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[Bearcat1]

Can anyone say for sure what the difference is between the Harley Davidson Synthetic Blend oil and Syn 3?  What does one have that the other doesn't or vice versa?  Evidently they are different due to the fact that Harley says to use the blend only in the engine cavity unlike Syn 3 that you can (supposedly) use in all applications.

Thanks

[GregKhougaz]

Harley Davidson advertises that it's Syn 3 oil is a full synthetic unlike the former blend.  not many of us here use either one. If you use the search function here to search any of these terms:  oil, Amsoil, Mobile 1, Synthetic, Royal Purple, Red Line, you'll find more information than you can ever read.  Good luck! 

[Bearcat1]

I've used every oil that you just mentioned at one time or another and I am not interested in those with regards to my original question.  Which is, if anyone can tell me how HD Synthetic Blend differs in comparison to Syn 3 besides just saying the obvious that Syn 3 is a full synthetic oil and the blend isn't.  What's in the blend that isn't in Syn 3 to where HD can call it a "blend"?  Maybe this can't be answered.

Harley Davidson advertises that it's Syn 3 oil is a full synthetic unlike the former blend.  not many of us here use either one. If you use the search function here to search any of these terms:  oil, Amsoil, Mobile 1, Synthetic, Royal Purple, Red Line, you'll find more information than you can ever read.  Good luck! 

[dayne66]

I've used every oil that you just mentioned at one time or another and I am not interested in those with regards to my original question.  Which is, if anyone can tell me how HD Synthetic Blend differs in comparison to Syn 3 besides just saying the obvious that Syn 3 is a full synthetic oil and the blend isn't.  What's in the blend that isn't in Syn 3 to where HD can call it a "blend"?  Maybe this can't be answered.

Usually the blends are semi-synthetic...so, I'd think it has a portion of it being dino oil.

[Bearcat1]

Usually the blends are semi-synthetic...so, I'd think it has a portion of it being dino oil.

My thinking too but I'd like to know for sure.  Confusing since I have read on numerous occasions that Syn 3 is not a true, 100% synthetic oil either.  Where are the oil experts?? 

[grc]

Base stocks are classified into five groups.  Conventional motor oil is comprised of Group I and II oils.  Synthetic Blends are comprised of Groups III, II, and I in various concentrations.  Full Synthetics are comprised of Groups III, IV, and V oils.  Purists like me would tell you that a full synthetic should only be Group IV or V, but thanks to a BS legal ruling about a decade ago in Castrol's favor, in the USA they are allowed to advertise a blend of Group III or higher as full synthetic.  This isn't the case in the rest of the world btw.

The main reason the Harley blend isn't recommended for the trans and primary and the SYN3 is has to do with the additive package.  Harley, and subsequently the others like Amsoil, Mobil 1, etc., threw in special antiwear additives for gears that aren't normally part of regular motor oil specifications.  For those of us who don't buy into the one size fits all marketing hype it really doesn't matter because we use proper lubes for each hole rather than the same stuff in all three.  Trans lube in the trans, gear and chain lube in the primary, and motor oil in the engine. 

Jerry

[Bearcat1]

Thanks Jerry, now we are making some progress.  So are you saying that the only difference between HD Synthetic Blend and Syn 3 is an additive package/antiwear additives that allows Syn 3 to be used in all 3 applications where as the blend cannot?

And for the record I also do not buy into the one size fits all.

[grc]

Thanks Jerry, now we are making some progress.  So are you saying that the only difference between HD Synthetic Blend and Syn 3 is an additive package/antiwear additives that allows Syn 3 to be used in all 3 applications where as the blend cannot?

And for the record I also do not buy into the one size fits all.

Nope.  The Syn Blend likely has lower grade base stocks, as I noted in my first post.  It could contain only Groups I, II and III to be called a syn blend for instance, whereas the "Full" SYN3 would contain only Groups III and above to meet the definition of a full synthetic.  A full analysis of the composition of each product is something I don't have access to, so I can only assume the blend product is composed of lower grade oils and more additives to improve VI and other characteristics to meet minimum specs.  One of the nice things about Group IV and V true synthetics is that they don't require heavy doses of additives to meet those same performance specifications.

Is the use of one versus the other in the engine likely to make an easily recognizable difference?  Not likely if you don't cook the engine and you change the oil and filter as scheduled.  The better stuff just gives you an added safety margin, basically.

Jerry

[Bearcat1]

Nope.  The Syn Blend likely has lower grade base stocks, as I noted in my first post.  It could contain only Groups I, II and III to be called a syn blend for instance, whereas the "Full" SYN3 would contain only Groups III and above to meet the definition of a full synthetic.  A full analysis of the composition of each product is something I don't have access to, so I can only assume the blend product is composed of lower grade oils and more additives to improve VI and other characteristics to meet minimum specs.  One of the nice things about Group IV and V true synthetics is that they don't require heavy doses of additives to meet those same performance specifications.

Is the use of one versus the other in the engine likely to make an easily recognizable difference?  Not likely if you don't cook the engine and you change the oil and filter as scheduled.  The better stuff just gives you an added safety margin, basically.

Jerry

Good stuff Jerry.  You have pretty much satisfied my curiosity about the blend oil explaining the stocks and groups.  I ask because I recently changed over to the the HD Synthetic Blend in my FLHXSE3 and actually like it (least for now).  My bike has what I consider a lot of valve train noise and I have tried several different oils to try and quiet things down without much luck.  I had heard before that dino oil often helps a noisy engine quiet down some.  So my thoughts turned to the HD blend and perhaps I could get a little bit of both worlds.  I feel the blend actually did help quiet my engine down some.  My concern is this, here in south Texas right now the temps are in the 40's low and mid 70's high on avg.  Not bad temps at all for an air cooled Harley engine no matter what oil you may be using.  But when July, Aug and Sept roll around and the temps are hovering near 100 on some days will the blend still afford me the protection of an all Synthetic oil?  Especially the hot running 110.  Well, I still got a few months to think about it!  Thanks again.