Harley Davidson Synthetic Oil
All these years Harley Davidson had been telling their customers not to use a
synthetic oil (because they did not have one of their own!), yet now they have
one with their name on the bottle, however when you look at the test data it
performs very poorly compared to the AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil and
allows for a wear scar of over 50% greater than AMSOIL. Here's the article:
Why Harley Owners Choose AMSOIL
Wear Test Comparison AMSOIL vs. Harley Screamin Eagle
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 Oils is best for the unique requirements of Harley-Davidson air-cooled
V-twin engines. However, laboratory testing has consistently revealed the
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 hear 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 Harley's.
The laboratory test results for ASTM D4172 Four-Ball Wear Test show the AMSOIL
20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil leaves a wear scar of 0.39 mm. The Harley
Davidson Screamin' Eagle 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil leaves a wear scar of
0.70 mm. That's over 50% larger than AMSOIL. The bottom line is that
AMSOIL will protect your engine from wear better than the Screamin' Eagle
Synthetic will.
The fact is, engine oil in Harley-Davidson motorcycle 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
lubrication qualities of the oil and increase 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 contaminates allowing motorcyclist to safely extend drain
intervals.
In support of their about-face and the introduction of synthetic oil, Harley
maintains, the Motor Company has never supported the use of synthetic products
in our vehicles because there has never been any test validation completed on
the numerous formulation 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 H/D 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 form, or makes it better than, many other
synthetic motorcycle oil formulation. 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 and oil that can be used in the engines, primary chain
cases and transmission 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-50W Synthetic Motorcycle Oil may
also be used in the engines. Primary chaincases and transmission of these
applications, providing superior lubrication protection in each component.
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 that AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic motorcycle Oil.
Not only does AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil offers greater wear protection
than Screamin Eagle Synthetic Motorcycle Oil, it also delivers greater value
Suggested retail price of Screamin Eagle is nearly $2 a quart higher than AMSOIL
20W-50 Motorcycle Oil. And because AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil may be used
for extended drain intervals, while Screamin Eagle is recommended for standard
drain intervals, AMSOIL customers realize additional savings.
Harley-Davidson claims Screamin Eagle Synthetic Motorcycle Oil has been
exclusively designed for use in their motorcycles, pointing to extensive bench
testing and over 230,000 miles of durability testing to back it up. AMSOIL
INC. has 30 years of experience providing superior lubrication protection for
all brands of motorcycles, and AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils have been tested
in millions of over-the-road miles. Testimonials from countless motorcyclists
further demonstrate the superiority of AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycles Oils.
Formulated with top-of-the-line synthetic base stocks and high-temperature
deposits control additives, AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils provide superior
protection and performance for motorcycles in all operating conditions. AMSOIL
Motorcycle Oils effectively withstand oxidation and thermal degradation, keep
wear to an absolute minimum, hold contaminants in suspension and keep engines
running cool and clean.
AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils
ˇReduce operating temperatures
ˇKeep engines clean and deposit-free
ˇProvides maximum protection against wear
ˇFormulated without friction modifiers for smooth performance
ˇSaves money with extended drain intervals of up to two times the manufacturers
recommendation