what oil should i use?

[sledhead007]

and does anyone use lucas oil products? like oil stabilizer?

 

[McMurphy]

I just use Harley Synthetic for now. Next oil change I'll probably try Mobil1 Synthetic or Royal Purple. Heard a lot of good things on both.

 

[jkf12982]

Mobil 1 Full Syenthetic 20w-50 for 2-cylinder Air Cooled motorcycles. You can find it at any Advance Auto Parts (where I get mine) for $10/qt. They also have the Mobil 1 oil filter if you are so inclined to change that as well (please do....), it's filter M-103

 

[sledhead007]

oh i have like 25 carquest oilfilters i got for free, i was wongering if someone could pm me about the primary, i took off the cover and i cant tell if its low or not i just had hd to an oil change 2k miles ago and i think is a little low but i dont have an owners manual

 

[Applepooh]

mobile 1 synthetic 20w-50 allday!! both holes.

 

[sledhead007]

 

[sledhead007]

its very hard to see but the oil is at the middle of the chain on the bottom, im thinking im just hearing the vrod noises but where should the levels be?

 

[user_deleted]

any dedicated cycle 20-50 synthetic is great. no car oil

 

[Redgreen]

Ok, why no car oil?? I understand not with a wet clutch, but an engine is an engine. Don't we want the VI and FM additives?

 

[user_deleted]

redgreen: IMO additives for oils are nothing more than snake oil. some folks swear by them but modern lubricants are so good now i personally don't see a need for additives. regarding car oils in H-D products and Buells, i've known alot of guys who have run car oils such as castrol gtx in their v-twin motors for years with no problems whatsoever. the primary/trans on a buell is a different story requiring a different lubricant with an entirely different additive package. primary/trans oils such as motul, bel-ray, amsoil, silkolene have a totally different additive package such as modifiers for sheer resistance, friction modifiers to add longevity to the clutch pack, things of that nature. our buell motors run pretty damn hot especially in the summer so alot of guys on here use full synthetic 20-50 in the motors including myself.

 

[konarider94]

^ what he said.

In addition additives are not only not needed, but not recommended from most manufactures. Engine oil is an engineered lubricant, additives modify their properties. I cant say for better or worse but it does change them.

To say they run hot is true. Keep in mind our bikes are air-cooled(technically you might say oil cooled but im just illustrating there are no cooling jackets in the cylinder) and the v-twin oils we are using are designed for that in mind. Car oil will not be designed for the temperatures seen in an air cooled engine.

 

[dmp0001]

I can't argue with this:

 

[Redgreen]

Sorry guys, the additives I was referring to are already in the oil. Viscosity Improvers and Friction Modifiers. I believe motorcycle oil that works with a clutch doesn't have the FM.. I would think any good oil, redline car not cycle, would be better in the engine than the "best" motorcycle oil that also has to work with the clutch. Wouldn't you think an oil that has to work in both holes is a major compromise for the engine?