory that denies debate.  I expressed my opinion concerning synthetic oil, based on my experience.  I slammed no one.  I take 0ffense to your inappropriate remarks about Don Tilley.  Obviously, you have little, or no knowledge of this man's accomplishments, or of his standing in the Harley-Davidson community.  My personal experience with synthetic oil in my Motorsickle is this;  It ran through my Motor like chit through a goose.  And, when I turned it loose, I mean long and hard, my right inner thigh felt like somebody was holding a torch under it.  These are facts, and they are irrefutable.  Syn was junk then, and it's junk now, to me.  Now, allow me to retort;  There endeth the lesson.  Later--HUBBARD  

[Midnight Rider]

It's like this.  If Firedood was thrown under a little bus there'd only be a few Dood-Pieces scattered about and some slightly squishy Dood-noises to go along with it.  But if Firedood was thrown under a big assed bus with rollers and spikes and gyrating widgets and flashing torpedos that shot BBQ ribs out its top and looked like a Mad-Max vision of school bus hell as it did the Dood-smush there would be many many many Dood-Pieces and a beautiful Dood-Spray of Dood-ish-innards-that-are-now-outards cascading before the sunset in prismatic and kaleidoscopic beauty.  Ergo big busses are better (and fortunately D00d can quickly reconstitute like the liquid guy in Terminator).

But just because big busses may smush Dood better does not mean that big busses themselves are, in fact, better.  Short busses are important and necessary too.  Everytime there's a new oil thread.

Do we have to wear helmets on the short bus?  Uh oh, that's a different thread...

[LC110]

Can't we all just use a Partial Synthetic Blend and get along? 

[HILLSIDECYCLE.COM]

So far, this oil thread has been rather civil.
Usually, these result in injury's.
Scott

[Razorback]

Back to the subject...

Here's another test.  Take some dino oil and throw it on a burning pile of branches.  Come back the next morning and what will you find?  Ashes.

Through some syn on a similar fire and what will you find the next morning?  A pile of grease.

And the department of Natural Resources there to give you a ticket and a bill for cleaning up a potential ground water contaminant. Just use an old tire on your brush pile, but then we could argue if a bias ply or radial would work better.

[Aussie]

2012 CVO, just got first service done and tech used H-D 360 rather than Syn3, not sure why but was told top end would be quieter as Syn3 is a lot thinner.

First ride after service I noticed the clatter top end noise was a little louder until engine was at full operating temp, dip stick said 240 degrees F, ambient temp was 68 degrees F.
Sounded sweet at 240F and idle with no top end noise at all, they also changed out the primary and transmission with Formula plus.

Any thoughts and has anyone used H-D 360 and formula plus in there 110ci?

[Midnight Rider]

2012 CVO, just got first service done and tech used H-D 360 rather than Syn3, not sure why but was told top end would be quieter as Syn3 is a lot thinner.

First ride after service I noticed the clatter top end noise was a little louder until engine was at full operating temp, dip stick said 240 degrees F, ambient temp was 68 degrees F.
Sounded sweet at 240F and idle with no top end noise at all, they also changed out the primary and transmission with Formula plus.

Any thoughts and has anyone used H-D 360 and formula plus in there 110ci?

Nothing wrong with what you're using, other than I personally would run synthetic in a new HD V-Twin crankcase.  Mainly for one, valid reason....it is MUCH less likely to start breaking down chemically from higher temperatures than is Dino oil.  That is an undisputable fact.  A stock 110, with stock exhaust, runs really hot.  Even without the stock exhaust and a tune, they still run really hot.  It's just the nature of the beast.  Synthetic oil, if the same viscosity as the Dino oil, is not "thinner".  20W50 oil is 20W50 oil, no matter which variety, else it would not be rated as such.  There are several differences between Dino and Synthetic oils, but viscosity between the two is not one of them.  It's your bike though, so if you're happy that's all that matters.  The LCD dipstick is not the most accurate temperature measuring device in the world, but it does provide a reference point.  240 degrees at 68 degrees ambient is pretty warm, all other things being accounted for.  Dino oil starts breaking down at around 260 degrees, from the reading I've done on the subject.

[miker]

I like oil, I use oil in lots of things.

[Willie D]

I like oil, I use oil in lots of things.

Me 2 

[grc]

2012 CVO, just got first service done and tech used H-D 360 rather than Syn3, not sure why but was told top end would be quieter as Syn3 is a lot thinner.

First ride after service I noticed the clatter top end noise was a little louder until engine was at full operating temp, dip stick said 240 degrees F, ambient temp was 68 degrees F.
Sounded sweet at 240F and idle with no top end noise at all, they also changed out the primary and transmission with Formula plus.

Any thoughts and has anyone used H-D 360 and formula plus in there 110ci?

Personally, if some "tech" decided on his own to put something other than what is recommended by the manufacturer or what I specifically said I wanted in my crankcase, he would have been told in no uncertain terms to do the change over again at his own expense.  If you asked for HD360 that's one thing.  If he just took it upon himself to do so without consulting with you first, shame on him.

As for the thinner comment, that is just one of the many BS stories that the anti-synthetic crowd has been throwing around for the last 30 years.  As Midnight Rider mentioned, viscosity is measured the same way no matter if the oil is syn or dino.  The 50 weight syn is no thinner than the 50 weight dino oil.  But the syn is much more temperature stable, so when your Harley gets stuck in traffic on a 90°F day and the oil temp climbs over 300°F, you won't have to worry about your oil if it's syn but you definitely will if its dino.  btw, there is a study commissioned by Amsoil that's been posted on this site and many others over the years that compares many of the major brands of motorcycle oil.  You might want to look at it and see where the synthetics, including SYN3, stack up against HD360.  HD360 came in 15th out of 17, SYN3 came in 4th.


