Someone Straighten Me Out-What Mobil 1 NOW for my ancient V-Twin?

[bmwtechguy]

quote:

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Originally posted by pococj:
Darrell, the friction modifier and no VI aspect of the V-Twin version comes into play 'cause HD is saying it's OK to use their Syn 3 in the tranny and gear box, and many of the other oil people are jumping on the bandwagon. I've heard too many horror stories from both riders and techs about tranny problems that started after the rider switched to the 20w-50.

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So are you saying it is a really bad idea to go with 20w50 in the transmission? I just changed out all three fluids in my 99 Fat Boy to the Amsoil MC 20w50. What kind of bad things have happened? Both Harley and Amsoil recommend this as the way to go. So far it is shifting fine.

 

[fuel tanker man]

The Amsoil kicks arse. You're all set. Nothing to worry about there...

The Harley Syn3 stuff is the only lube that is rumored--and that's rumored mind you--to cause tranny problems.

A 20W50 engine oil has pretty much the same viscosity as a 75W90 gear oil (see the visosity chart at BITOG HQ).


Dan

 

[hk33ka1]

I too have heard the rumours of the Syn3 20W50 causing tranny problems. I have only heard this on the net and not from any of the local dealers.

Then again the rumour used to be all synthetics made roller bearings slide and lifters collapse and clutches slip.

For now I will stick with gear oil in the gearbox and let the other guys test the motor oil out. The viscosity is not my concern but the additives and their suitabilty for gears is. I had this concern before the trouble rumours started.

In my newer HD:
Amsoil AMV 20W50 in the TwinCamB
Amsoil AMF 10W40 in the Primary
Amsoil S2000 75W90 in Tranny

I will likely throw the Syn 3 I have lying around in the 84 and see if it leaks.

 

[rokky]

To answer the original question.

Why take a chance on oil that contains moly or any friction modifiers?
Mobil never recommended 15/50 redcap for bikes let alone the new gold cap formula. Although many, many motorcyclists used redcap.

I was going to use redcap in my bikes but the new formula squashed that idea.

I'm sticking to oils that are Jaso Ma rated and/or Allison C4 rated (some diesil oils).

 

[Mackelroy]

((I spent the day in Longview, TX and surrounding area trying to find some V-Twin with no luck.)))

Man I've been Jinx! went to get some mx4t at autozone (none). Drove to another store 20 miles they had VTwin but no 10w40. Then drove through violent thunder storm and on the way to 3rd auto zone, my 10w40 mx4t was found.

That was a little much IMO >G<

 

[hotroadking]

Interesting I went to several locations today and no red cap, I did pick up some Gold Extended for the motor only, I guess it would be great if we had an analysis of the oils content relative to V-twin to make a good decision.

I don't see how the small amount of additional modifiers in the v-twin and the nice label on the bottle constitute a double of price over the motor oil for the automotive market, Personally I think it's lower distribution numbers and marketing costs that we're paying for over protection.

The rating for the new Gold Cap from Mobil1 Site is:

Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15W-50 meets the following industry approvals:

* ACEA A3, B3/B4
* API SL
* It also meets the requirements for diesel powered vehicles where an API CF or CD oil is recommended.

So would these meet the HD requirements. I'm out of warranty anyway but more interested in the oils ability to work in the environment, and at $4 a qt at Target it's a bargin compared to V-twin or HD Syn3.

 

[fuel tanker man]

The new 15W50 will probably be just fine. It's got almost double the moly in it (according to the Mobil tech I spoke to) but you're not worried about clutch trouble anyway...

Here's a link to a thread I started on another forum. You might be interested in some of what's there.

http://harleychatgroup.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=6026&start=0

Dan

 

[LVHospiceRN]

Read the Analysis from Butler in this same thread..just upon initial observation, it appears 15W-50 and the 20W-50 V-Twin are VERY simular...

Can you say, "Marketing Ploy"?

darrell
sin city

 

[Reg# 43897]

You're right-on there. I would be VERY surprised to see much difference between these two Mobil products. Mobil simply narrows the multigrade spread on the bike oil and runs it through the JASO-MA specification process. Then they raise the price point up by 50% accordingly. Well, I ain't paying!

John.

 

[rokky]

Strange. Redcap seems to be disappearing in the States but not in Canada.

I see fresh stock of Redcap in the local stores.

One large retail chain manager knows nothing of Redcap being replaced by the new Goldcap stuff. They normally get 6 months notice of a discontinuation.

 

[Reg# 43897]

Likely gonna be a while here before the stock gets changed over, I guess. On another note, I see Can. Tire is now carrying Mobil 1 V-Twin 20w-50 for, get this, $12.99 a litre (I'm assuming that it's a litre - better be a litre for the bloody cost of it).

I still am wondering about 0w-40 XD-3...

John.