After searching through back threads, it seems that oil change threads have been done to death. But, seriously, as i was looking through them allI saw alot of good information and advice. However, not once did I see why I should switch to synthetic oil, just that's it's a good idea. So, here we go, can somebody, anybody tell me why I should spend almost 2-3 times as much for the synthetic? I'll be at the 1000 mile mark this thursday, as long as the weather stays nice like the nice weather man says, and I'm trying to decide what to do.

There are hundreds of threads on oil type. In fact I just posted on one today. I think it comes down to personal opinion. Both will lub your engine, but the many seem to think it is not a good idea in the tranny. I just switched back from Syn-3 to dino and everything runs sounds the same. Again my opinion.

Heat.
Syn's reduce friction, which in turn reduces heat. Your talking about three quarts of oil - not a huge investment IMHO....

Switched to synthetic a few years ago. Won't carbon up, extremely proficient detergent, won't break down under heat, lower friction ergo lower heat. Need I say more? Oh, and you can go longer between changes.

as stated, synthetic runs a bit cooler.
Any thing you can do to help an AIR cooled engine run cooler-it is worth it.

Thermal (extreme heat) breakdown much less likely, less friction, less oil consumption, & starts flowing quicker in cold weather. My dealer recommends waiting until approx. 2500 miles before switching to syn. :banana

Synthetic is advertised as having, I suppose it would be called, "optimized, uniform molecule size", so that there are no molecules that are small enough to slip past the rings, as is the case with dino. This probably would be of more importance to higher mileage engines.

Also, FWIW, as I've posted before, and you can find this on HD's website, the '06 SE E-Glide comes with with synthetic in all three holes, from the factory.

To me i like to use it for one reason most of engine wear happens on start up. Synthetic oil flows faster all over the engine to lube. Even more so in the winter when its cold. Plus it makes most engines run cooler, some up to 20 degrees. Thats like having a oil cooler. Another plus is i like it in the trans too, makes mine shift smoother. One more reason synthetic does'nt break down near as fast. So longer protection!

Lots of opinions on this topic, IMO my scoot runs quieter, shifts quieter and smoother, and after you run syn in your bike or your car you will see that it stays cleaner longer. Just dont spill it on stuff because it it seems like its a lot harder to wipe off, super slik.
Expensive? cheap insurance.

Have fun. :tour

:smoke ....so what about us Ironheads???????? Some say do it..others say NO Way!
We get HOT too. :banadanc

The reason why I switched to Synthetic is due to a video I saw from Amsoil. Someone that owned a Semi switched over to Amsoil shortly after their first oil change and ran that in their truck for 700,000+ miles. Yes, the number is correct. Due to the "high mileage" that the truck had, he took it to a dealer and traded it in on a new semi. The dealer then did it's normal process with vehicles of that high of mileage and rebuilt the motor. During the teardown process the shop started to regret tearing into the engine because it looked brand new inside. I think the crosshatch pattern was still visable in the cylinder walls! They cleaned the parts up, replaced the gaskets and reassembled the motor as it was. Nothing in the engine showed any serious wear and was all within tolerances.

Cool! i found a link to that story I told above!

http://www.synthetic-solutions.com/gray.htm

Since other people have covered the advantages, I will comment on the economics. Yes Synthetic oil costs twice as much, but you can wait twice as long to change it. For example, Amsoil says you can triple the specificed change intervals. So if Harley says change every 5K mi. then you can change every 15,000 miles. Even if you play it safe and change every 2500 miles, then you can change the synthetic every 7500 miles. If you really want to play it safe then you can change it every 5000 miles instead of 2500 miles. Around here I can get amsoil v-twin for 6.95/quart while Harley dino is something like 3.95/quart. If you only decide to double the change intervals instead of tripling them, then you aren't losing any money and gaining the benefits others listed.

:smoke ....so what about us Ironheads???????? Some say do it..others say NO Way!
We get HOT too. :banadanc

Hey Bikerdude here you go,

Amsoil Harley Application Chart (http://www.amsoil.com/lit/harley_davidson_TSB.pdf)

Even if you don't go Amsoil, you should be able to compare their products and recommendations to other brands you have available locally.

:tour :tour :tour

I wish we could get that here in Okinawa, that Oil just flat out Rocks! :wonderlan

Starbuck,
You can get AMSOIL synth @ Typhoon motors on Camp Foster. It is $7.15 a quart.

John

Starbuck,
You can get AMSOIL synth @ Typhoon motors on Camp Foster. It is $7.15 a quart.

John

Thanks bro, Did you make it out to the Biketoberfest we had a blast.

No I didn't find out until it was too late. There is a bkie show @ keadena this weekend R u going to go.

John

I wish we could get that here in Okinawa, that Oil just flat out Rocks! :wonderlan

Have you checked w/ Amsoil, or w/ a dealer to see what it would cost to get it shipped directly to you? (that's if you go through enough to justify buying it a case or two at a time)

No I didn't find out until it was too late. There is a bkie show @ keadena this weekend R u going to go.

John

I'll be there. We donated the left over frozen food to the Harley guys, they had a V-Rod display and gave away a key that might start a bike. Sindbad from the Rough Riders won it. You missed a good strip show on the stage. Man we had a blast.

Anyway if anything else pops up I'll P.M you and let you know.

Have you checked w/ Amsoil, or w/ a dealer to see what it would cost to get it shipped directly to you? (that's if you go through enough to justify buying it a case or two at a time)

I wouldn't use it enough but thanks for the tip I will let some of the shop owners on the Island know though. :)