I talked to a Kendall rep today (supposed to have been a tech but she sounded like she'd have been more at home behind the jewelry counter at Walmart than where I found her).
Nonetheless...
She said that Kendall GT-1, being an SL rated 20W50, was not compatible with Harley Davidson's recommended oils. She said that Harley specified that a particular friction modifier present in SL rated oils was not compatible with their engines.
"Moly?" I asked.
"No, not moly. There are more friction modifiers than moly out there."
"Zinc? Phosphorous?"
"Zinc and phosphorous aren't friction modifiers," she informed me.
"So what is the FM that Harley doesn't want?" I asked.
She got silent for a few seconds, seeming perturbed at my persistent questioning. "Harley Davidson doesn't mention what the FM actually is," she finally said.
"So it could be moly then, right?" I persisted.
She didn't answer, and seemed to be getting ticked. I moved the conversation in another direction.
"Is Kendall GT-1 a group I or a group II oil?"
"That's propreitary," she said.
"That means group I," I told her. "If it was group II you'd want to brag about that." I laughed, but she didn't.
I thanked her for her efforts (I called it trouble) and hung up the phone.
I still can't imagine what Harley Davidson would consider to be wrong with an SL rated 20w50. It's possible they're talking down moly for the instances where the oil was going to be put in the primary, or used in a Sportster type set-up. I do think it's probably moly that Harley is cautioning against; I just think the Kendall gal didn't know for sure, and in the process of not trying to sound stupid, well, sounded stupid.
Do you think there is anything wrong with an SL rated 20W50 dino oil in a Harley? I'm guessing not, as the Mobil 1 has worked well for me in the past. (And I'm hoping not, too, since I've just purchased a case of Havoline 20W50 at Advance for 12.96 after rebate)
...
I wonder if Harley is just trying to thin down the herd of options for us so that we'll end up having to purchase their "360" oil?
Dan
Nonetheless...
She said that Kendall GT-1, being an SL rated 20W50, was not compatible with Harley Davidson's recommended oils. She said that Harley specified that a particular friction modifier present in SL rated oils was not compatible with their engines.
"Moly?" I asked.
"No, not moly. There are more friction modifiers than moly out there."
"Zinc? Phosphorous?"
"Zinc and phosphorous aren't friction modifiers," she informed me.
"So what is the FM that Harley doesn't want?" I asked.
She got silent for a few seconds, seeming perturbed at my persistent questioning. "Harley Davidson doesn't mention what the FM actually is," she finally said.
"So it could be moly then, right?" I persisted.
She didn't answer, and seemed to be getting ticked. I moved the conversation in another direction.
"Is Kendall GT-1 a group I or a group II oil?"
"That's propreitary," she said.
"That means group I," I told her. "If it was group II you'd want to brag about that." I laughed, but she didn't.
I thanked her for her efforts (I called it trouble) and hung up the phone.
I still can't imagine what Harley Davidson would consider to be wrong with an SL rated 20w50. It's possible they're talking down moly for the instances where the oil was going to be put in the primary, or used in a Sportster type set-up. I do think it's probably moly that Harley is cautioning against; I just think the Kendall gal didn't know for sure, and in the process of not trying to sound stupid, well, sounded stupid.
Do you think there is anything wrong with an SL rated 20W50 dino oil in a Harley? I'm guessing not, as the Mobil 1 has worked well for me in the past. (And I'm hoping not, too, since I've just purchased a case of Havoline 20W50 at Advance for 12.96 after rebate)
I wonder if Harley is just trying to thin down the herd of options for us so that we'll end up having to purchase their "360" oil?
Dan