Jerry

[grc]

Here is another page from the report listing actual measured viscosities at 100°C in centistokes.  Note that the HD 360 and SYN3 are almost identical.  So much for that "thinner" comment.


Jerry

[Big Dog]

Is it necessary to use Amsoil filter, or can I stay with the HD filter ?

I've used the Amsoil filter in the past, only one thing wrong with it, it has a small outside diameter so you need an Amsoil cup filter wrench to take it off, now I use K&N. Going to try Mobil 1 Syn 20W50, got a great deal, I think, for $4 each at Walmart so scooped up what they had, can't go wrong with that. My savings in oil paid for the AMP connection crimper I had to buy, yeesshh.

[Aussie]

240 degrees at 68 degrees ambient is pretty warm, all other things being accounted for.

What would be a reasonable oil temp using Syn3 at 68 degrees F

[glens]

I don't think he's saying it'll run cooler with synthetic oil, but that the synthetic oil will withstand the heat better.

[grc]

What would be a reasonable oil temp using Syn3 at 68 degrees F

Harley specs, which we all know are plus or minus whatever, call for a normal oil temperature of 230°F at around 70°F ambient.  But that is just a rough number, since oil temperature is also dependent on how hard you're working the engine, how much airflow the engine is seeing, etc.  The issue is that with an air cooled V-twin like Harley's you will see a wide range of temperatures depending on riding conditions.  Synthetics can withstand the higher temps for a much longer time than dino oils before they break down, and they can withstand higher peak temps as well.  Since your engine doesn't have an effective method to control oil temperatures, it only makes sense to use an oil with the biggest safety margin.  Why do you suppose Harley started selling and promoting synthetic oil after all those decades of telling everyone not to use it (becaused they didn't sell it)?


Jerry

[LovemyCVOgirl]

At what temp does your oil get before the light on your dash lights up?

[Twolanerider]

At what temp does your oil get before the light on your dash lights up?

Dash light is for oil pressure not oil temp.  Unless the oil temp gauge has been added from the accessory catalog the bike's don't even have a place to measure oil temp.  Cylinder head temp sensor in the front head.  But nothing for oil temp in stock configuration.

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Dash light is for oil pressure not oil temp.  Unless the oil temp gauge has been added from the accessory catalog the bike's don't even have a place to measure oil temp.  Cylinder head temp sensor in the front head.  But nothing for oil temp in stock configuration.

Thank you.  My light was blinking on and off in stopped traffic that was not moving shortly after I got it.  We were in traffic that was stop and go for at least 30 min.  I thought my right led was going to burn off  . When light starting blinking on and off, I took my mc and drove up on the sidewalk and went a mile riding the sidewalk until I got to the first side street.  I then turned into a church parking lot after 2 miles and shut it down until it cooled.  I only had 250 miles on it at the time so I hope I didnt damage anything.

[Twolanerider]

Thank you.  My light was blinking on and off in stopped traffic that was not moving shortly after I got it.  We were in traffic that was stop and go for at least 30 min.  I thought my right led was going to burn off  . When light starting blinking on and off, I took my mc and drove up on the sidewalk and went a mile riding the sidewalk until I got to the first side street.  I then turned into a church parking lot after 2 miles and shut it down until it cooled.  I only had 250 miles on it at the time so I hope I didnt damage anything.

Check your owner's manual on this as I don't trust my memory to know for sure.  The blinking check engine light might be an indicator that the high heat engine management mode has kicked in.  I vaguely remember reading that somewhere some time ago.  If so you've got no particular problem to worry about now and you got the bike off the road to cool down.

[grc]

If you are talking about the regular indicator lamp for oil pressure like I think you are, if it started turning off and on at idle then it's very possible the oil got so hot it thinned out and caused the pressure to drop enough to barely trigger the light.  You definitely did the right thing getting out of traffic and letting the engine cool down.


Jerry 

[LovemyCVOgirl]

If you are talking about the regular indicator lamp for oil pressure like I think you are, if it started turning off and on at idle then it's very possible the oil got so hot it thinned out and caused the pressure to drop enough to barely trigger the light.  You definitely did the right thing getting out of traffic and letting the engine cool down.


Jerry 

If I remember Jerry the light was shaped like an oil can with little drops coming out of it.  It blinked red off and on about 4 times.  It never stayed on solid red.  I knew I needed to make a quick decision before I scorched my pistons/rings or something worse.  So, I shot down that sidewalk with 4 of my friends on their MC's following.  It was my last resource!  When I got to the cross rode there was a police offer standing there directing traffic and he ask me what I thought I was doing and I told him that my scooter was running hot and I had to get it out of this traffic so I could shut it down.  He waived us on and I went down the rode a couple of miles as fast as I could to get the air blowing across the engine and then pulled it off and shut it down until it cooled off enough that I could touch it with my hand.  Got home put it away and because of health issues I haven't got to ride again but the first thing I'm gonna do when I pull it out is to get the oil changed.

Thank you for your help
~Judy

[Twolanerider]

If I remember Jerry the light was shaped like an oil can with little drops coming out of it. 

It if was the oil can shaped light that one is oil pressure.  Any time that light comes on it's a cause for concern.  You did everything you could at the time.

Only other thing worth considering is if he bike got hot enough to even potentially cause oil breakdown it's a good time for an oil change afterwards.  If badly overheated that's not something the oil can totally "recover" from from as it cools down.

[dlaws01]

Change oil if it was overheated.  Oil cheap, engine expensive.