[SPORSTERBOY]

What's The Difference Between Regular Oil? Are There Advantages For Either? Just Wondering, I Still Got The Pcmp Till 35,000.

[Sleepy]

just a quick reply before someone with more on the ball responds. I like synthetic. I work the bike pretty hard, I don't run an oil cooler and I pull a trailer. The weather can get pretty hot your way in the summer..from what I remember ...and you can get some fluctuations in temperatures. I just think that synthetic is better suited to an air cooled engine...just my opinion tho.

[kamakazi]

Originally Posted by SPORSTERBOY

What's The Difference Between Regular Oil? Are There Advantages For Either? Just Wondering, I Still Got The Pcmp Till 35,000.

Synthetic does not break down as early as dino oil, (lubrication properties when heat becomes a factor). That's the jest of it...

[SPORSTERBOY]

If Synthetic Is Better For Air Cooled Engines, Why Wouldn't Hd Use It As A Standerd Thing. Are They Just Stuck In Old Ways, Or Just To Cheap? Maybe They Just Don't Care?

[Tumshie]

I use Syn 20/50 in my Sporty, in both holes. I use it because it runs cooler, and protects better overall. It will cost you more there is no doubt about that. It would also cost MoCo more as well if they used it as standard. Corbin and Mustang seats are better for your ass, but MoCo doesn't include those either. I guess the real question and answer is; Do you need it? No. For me it is peace of mind, and hopefullly I will get a few extra miles out of it before I need to do the top end, and hopefully never have to do the bottom end. One thing I have noticed is that there is a little more click from the lifters with synth. It always looks good and clean, and I have never had a ping. Shifts very good, and starts better cold. It does take a little longer to warm up. I run a slip on cooler for the filter as well.

[mad max]

syn oil has a grater resistance to heat versus crude oil blends. also syn oils have added properties to help protect your bike from sludge oxidation ect. its more costly than crude but can take more heat. crude starts to fail at approx 275deg f.- syn begins to fail at nearly 300deg. f ,you decide which you rather have ????????

[kamakazi]

Originally Posted by SPORSTERBOY

If Synthetic Is Better For Air Cooled Engines, Why Wouldn't Hd Use It As A Standerd Thing. Are They Just Stuck In Old Ways, Or Just To Cheap? Maybe They Just Don't Care?

Dino oil has evolved quite a bit since the good ol'days. It is cheaper to make than synthetic and if you properly follow your manual, you will acheive the protection needed to suffice the needs of the manufacturer. Most manufacturers would love to have you use synthetic based oils, but it is not practical, since the costs are high when you can get the protection within specifications given by the manufacturer using dino oil. The product you have purchased is already high enough. That's the great thing about a democratic society, you have the ability to choose your personal preferences. I myself, chose synthetic, I change oil every 5,000 miles but have no fear about the oil breaking down it's viscosity when I ride it hard or when the weather gets hot. It's one less thing for me to worry about. Hope this helps you out. by the way, when an oil bottle states synthetic, it doesn't neccessarily mean your getting 100% synthetic oil, most synthetic oils are "mixed" base stocks which base III is the higher of them which compares very, very closely to pure synthetics but is much, much cheaper to make... Mobil one is just that, it uses base III stocks while Amsoil is pure 100%, but much, much more expensive...

[Tim Vipond]

Originally Posted by SPORSTERBOY

If Synthetic Is Better For Air Cooled Engines, Why Wouldn't Hd Use It As A Standerd Thing. Are They Just Stuck In Old Ways, Or Just To Cheap? Maybe They Just Don't Care?

Actually the Harley Syn3 is pretty much the standard factory fill for Harley for the past year or so. However it is a group III highly refined petroleum oil that is legally allowed to be called synthetic. I believe either Sunoco or Conoco makes it for Harley in California, so it might be using foreign crude oil. Many vehicle manufacturers bid out the price of their oil with minimum specifications and probably go with the lowest bidder. Also, I think vehicle manufacturers do not recommend the best oils because of price and they don't want their vehicles to last for ever as they want to sell more vehicles. I think this is why the Syn3 does not test well and why people notice improvements when they upgrade to synthetic oils like AMSOIL, Redline, Mobil1 and Royal Purple who probably take more pride in making better synthetic oils that surpass minimum specifications.