2000 Buell X1, VR-1 20W-50 conv, prev SYN3

[jm1na]

18,367 unknown oil
19,305 SYN3 HD filter (I think these are Wix 51215)
20,089 SYN3 HD filter (short oil run because replaced oil lines)
22,103 SYN3 Wix 51214 (same as Wix 51215 but a little longer)
24,061 SYN3 Wix 51214 (1 quart make up oil added)
26,957 Valvoline VR-1 conventional 20W-50, Wix 51214

At 21,916 adjusted primary chain from 1/2" to 3/4" play.

I wonder why the VR-1 is thinner. Both VR-1 and SYN3 are SUS of 98 on VOAs.

These use a Sportster motor with a lighter flywheel, higher flowing heads and cams, higher compression pistons and fuel injection. K&N air filter.
They develop their power at higher RPM, but I think the wear should be pretty similar to a regular Sportster if it's driven sanely, which I do most of the time.

 

[ammolab]

I use VR-1 in my BMW and it goes 5000 miles with excellent reports from Blackstone. Yours looks good too!

 

[tomcat27]

my Buell loved VR1.

 

[jm1na]

19,305 SYN3 HD filter (I think these are Wix 51215)
20,089 SYN3 HD filter (short oil run because replaced oil lines)
22,103 SYN3 Wix 51214 (same as Wix 51215 but a little longer)
24,061 SYN3 Wix 51214 (1 quart make up oil added)
26,957 Valvoline VR1 conventional 20W-50, Wix 51214
29,203 Valvoline VR1 conventional 20W-50, Wix 51214

The VR1 is even thinner on this run with only 10% more miles. It doesn't seem to be this thin on other UOAs that I've seen. It was used during cool weather (40s-60s) and mostly commuting 15 miles, but they didn't detect a lot of fuel dilution.
These have higher lift cams and lighter flywheels than regular Sportsters, maybe that beats up the oil more. I think that's why they have higher copper.

 

[jm1na]

Below are notes to reflect possible fuel dilution. I track my mileage so can get a pretty good idea of when I've taken long rides. I haven't taken very many on the last two oil runs, though I did ride about a 100 miles on the highway a week before the last oil change.

19,305 SYN3, HD filter
20,089 SYN3, HD filter
22,103 SYN3, Wix 51214 (ECU tuned on dyno - I think 12.4 across the board @ 22.8k)
24,061 SYN3, Wix 51214 (most riding through this oil run are weekend riding, many are 3-4 hours)
26,957 VR1 20W-50 conv, Wix 51214 (daytime rush hour commuting, 14 miles lots of traffic 35-50 min.)
29,203 VR1 20W-50 conv, Wix 51214 (swing shift commuting, 14-17 miles no traffic 20-30 min.)

I now think it must be fuel dilution and not shearing. The oil had a hint of fuel smell but it seemed about normal to me, I guess not.

 

[DoubleWasp]

VR1 has been one of the most shear proof oils I've ever used, so I believe the dilution too.