| Author | Message | ||
     Chitownracing |
ok so iv been reading on here about whats the best oil to use in my bike xb12scg... alot of people say use royal purple.. im currently using syn3 and have been for the last 7k miles in my primary and in my engine. syn3 is $10 a quart royal purple $8 or $9 a quart so next oil change im going to put royal purple in but what kind of oil filters are u guys using?? iv been getting mine from the dealer. is there any other oil filter that does a better job than a filter from hd?? | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
http://www.knfilters.com/search/product.aspx?Prod= KN-177 | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Amsoil sells WIX filters which are very high quality (they invented the spin-on oil filter in Gastonia, NC back in 1954) and incorporate metal base plates, silicone anti-drainback valves, up-front bypass valves and glass-enhanced filter media. The WIX part number for XB's is 51394 and cost $8.35. https://www.amsoil.com/catalog.aspx?Code=51394-EA | ||
| Bcmike |
Link to oil filter cross reference... http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/286209.html?1240114002 I use Wix filters in every vehicle. | ||
| Slaughter |
I use the K&N (above) but it's a race bike and I change oil and filter each month. I use RP 10W40 in the crankcase. I use the RP synthetic ATF in the primary - but I use a slipper clutch. Not sure how it reacts with the stocker. (TEMPTED to try it on the streetbike - stock clutch - just to see how it works) | ||
| Boliver |
Wix is the way/O'reilly auto parts sells them here in Oklahoma. | ||
| Nik |
Wix/napa gold 1396 works too but is a bit longer for a little extra oil capacity. | ||
| Buellconvert |
Thanks for the cross reference, I didn't realize until now that my Buell and my wife's Scion use the same filter. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I wouldn't stray too far from the specific filter made for the Buell. There has been much discussion around this, but just because it fits doesn't mean it's the same filter! Flow rates and pressure bypass levels can vary pretty significantly. Many people who are smarter than me have thoroughly analyzed the scenario, and their findings have led me to use only the WIX filter noted above, and nothing else. As far as oil, I used RP in my Triumph so I had a bunch left over when I got my first Buell. I ran it for a couple of years and it performed flawlessly in both holes. I used 2050. That said, I not exclusively use Mobil 1 15/50 synthetic- it's $23 for 5 quarts at Wal Mart! I can not tell any difference between the Mobil 1 and RP, and I have tried to find it...I wanted the excuse to spend the $$ on the RP. | ||
| Ducbsa |
Mobil 1 15/50 synthetic- it's $23 for 5 quarts at Wal Mart Which WalMart? The ones my way don't have it. | ||
| Fahren |
Andy, you are finding the automotive Mobil 1 15w50, right? Royal Purple web site recommends 20w50 max cycle for engine, 10w30 max cycle for primary on Buells. How much is a quart of regular old Harley dino 20/50 going for these days? I know people who use it and change their oil every 2500 or so, and they argue that the synthetic is not worth the extra cost. But I wonder if that cost argument even holds up any more. Actually, I wonder if any of the oil and filter arguments matter if you change oil and filter every 2500. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Yes, 15/50 automotive syn. Bruce- I buy it at mine in Brooklyn Park. Guess I never thought that some would have it and others not. I have seen it at others in the northern suburbs as well. I laughed the other day as I was in O'Reilly and a 4 quart (1 less than the WalMart one) was $28.99 ($6 more than WalMart)! | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
Actually, I wonder if any of the oil and filter arguments matter if you change oil and filter every 2500. If cost matters to you, then yes. Synthetics are a "pay more, spend less" situation where the initial cost is higher, but the overall expenditure (time/money/effort) is less. For example, when Blackstone Labs suggested a service interval of 8-10 track days or 15 months based upon the results of the oil sample I sent them, it proved that my synthetic oil is saving me money. My oil and filter combination are performing at a level that allows my initial $41.74 investment to provide over twelve months (6+ track days) of superior performance and protection. If I were using mineral oil, I would change it after every other track day, and that would result in three services at $25.12 each- or $75.36 in the same twelve month period. Adding the extra time and effort to the equation makes the expense even higher. Bottom line: have the oil you're using tested in order to remove the guesswork from the equation. You may be surprised at how much longer you can run a synthetic, or you might find out you should have changed that mineral oil a long time ago... | ||
| L8_br8ker |
well, I cant find the exact cutaways I once had, but the Pure one in the pic is what a Pure one, or the stock filter look like inside, the other pic is what a wix for a xb12 looks like inside, only the spring in the xb12 filter is longer, it has very little surface area to the filter media, what I'm tryin to say is the stock filter, is a good one, the wix is a very bad filter, for an XB, don't go by my pic, slice one open next oil change, like I once did, then you'll know.  If you cant get the stock one, the Pure One, and the Purolater filters, have good media, and plenty of flow, cut open your amsol, or Fram, and you probably wont put one on the bike again, they are like the Wix. I dont know about the K&N, I never saw a Buell xb K&N cutaway | ||
