Harley-Davidson Shifts Gears on Synthetic Motorcycle Oil




Harley-Davidson Shifts Gears on Synthetic Motorcycle Oil


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The recent introduction of Screamin' Eagle® Synthetic Lubricant by Harley-Davidson® indicates the Motor Company has finally recognized the benefits of running synthetic motorcycle oil in their air-cooled engines. After years of advising dealers and customers to avoid using synthetic oils in their bikes, it's natural to wonder why the company is suddenly marketing one.
For the past 20 years, Harley-Davidson® has claimed its petroleum-based Genuine H-D Oil is best for the "unique requirements of Harley-Davidson® air-cooled V-twin engines." However, laboratory testing has consistently revealed that Genuine H-D Oil does not provide the best protection possible for Harley-Davidson® engines. In fact, Four-Ball Wear Tests show Harley-Davidson® 20W--50 Motorcycle Oil leaves a wear scar over 50 percent larger than that left by AMSOIL Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil.

One of the major benefits of running a synthetic motorcycle oil is its resistance to oxidation and thermal degradation, which inhibit the formation of sludge and deposits that contribute to increased wear. In the past, Harley-Davidson® has defended use of its Genuine H-D Oil by arguing that oil breakdown in extreme heat is a non-issue because extreme heat conditions are not normally faced by motorcycle engines, while the superior cold-temperature benefits of synthetics also don't apply to Harleys.

The fact is, engine oil in Harley-Davidson® motorcycles is subject to very high temperatures. Being air-cooled, Harley-Davidson® engines get especially hot while idling in traffic, commonly reaching temperatures up to 240 degrees Fahrenheit. As heat and oxidation increase, so does viscosity, adversely affecting the lubricating qualities of the oil and increasing wear.

The water, soot and acid byproducts of combustion also contribute to deposit formation. Harley-Davidson® has stressed the importance of regular oil changes in order to remove these contaminants. Of course, promoting regular oil changes is also a good way to promote using petroleum-based Genuine H-D Oil. High-quality synthetic oils formulated with high-performance additives effectively withstand such contaminants, allowing motorcyclists to safely extend drain intervals.

In support of their about-face and the introduction of a synthetic oil, Harley maintains that "the Motor Company has never supported the use of synthetic products in our vehicles because there has never been any test validations completed on the numerous formulations in HD/Buell motorcycles. This product has been exclusively designed for Harley-Davidson® and is the only synthetic product TESTED and CERTIFIED by Harley-Davidson® engineering for use in HD/Buell motorcycles."

Although this is necessary marketing hype, Harley-Davidson ® V--twin air-cooled engines are not unique in their lubrication requirements and do not require a special Harley-only fluid. There is nothing about Screamin' Eagle ® Synthetic Motorcycle Oil that sets it apart from, or makes it better than, many other synthetic motorcycle oil formulations, except that Harley-Davidson® is marketing it and directly profiting from the sales.

According to Harley-Davidson®, one of the unique benefits offered by Screamin' Eagle® Synthetic Motorcycle Oil is its versatility. For the first time the company is recommending an oil that can be used in the engines, primary chaincases and transmissions of most Harley-Davidson® motorcycles, including Evolution XL, Evolution 1340, Twin Cam 88 and 88B, Revolution and Buell models. This feature, however, is not unique. AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil may also be used in the engines, primary chaincases and transmissions of these applications, providing superior lubricating protection in each component.


The Four-Ball Wear Test is the industry’s standard test method for measuring the wear preventive characteristics of a lubricant. Placed in a bath of the test lubricant, three fixed steel balls are put into contact with a fourth ball in rotating contact at preset test conditions. Lubricant wear protection properties are measured by comparing the average wear scars on the three fixed balls. The smaller the average wear scar, the better the protection.

How does Screamin' Eagle® Synthetic Motorcycle Oil measure up to AMSOIL in wear protection? Four-Ball Wear Test results indicate that AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil still provides the best protection possible for motorcycles. In fact, Screamin' Eagle® Synthetic Motorcycle Oil leaves a wear scar nearly 80 percent larger than AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil.

