The bike I have now (04 FLHTCI) is the first bike I have ever had with synthetic oil in it. I am doing my own maintenance and I am not sure about the oil filter. Is the filter the same as the regular oil filter or is there a different one for synthetic? Also how do I know if it has synthetic in all three holes? Is there a way to tell?

 

same filter ......when you drain out the old,,, either oil can be put back in.

 

There is no real way for someone without a labratory tell if it's synthetic or not.
When switching to syn from petro oil I usually just do 2 quick oil changes, that way 99% of the petro oil is removed.

 

Not to steal the thred.. How many of you all use synth-3? My last bike I had it and can't decide if I want to put this one on it.

 

Yep, I'm still using syn-3. I have 47000 on my bike and I'll probably won't change. HD had a write up on their syn-3 oil, You change at, 5000 miles on engine oil 10,000 on primary oil and 20,000 on trans.

I won't do that, I've been changing all three at 5000 miles.

 

I just started using synth-3 at 20,000km so I don't need to change the oil every 4000km.

 

2 cyl. motor needs oil changed at least evry 3,000 miles

 

So it's worth it to change my new scoot to syn-3

 

I like it, if I'm on a road trip and I need any oil for any of the holes. I can always find a Harley dealer. I do bring one quart with me on my road trips and I share it with anyone that is using syn-3.