| L8_br8ker |
I just found a actual wix filter cut open, this isnt for a Buell xb, but this is what the Wix for an xb looks exactly like, taken apart  | ||
| Nobuell |
L8_br8ker The WIX 51394 is the recommended filter for the Buell. That is not the correct picture shown. The specified Puralator is a L14476. That is not the correct Puralator shown. Are you using a longer than stock filter length? If so, a comparison to the the equivalent WIX filter length will tell a different story. Please note that the recommended Puralator is actually slightly shorter than the recommended WIX. What specific data do you have to support your assertion that a Wix filter is bad. Cannot be based on the filters shown in the picture. I am not saying the Puralator is a bad filter. I just want a factual basis to say that a Wix is a bad filter. | ||
| L8_br8ker |
my data is this: i stick a screw driver thru the filter, to make a hole, which pours into my waste can, without any mess, one time I took snips to the wix51394, and to my surprise, a tiny little flow blocking, cheapy mini filter exactly like the one in that napa pic.,... I brought back the new Wix51394(i'm using your numbers Tim, we referenced, at the store, but I dont know the numbers) to the local auto parts guy, he gave me a purolater, ....next oil change I opened it,(with my snips) and it was nearly top to bottom, full filter, (more than 2 times the surface of the Wix.) I then used a stock filter, from a dealer, when I sniped that it had a full filter, no spring, my common sense tells me dont use those "full size package, with a spring and tiny little actual filter, cause the company makin those cant see giving you your moneys worth, when they are able to make more, even if they have a great reputation. About the tiny filter element in the Wix, Amsol, and Napa filters that reference to Buell XB, unless that element is made of something far better than the Purolator, or the Buell filter, and I bet its not, then those Wix filters suk. You are correct, my pics are poor in they dont have the buell XB filter in them, but first hand, thats what they look like inside if you snip em open. | ||
| Redbuelljunkie |
then those Wix filters suk Again, on what information are you basing this statement? It appears you are inferring that because one filter has a larger filtering surface area than another it is superior- this is a wrong assumption. An oil filter is measured by the filter media construction and performance, a quality case, base plate, gasket, anti-drainback valve, by-pass valve, spring, internal support structure and end caps. A large amount of cheap paper filter media is not better than a smaller amount of superior filter media. Additionally, filters are designed for specific applications (pressures/flow) and larger does not always mean better. Both Purolator and WIX are very high quality oil filters, but side-by-side comparisons should be based on empirical facts- not lay opinion. | ||
| Fahren |
Purolator states on their web site that their Pure One filters should not be used on bikes, due to the flow requirements and bike oil pumps, and their clain that the pure one slows things down too much because it filters so well. Maybe it's their way of getting people to buy their bike filters, but I would think they would be happy to have bikers buy their premium filters if they thought it was a good idea. http://www.purolatorautofilters.net/products/pages /motorcyclefilters.aspx | ||
| L8_br8ker |
Good point Redbuell,(about the possible differences in filter material) and its true I have allways made "Lay Opinion" decisions, on matters concerning my bikes, between you and I , I dont believe anything that manufacturers print about thier products, if they show info that goes against my common sense, and they do print things as "facts", which are not true at all. What I view as common sense, the wix filter element is way too small, and doesnt look anything like the Buell filter, after looking in the filter, wif me trusty tin snips, I would never put that piece of junk on my bike again, truthfully, its just too small, and wont flow enough, it looks to me to be the same type of filter medium as the purolater, only there is only a tiny element in that can. I have used the deeper purolater filters on my bike, there are about 1 inch deeper or so, the one I cut opened, (after using), was the regular purolater, which refers to the Buell xb on thier chart. I stated those bad things about the Wix filter, using only common sense, cause its so tiny inside, I do not expect others to assume I am an expert, and live by my word, of course, but I strongly feel, that product has a good chance of restricting oil flow, especially if it acumulates debris. Fahren, thanks for the info from Purolator, on the Pure One, good for me to know, restricting flow is exactly what I don't want out of a filter, and I'll choose to believe purolator on that one, as it seems like truthful info after reading thru. Should I have said my info was my opinion, and not fact, in my post that time?... that was the case, the pics were not there to fool anyone, they really do look that way inside, even though none were Buell XB oil filters. I do however know one fact about the filters, Wix, Fram, Champion, Purolator, and one other company(i forget who) make most of the different brand filters out there, the majority of the few not made by them, are copies of thier designs. | ||
| Aptbldr |
The OEM oil filter has a 'short' or a 'long' canister? |