Everthing you need to know about motorcycle oils

http://www.smartsynthetics.com/pdf/study_of_motorcycle_oils.pdf

Sounds like Amsoil putting the brakes on more of HD's marketing BS.

That was a very informative series of tests and would allow anyone to make up there own mind as to the oil they use in there bikes.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
The original owner of my Star ran nothing but AMSOIL synthetic.
I hope to see Erbman's 125K odometer and more.

Amsoil mcv & mobil 1 v-twin both full syn in 20-50 are among the best oils avail for the R*.

Theres a very extensive motorcycle oil test done by amsoil on thier site that shows just how superior thiers & also Mobil 1's syn bike oils are to just about all other oil of same claass/type/application.

I have posted the link to that website many times here RSC but nobody seemd interetsed in reading it and not 1 person commented as readfing it or as having any opinion on it post reading it either.

But its the best oil testing by far i have ever seen in the past 4-5 yrsz i have been reserarcing the oil/zddp issues when it comes to ft cams,its very worthwhile reading and is written so anyone can understand the results so you dont have to be a degree'd engineer to undertsand it.

Go to the motorcycle oil section of the amsoil site to chk it out,mobile 1 v-twin perf for all intensive purposes just about as good as the amsoil did and amsoil showed that fact not holding back that info,honest test IMHO.

Scott

I know very little about oil technicalities, but as a layman I have enough sense to know that Harley D. Yamaha,and all Motorcycle companies do not make oil!! they buy from major oil companies and have their name put on container....I also do not beleive they put in their "secret additives" the only additive is a couple of dollars on price of oil??!!! compared to oil companies price....I went this route when running big outboard motors..TC-W3 two stroke oil came out...mercury said use Quicksilver oil only....Yamaha said Yamalube only...and of course they cost more than oil company TC-W3....

Just my MHO. Folks....

oldbritgit wrote:
I know very little about oil technicalities, but as a layman I have enough sense to know that Harley D. Yamaha,and all Motorcycle companies do not make oil!! they buy from major oil companies and have their name put on container....I also do not beleive they put in their "secret additives" the only additive is a couple of dollars on price of oil??!!! compared to oil companies price....I went this route when running big outboard motors..TC-W3 two stroke oil came out...mercury said use Quicksilver oil only....Yamaha said Yamalube only...and of course they cost more than oil company TC-W3....

Just my MHO. Folks....
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Again,the point is being missed that in the case of bike oils the zddp lvl required for the R* ft camd motor is not present in most pass car/truck oils not to mention the fric mods that are in most all multi grade oils mfg'd today that aren't so wet clutch friendly either.

Thats the diff between the bike and std pass car/truck oil so yes there is a difference between the oils in this case of bike specific vs pass cart/truck oil in most cases but not all.

Scott

That is an article written by Amsoil right off the Amsoil page. It does contain a lot of word for word information off the HD annoucement. I don't know the exact date, but HD came out with its syn 5 or 6 years ago to the best of knowledge. So Amsoil is still using it in their marketing. I think it is pretty standard for the large bike companies, car companies and so on to promote their own brands. Its a business. I am sure Amsoil is a fine product, as is Mobil as are many others. I can not say that I experienced any benefit changing my Roadstar or my HD to synthetic oil. It did not make them run quieter or make a difference in the heat that I could feel. That being said I still made the switch like everyone else and will probably do it again on my next bike. I do believe it makes a some difference in the wear and certainly in the cleanliness of the engine. Don't you love the oil debates? anyone remember when the last time was they heard of any machine going down because of an oil of any type failing? I have heard of people running things dry..but not the oil failing. JMO

Scotty, my "point" was comparing oil company brand name V-TWIN motorcycle oil to high priced motorcycle company "special oil" products....No mention of car/truck oil with less ZDDP etc:
and I have read your "excellent" articles on the virtues of Amsol M/C oil and have become a firm beleiver in ZDDPs etc: