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[dwgibson]

Talked to my service manager (a friend of mine) this last weekend and was informed that Harley is having major problems with their SYN3 oil.  This problem seems to occur in the hotter areas of the country where the oil drains from parts in the heat after sitting.  Was shown a set of cam bearings that were worn really bad, this was caused by no oil on the bearing during startup.  Was also tolded that I should get SYN3 out of my bike and go back to the Harley regular oil.  Don't know for sure......just wanted to post this to let others know.  

[RJ749]

Talked to my service manager (a friend of mine) this last weekend and was informed that Harley is having major problems with their SYN3 oil.  This problem seems to occur in the hotter areas of the country where the oil drains from parts in the heat after sitting.  Was shown a set of cam bearings that were worn really bad, this was caused by no oil on the bearing during startup.  Was also tolded that I should get SYN3 out of my bike and go back to the Harley regular oil.  Don't know for sure......just wanted to post this to let others know.  

Been there done that.  The Syn3 is junk and after listeing to my bearing all grinding on compression in the mountains of Colorado when ever it was over 90 degrees (everyday) I got home and dumped the Syn3.  My service mgr said he has heard of many issues with the Syn3 as well, even some discussion with the MoCo techline guys he knows.

Check these thread out.

http://flhrsei.org/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1147726000/77#77

[Midnight Rider]

DW...get rid of the Syn3!!!  The source I refer to in the other thread is a petroleum engineer...the Syn is low bid, so nobody knows for sure who makes it from year to year, though for a while it was Sunnoco, from my understanding.  This guy works for Mobil, but to show he is not prejudiced, he also said that Amsoil is a very good choice, as well as Motul.  The Mobil 1 20W50 VTWIN was formulated by one of their senior engineers who owned several HD and other twins, and he was given a blank check to come up with the best possible product for that application.  I'm repeating stuff here that's been said before...get the SYN3 Chit out of your bike!!

[Midnight Rider]

Oh yeah...not to take away from what your friend said, but I will never go back to dino oil in anything I own...not after the improvements I've felt/heard/seen in the performance of both my bikes, and my car.  I figure if they're running synthetics in racing engines, they've got to be good for everything.

[Twolanerider]

My bike came home from the shop when the bike was brand new and lost its Syn3 that evening.  Can't stand the stuff.  Only time I've had it in the red bike was a quart bought on the road of which a half quart was used to top the bike off when it had gottan a quart low on the dipstick (my bike is "full" when it's a half quart low).

[ace4059]

 :(I let my dealer talk me into syn3 at my last service (20000 miles) on my 99 Road King. It had never leaked a drop of oil before. (99 was the first year for the twin cam 88). I drove it home from the dealer and parked it in the garage and guess what? Next morning there was oil dripping from the front part of the engine. I took it back and they said it was just a coincidence and charged me $100 to replace the seals around the oil filter housing. Guess what, still leaks. I took it to another dealer and they rerouted the lines from the voltage regulator (service technical bulletin from 99). It stopped leaking for 2 days and then started again. Now everytime I park it there is a small 50 cent size oil puddle under my bike. My dealer says the syn 3 is not the cause. I think it is too thin and leaks through older seals. I'm going back to the old regular straight 50W at my next oil change. Sure hope the leaks will stop then. Also, my engine seems to run a lot hotter w/ the Syn 3. Has anyone else heard of similar oil leak problems or hotter engine w/ syn3 in older bikes?

[Twolanerider]

:(I let my dealer talk me into syn3 at my last service (20000 miles) on my 99 Road King. It had never leaked a drop of oil before. (99 was the first year for the twin cam 88). I drove it home from the dealer and parked it in the garage and guess what? Next morning there was oil dripping from the front part of the engine. I took it back and they said it was just a coincidence and charged me $100 to replace the seals around the oil filter housing. Guess what, still leaks. I took it to another dealer and they rerouted the lines from the voltage regulator (service technical bulletin from 99). It stopped leaking for 2 days and then started again. Now everytime I park it there is a small 50 cent size oil puddle under my bike. My dealer says the syn 3 is not the cause. I think it is too thin and leaks through older seals. I'm going back to the old regular straight 50W at my next oil change. Sure hope the leaks will stop then. Also, my engine seems to run a lot hoter w/ the Syn 3. Has anyone else heard of similar oil leak problems or hotter engine w/ syn3 in older bikes?

Ace, with some of my old-car buddies there are lots of stories that float around of guys complaining about making the switch to some synthetic and getting leaks they've never had before.  Honest to god I've never actually seen it myself and it's always a story of someone else's machine so never has any chance of verification.  As much as the stories float around there's probably some fundament of truth to them somewhere.  But in your case I'd chalk it up to coincidence until you change it back and it suddenly and miraculously goes away.

[HUBBARD]

Allright, that does it!  Maudie's gettin' a douche, as soon as I call OTIS!  Back to the Basics.  Later--HUBBARD

[RJ749]

Allright, that does it!  Maudie's gettin' a douche, as soon as I call OTIS!  Back to the Basics.  Later--HUBBARD

Treat her right, she deserves the best [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

[RedFXR2]

Has anyone else heard of similar oil leak problems or hotter engine w/ syn3 in older bikes?

If it helps any, I bought my 1999 FXR2 used, so I don't know what the original owner used for oil, but I started using Syn3 and shortly thereafter switched to Amsoil synthetics throughout and have never had any leaks that didn't involve some part problem like warped rocker boxes or inadequately tightened drain plugs.

[Fired00d]

Sure am glad I got Amsoil, and Redline waiting for next service (couple hundred miles). [smiley=huepfenjump3.gif]

 [smiley=pumpkin.gif]
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 [smiley=fireman.gif]

[Sklywag]

The simple fact that HD delivers MC's with Syn3 installed tells you it aint great oil, if it was the motor would never break in.  Any good synthetic stops wear, translated to never seats the rings in a new motor.

My choices from many years of race motor (auto) experience;
 Red Line
 Amsoil
 Mobile 1

in that order.

The trick in race motors is to get the rings seated quickly without damaging the cam.  Then get it on Synthetic to keep it alive for a long hard run.  Ideally you would run 20w, non detergent to seat the rings, but synthetic to break in the cam.  Since you cant do that you compromise on a break in oil.  Then switch.

We have even put an old cam in the motor to seat the rings, broke in the cam in another motor with synthetic, then switched parts & oil.  Works, but is a lot of work even on motor stands that allow you to run the motors.

I switched my 06 FLHTCUSE to Red Line 20-60 at 2500 miles, put Red Line MTL in the Primary &  Red Line Heavy Shock Proof in the Trans.

These are actually the recommendations from Red Line, (I have a friend there).  If you are in cooler areas where the outside temp's don't get to 100+ use 20-50 instead fo 20-60.

Just my 2cents

[Twolanerider]

Allright, that does it!  Maudie's gettin' a douche, as soon as I call OTIS!  Back to the Basics.  Later--HUBBARD

Hub, the synthetics don't need to be run away from.  Just give her the good stuff man, that sweet smelling Amsoil or the tender flavors of Mobil 1.  It's just that cheap potato vodka Syn3 that gives Maude the tummy ache.

[Midnight Rider]

Well put, Don... [smiley=xyxthumbs.gif]

Syns are GREAT, just pick a good one!

[jfscheck]

So place the same weight Mobile Oil V-twin in the tranny and engine?