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[hdguy1]

I have a 2012 SESG that is having an engine rebuild for the second time. The first was at 8000km and now at 29000km. A tech at the dealership says to go with 20/50 from day one and continue to use it.
 Any thoughts or advice on this issue would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[ltank]

Use standard Harley 20/50 non synthetic oil for breakin. Then use synthetic after. Parts have to wear together but avoid over heating motor during breakin.

[Para Bellum]

Yes, use 20w-50 from start to finish.  The only reason to use non-synthetic is to save money.

Good synthetic oil (Mobil 1 V-twin, Amsoil, etc.) will stand up to heat, blowby, acids formed by combustion, and all of the other factors that oil has to deal with, far better than dino juice.  There's no research that shows synthetic oil is "too slippery" to allow proper break-in.

[FlaHeatWave]

'Guess I'm caught up in the 'voodoo' of it, (plus this is what the shop that I sourced the cylinders / pistons / rings from suggested).

1st 50 mi. dino, next 500 mi. dino, next 2k mi synthetic from then on...

'Am picking and choosing my break-in miles with no stop & go, not much traffic, good break-in tune, etc... so I'm not concerned much with heat...

To each, his own...

good luck!
 

[grc]

Many engines are run from day one with synthetic oil as factory fill, and there is no problem.  You may find some old engine builders who still recommend dino oil, either just for break-in or all the time, but I'm quite sure if you ask them for some real science to back up their recommendation they won't have anything other than the typical hearsay BS to offer you.

Why is this engine being rebuilt for the second time in only 29,000 km (18,020 miles)?  And is the same guy rebuilding it this time as last time?

Jerry

Oh, btw, when the tech said "go with 20w50", I'm not exactly following what he meant by that.  Both the Harley dino oil and the Harley synthetic oil are 20w50.  That is the SAE grade, and has nothing to do with the syn or dino thing.  It is also the grade Harley recommends for the engine in the manuals.

[hdguy1]

Many engines are run from day one with synthetic oil as factory fill, and there is no problem.  You may find some old engine builders who still recommend dino oil, either just for break-in or all the time, but I'm quite sure if you ask them for some real science to back up their recommendation they won't have anything other than the typical hearsay BS to offer you.

Why is this engine being rebuilt for the second time in only 29,000 km (18,020 miles)?  And is the same guy rebuilding it this time as last time?

Jerry

Oh, btw, when the tech said "go with 20w50", I'm not exactly following what he meant by that.  Both the Harley dino oil and the Harley synthetic oil are 20w50.  That is the SAE grade, and has nothing to do with the syn or dino thing.  It is also the grade Harley recommends for the engine in the manuals.

Sorry for the lack of clarity. I meant 20w50 non synthetic oil. The first rebuild was because of a faulty crank which caused massive overheating. As far as the second rebuild, one of the cylinder studs pulled out, and after all the issues with this motor (bad crank, overheating, spark plug threads coming out) this is the route Harley Canada decided to go. This time all but the crank is being replaced. They figure this is to do with the heat issues from the first go round.

Thank you all for your advice.