| Author | Message | ||
     Jdbuellx1 |
I don't have time to read through over 1,000 messages in th KV so I'm taking a poll. I narrowed it down to two choices, either mobil 1 or royal purple. And also what specific weights I should use? Thanks | ||
| Blake |
Why not use the OEM synthetic? | ||
| Mikej |
Somebody posted a reply they got from Redline and the suggestion that the purple was not the best choice, or words to that effect. | ||
| Skully |
I personally prefer Mobil 1 because so many OEMs ship their products new from the factory with it in the crankcase and it is easily found at Wal-Marts in almost any size town at a reasonable price. Keith | ||
| Djkaplan |
Yeah, I chose Mobil 1 because of it's availability, the same reason why I use Castrol GTX in my cars and truck. I can get these oils from a grocery store if I have to. | ||
| Roadrunr |
Anyone tried the screamin eagle brand. They claim it works in the tranny and the engine. | ||
| Rick_A |
I use Mobile 1 and Mobile 1. Shifts smooth, runs cool, can get the stuff anywhere... 15W50 engine, 75W90 tranny | ||
| Newfie_Buell |
Does anyone have a part number for the New HD Synthetic? I have been running the normal HD 20W50 for 19000km and would switching cause any problems? | ||
| Captainplanet |
Synthetic part number is 99824-03 My dealer didn't have it yet when I check a couple of weeks ago. I plan to use it in my XB when I can get some. Here is the link http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=6888787&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=454573&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=454573&bmUID=1046296738843 | ||
| Jssport |
Redline 75-90 wt | ||
| Jdbuellx1 |
Blake, To be honest I completely forgot about the S.E. blend, will probably try it first. None at the shop as of today but should be there before summer or so they say. All, Thanks for the input, if I don't like the S.E. stuff my next move will be Mobil 1. Had a heck of a time trying to find this thread so I could post, some one moved it! | ||
| Jdbuellx1 |
One more question, They recommend when you switch to syn. to be sure all the old oil is out, will the oil that is lying around in the case and such interfere with new? That would be an expensive flush at $8.25 a quart for the S.E. oil. | ||
| Blake |
JD, That is a myth. Change oil as per normal. Synth and conventional mix just fine. | ||
| Racerboy |
Ah, the dreaded oil thread...MCN just finished another two part oil comparo...Interesting and informative...Mobil 1 ranks high but not the highest and there is some evidence that they have reduced additives thought to be specifically good for motorcycles... However, every respected independent mechanic I've ever spoken to, and over and over in the mags, has said that they have NEVER seen an engine failure due to oil of any kind as long as the oil was changed as specified...So, I'm still using Mobil I...It's good and it's available everywhere... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Hootowl |
Bob, What kind of oil rated best? | ||
| Blake |
One of the reasons I use synthetic oil is to provide added high temperature integrity, and to allow me to go the entire 5K miles between oil changes with no worries. | ||
| Racerboy |
Blake...That's probably the single best reason to use a syn... Jeff wants to know "what's the best oil?"...Ah, Grasshopper, that depends...It depends on if you want the "best" heat stability, moly content, anti-wear additives, or acid neutralizers...Due to riding style or place one of these may be more important to you than someone else...For instance...Do you do mostly long rides or commute...Near an ocean or not...I attempted to put all their ratings into a spreadsheet and average the results and then realized that what I said in the previous sentence made an average make no sense...But that said, for most of us here are the top (and not in any order): Mobil 1 15W-50 Redline Motul 300V Amsoil Surprisingly both Royal Purple and Royal Purple Racing did not fare well in the "heat stability/aging" test which, as Blake pointed out, may be the single, best reason to use a syn...In this area they ranked from best on down: Redline Motorex Power Syn 4T (but 26th in viscosity???) Motul 300V Mobil 1 15W-50 Amsoil Given it's ready availability and competitive cost Mobil 1 just seems to work for me... See Ya! Bob | ||
| Prof_Stack |
Riding home from the dealership after getting the 1K servicing (with the "approved" synthetic oil Syn3), I observed easier shifting and perhaps a smoother motor. But the big thing was that after two stops for photos, the rear cooling fan did not come on. It has ALWAYS come on for similar rides while the motor had HD360 oil. At the end of a hard interstate run followed by idling in traffic, the fan came on at home at shutdown and pretty quickly shifted to low speed and then off. So, I'd say that the synthetic oil is helping the motor run a bit cooler than before. | ||
| Xb9 |
Less friction = less heat | ||
| Xb9 |
I noticed the same with my XB9 when I switched to Royal Purple. Less fan action. And noticeably quieter in the valve train. Last year, when I contacted RP to find out what they recommend for the engine and the primary/tranny, they told me to use 15w40 in both. At that time some thought that was not a good choice in the primary/tranny. Interesting that HD now comes out with their synthetic, same recommendation - good for engine /tranny/ primary. Anyway, I've been running the RP now for 8K and am very pleased with it. RP said the film strength is so good in their additive, it's fine for use in a transmission. $5 a quart at Jeg's. | ||
| Blake |
RP needs an additive to achieve superior film strength? | ||
| Bykergeek |
4300 miles on my Bolt Mobil1 15w50 in the motor since 500 miles Mobil1 75w90 in the primary/trans since 4000 Changing the primary to synth made an unimaginable difference in shifter feel and smoothness. The fan seems to be running less since this one change (Friday night and 300 miles ago). | ||
| Reepicheep |
Just to reinforce what everyone is saying here, a $4 bottle of Mobil 1 Gear Oil made every bit as much of an improvement in my Cyclones tranny as $250 (used) worth of Banke shifter parts. Using the gear oil in the tranny has another advantage, you can tell whats leaking by smell. This sounds like a joke, but I am actually serious. If I am out and about, and I see a splash of oil in the rear fender, if it smells like tranny oil I will make a cursory inspection and if things look fine go on my way assuming it was just a little burp. If it is motor oil, the bike does not move until I identify the source of the oil. The crankcase oil smells really bad, and makes it easy to tell which leaked. On the other hand, I keep a bottle of 20w50 full synthetic on the bike, and if I was out somewhere and had to add primary fluid for some reason, I would pour it in there without a worry or second thought, though I would probably go back to the gear oil when I got home and had a little spare time. | ||
| Aesquire |
500 mile checkup, & had 'em use the new H-D 20-50 Synth in engine & primary. Shifting has improved enough to notice, no extra noise that I can hear. I'll probably go to the Mobil 1 gear oil on next change, just had to try the new goo. | ||
| Steveford |
Sport Rider just concluded an interesting two part series on engine oil. I was hoping that they'd include the H-D oils in their comparison but guess you can't test everything. Plus Harley's aren't very sporting! It looks like Mobil 1 (car or motorcycle) and Amsoil came out on top. | ||
| Kaudette |
Anyone know why Buell recommends "Diesel Grade" oil only? What's the difference? | ||
| Aaron |
My understanding ... the fundamental difference with Diesel rated oils (Cx ratings) is the additive packages are designed for higher levels of soot loading. I'm not a lubrication engineer, this is just something I read. Diesels have a lot of blow-by, so it makes sense. | ||
| Kaudette |
Just put in some 5W40 Mobil 1 synthetic (cold here in the winter) in the XB12 and some 75W90 synthetic in the tranny. Maybe it is just me but man does this thing run MUCH smoother now - and shifting is at least 30% smoother and the engine just hums along. Don't wait to do it. Definitely a good investment - next up some Michelin Pilot Sports... | ||
| Ara |
Kaudette, do you mean 15W40? | ||
| Kaudette |
That's 5W40 mobile 1 - yes - over here in Europe we get "diesel grade" stuff that goes this low (eg. 5W) I imagine that it should help on the very cold weather starts during the winter months - and I'll go back to 15W50 next summer. There was 5W50 mobile1 as well but only recommended for gas engines - and the service manual suggests only "diesel grade" oil for the XB so I went with the other. |
