getting a harley what oil?

[nazareth]

Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: cos
The RP 20W50 should be fine.



RP will shear to 30w in a Sportster trans in no time.


i highly doubt this.
anyone see the guy with the mustang that used royal purple for 70k . his cam looked brand new. compared to 30k on mobil 1 on a friends mustang. large visible difference between the two.
made me a royal purple fan instantly

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: nazareth
Originally Posted By: PT1
Originally Posted By: cos
The RP 20W50 should be fine.



RP will shear to 30w in a Sportster trans in no time.


i highly doubt this.
anyone see the guy with the mustang that used royal purple for 70k . his cam looked brand new. compared to 30k on mobil 1 on a friends mustang. large visible difference between the two.
made me a royal purple fan instantly


You have an air cooled engine...and shared trans & clutch sump...very different from a Mustang powertrain. You will see what I mean next Summer while sitting in traffic in Arizona.

 

[nazareth]

well i guess . i will use either the mobil 1 20w50 vtwin oil or the harley synthitec oil then. mobil is actually cheaper. 7.99 a quart at walmart the harley oil is 9.99 a quart at dealer. imagine that is over priced being its coming from a harley dealer

 

[dnewton3]

If you don't use the most expensive, ultra-coveted PAO M/C only lube, it will cease to run within 10 miles.

Or so I've been lead to believe ...

 

[PT1]

The M1 Vtwin will do fine...at $7.99 I might stock up because it is $9.99 here.

 

[EagleFTE]

Originally Posted By: nazareth
well i guess . i will use either the mobil 1 20w50 vtwin oil or the harley synthitec oil then. mobil is actually cheaper. 7.99 a quart at walmart the harley oil is 9.99 a quart at dealer. imagine that is over priced being its coming from a harley dealer


Any idea what the previus owner was running over the last 13 years?

 

[nazareth]

unfortunatly no idea

 

[cbear]

I've been running the Mobil 1 V Twin 20w-50 in my 01 Sportster ever since break in. I have 42k miles on the clock and going strong. The primary I've used Harley's Syn 3 since they discountinued the Sports Trans fluid. The Mobil 1 should work there, but I haven't done it.

Oh, and I don't have any tattoos.

 

[GMBoy]

Whatever you decide please don't use the overpriced and underperforming Harley SYN3 oil. It's a waste. I've used Mobil 1 V-Twin which was fine. I know use Redline's motorcycle oil and it's been great too.

 

[PT1]

Originally Posted By: GMBoy
Whatever you decide please don't use the overpriced and underperforming Harley SYN3 oil. It's a waste. I've used Mobil 1 V-Twin which was fine. I know use Redline's motorcycle oil and it's been great too.


I use syn3 to break my engines in. Works fine. I have also run it with great success in my Sportster.

 

[Klotz1]

Try Klotz V-Twin 20w50, becoming very popular, this is my personal choice, I have tried all others and nothing compares. You can order it online from Dennis Kirk or strait from Klotz. You will not be disappointed. Good Luck.

 

[kballowe]

To the original poster:

Much of your choice depends on your riding style. Extended periods of idling, hard use, etc... and how many miles you go in a year, etc.

You cannot go wrong with the M1 V-Twin 20W-50 in both the engine and transmission - if you can find it for a good price.

I use a conventional 20W-50 and change it every 3k.

Do you have a picture of that bike?

Here's my last (of 3 )Sportster (now sold)
.
.

 

[JonfromCB]

Harley owners food for thought... One of the best and cheapest
things a Harley owner can do for their machine is add an
oil cooler. Having done this "Harley thing" for over 35 years
now I can personally attest to longer engine life, cooler
running, more power and much cleaner engine internals just
by adding a good cooler and thermostat. I have confidently
used Rotella T-syn @ 5K OCIs in "built" big twins with
no visocity/overheating issues....more than I can say
for many of my friends who buy oils that cost three times
as much, but just won't spring for a $300 oil cooler.

 

[kballowe]

Jon - do you have any UOA's running that 5W-40?

 

[JonfromCB]

Originally Posted By: kballowe
Jon - do you have any UOA's running that 5W-40?


No, sorry I don't have any.

 

[Norm Olt]

When I was riding my brother's 1972 1000cc Iron Head Kickstart ONLY Sportster through the Winter/Spring/Summer quarters my senior year I would have LOVED to have been able to use a MODERN dino 20W-50 SM oil (Chevron Supreme or Havoline or GTX, etc.) vs. the "PREMIUM" $tuff that was available in the early '70's!

With a '96 1200cc Custom in ARIZONA you are going to be concerned with high temp performance, not so much with cold start capabilities.

Cheers! & ENJOY!

 

[JonfromCB]

I agree with Norm, When it comes to Harleys, riding
climate is a very important consideration in choosing
an oil, as is type of riding and climate. Traffic/lower speeds
and warmer climates require higher visocity. The
older "Iron jugs and heads' also require higher
visocity than the twin cam motor which is much
tighter and doesn't warp and morph like the iron.

Honestly, not one of my last three twin cams used
oil between changes. If you want total piece of
mind, go with Redline (around $11/quart by case
delivered...they make the best primary lube for
HD IMO (no shock)), I also like the Mobil VTwinn
and Amsoil...all good if cost is no object and
you just don't want to have to think or worry
about it.

I like the Rotella because I do
lots of short trips less than 20 miles
with lots of engine starts(7 to 10/day) and its
got a very robust add/pack that is diesel and
gas rated. New HDs are not as "oil sensitive"
as many woild like to think....just look how many
are running very high miles on the HD synthetic...and
it's just not in the same league as any of the oils
named above...get my point? Pick a good oil, change
it at a resonable interval, don't abuse that interval
and you'll be fine.