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[SmokeyJoe]

My dealer ask me if i wanted synthetic or dino oil today, should i be concerned?

[GregKhougaz]

Concerned?  Yes!  Or, no.  Your bike came with stickers and an owner's manual specifying HDSyn3 oil which HD now says is a full synthetic.  If you search here,  you will find many threads on oil.  Many here use synthetic brands such as Amsoil, Red Line,  Royal Purple or Mobile 1.   All cost more than dino so it seems odd that your dealer would even ask.  On the other hand,  there are reputable mechanics who prefer and recommend dino oil. I think you will find those to be a minority, however.

[SmokeyJoe]

Still waiting for them to finish the bike. 

Does Harley have more than one type of syn oil?

[GregKhougaz]

HD lists only one on the website:   SYN3 Full Synthetic Motorcycle Lubricant       Part Number: 62600005

[Midnight Rider]

Your bike, as mentioned, came from the factory with Syn3.  Just one of the advantages of a full synthetic oil is that thermal degradation begins at much higher oil temperatures than with dino oil.  These are ballpark numbers, but for sake of discussion, lets say that dino oil begins breaking down at oil temps of 270 degrees.  Synthetic oil begins breaking down at 350 degrees.  A large air cooled engine, like a 110 CI Twin Cam, produces a lot of heat.  I have personally seen oil temps in the crankcase of a 110 of 260 degrees (or more).  So, you can decide which you'd rather have in your motor based on those rough numbers.

Discarding all the "old wives tales" of synthetic being "too slippery", causing leaks because it gets past sealing gaskets easier, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...there is only one reason to use Dino oil over Synthetic oil:  It costs less.

[Rooster]

Your bike, as mentioned, came from the factory with Syn3.  Just one of the advantages of a full synthetic oil is that thermal degradation begins at much higher oil temperatures than with dino oil.  These are ballpark numbers, but for sake of discussion, lets say that dino oil begins breaking down at oil temps of 270 degrees.  Synthetic oil begins breaking down at 350 degrees.  A large air cooled engine, like a 110 CI Twin Cam, produces a lot of heat.  I have personally seen oil temps in the crankcase of a 110 of 260 degrees (or more).  So, you can decide which you'd rather have in your motor based on those rough numbers.

Discarding all the "old wives tales" of synthetic being "too slippery", causing leaks because it gets past sealing gaskets easier, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...there is only one reason to use Dino oil over Synthetic oil:  It costs less.

Not much less if your talking about HD oil.

[Midnight Rider]

Not much less if your talking about HD oil.

This is true, Grasshopper....

[SmokeyJoe]

I went with syn oils.  I was just shocked when he ASK. 

[Twolanerider]

I went with syn oils.  I was just shocked when he ASK. 

True that.... 

That a Harley dealer would even consider offering a cheaper alternative and not then couch that alternative as somehow being a "not stock" oil for the bike and, therefore, voiding warranties, causing various pestilences and propagating the breeding of ugly people is a nice turn for many dealerships.

[Jerry/MD]

Your bike, as mentioned, came from the factory with Syn3.  Just one of the advantages of a full synthetic oil is that thermal degradation begins at much higher oil temperatures than with dino oil.  These are ballpark numbers, but for sake of discussion, lets say that dino oil begins breaking down at oil temps of 270 degrees.  Synthetic oil begins breaking down at 350 degrees.  A large air cooled engine, like a 110 CI Twin Cam, produces a lot of heat.  I have personally seen oil temps in the crankcase of a 110 of 260 degrees (or more).  So, you can decide which you'd rather have in your motor based on those rough numbers.

Discarding all the "old wives tales" of synthetic being "too slippery", causing leaks because it gets past sealing gaskets easier, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...there is only one reason to use Dino oil over Synthetic oil:  It costs less.

BINGO! Terry hit the nail on the head. The 110 engine runs hot. Read any independent articles (NOT from an oil company) on synthetic lubricants and the data verifies their superiority under higher temps. I think this is the main reason H-D delivers the CVOs with SYN3. I will not use standard Dino oil on my bike.

Jerry