Mobil V Twin 20W-50 1999 HD 1450cc 2,155 mi

[White Fang]

Here is a UOA done by O.A.I on my HD Road King motorcycle. This oil was put in the tank one year ago,and a HD Premium oil filter installed. I ran the engine a bit to warm it up and then put it on the lift for the winter. It was taken out of storage on 4/14/03. I didn't get in as much riding this summer as I usually do so there are only 2,155 miles and 6 months on the oil. The bike has 21,646 mi on it. I have been using this oil for several years and the previous fill was the same oil as this. Oh, it has an oil cooler on it too.

Iron 12
Chromium 0
Lead 0
Copper 17
Tin 0
Aluminum 5
Nickel 0
Silver 0
Silicon 15
Boron 167
Sodium 6
Magnesium 692
Calcium 2647
Barium 0
Phosphorous 941
Zinc 1346
Moly 0
Titanium 0
Vanadium 0
Potassium 0
Fuel Visc@100C 17.00
Glycol NEG - I should hope so

Nitr 9.0
Oxid 10.0
TBN 9.63

The surprising thing to me is the absence of Moly. I thought all the Mobil Synthetics had it.
The lab said the "oil is suitable for continued use." Should I have left it in for another year?

 

[road_rascal]

If it was my bike I would change the oil before I put it away for the winter (that's what I do with my two bikes). I run Mobil 1 15w/50 in my Honda and Mobil Delvac 1300 15w/40 in my Kawasaki. I plan on having a UOA done on the Mobil 1 as soon as Blackstone sends me a kit. Your Road King takes about 3qts, right? Cheap and easy to change oil on a bike. Just my $.02

 

[doyall]

Wear numbers (iron & copper esp.) look about average on a ppm/mi basis, based on the last averages I saw from Blackstone, which I think were around 3,000 mile averages. (Maybe these motors don't care what kind of oil is run in them. We'll see ... I've got GTX HM 20w50 in mine now as an Auto-Rx flush. Planning on a UOA and change at 1,500 miles.) Zero lead is excellent! Mobil doesn't put moly in the V-Twin oil because apparently they think wet clutches on other makes of v-twin bikes with a shared engine/tranny sump can't handle it. (See this article http://www.fullthrottlewest.com/article.htm ) I wonder if M1 15w50 with moly might give as good or better wear numbers at half the price. I would have been hesitant to leave it in for lay-up and then run next season myself.

 

[White Fang]

Although the wear numbers are OK the additive package of Mobil V Twin was not real impressive. It makes me wonder why I should spend $8/qt instead of $5 for Mobil 1 15W-30. I probably will not use it again. On the other hand, who cares what the additive package is as long as the wear is OK.

 

[Jay]

Silicon seems high for so few miles. Are you using the stock air filter?

 

[White Fang]

Yeah, I noticed the silicon too. I am running the plain HD OEM filter. It seems like I get high silicon readings on my other vehicles too. I don't know why since I don't live in a real dusty area.

 

[userfriendly]

Why worry about additive levels?
After 2000 miles you have 90% of your additive package still intact.
Higher additive package contient= longer engine protection and oil service life, not better engine protection.
If you have no wet clutch, then its OK to use FM and other additives that increase the mechanical load carrying ability of an oil and reduce gear traction for easier shifting. Those oils may reduce the wear numbers by lubricating the engine and transmission better.

[ October 31, 2003, 10:19 PM: Message edited by: userfriendly ]

 

[White Fang]

Hey userfriendly, What's "FM"? I need something for my transmission. At the 20,000mi service the dealer put HD synthetic in the gears and the bike shifts worse than with the old semi synthetic. Harleys have always been known for rough shifting and I can live with it, but I would rather not.

 

[LVHospiceRN]

quote:

---

Originally posted by White Fang:
Hey userfriendly, What's "FM"? I need something for my transmission. At the 20,000mi service the dealer put HD synthetic in the gears and the bike shifts worse than with the old semi synthetic. Harleys have always been known for rough shifting and I can live with it, but I would rather not.

---

White Fang; I am running M1 75W-90 gear oil in my tranny and also not happy with the shifting. I want to change but not sure what to go with. What are your ideas?

 

[road_rascal]

After reading my previous reply and getting my report back from Blackstone, I'm not going to change the oil in my bike before parking it for the winter. I'm using LC and FP now and from what I've been told the LC will handle the oxidation so there's no need to change the oil. Here's the 6,000 mile report.

 

[Michael SR]

i wonder why harley engines shear the oil down. doesn't M1 20w-50 start with 20 at 100°C?

edit: i goofed, mobil's site says 17.7.

-michael