Yes or no, my buddy uses 20w50 Pennziol oil on his 05 883 for over 20,000 miles, still running strong. As long as the oil has the same SAE rating, you should be just fine. If you are in the middle of the desert, would you choose not to add oil or add car engine oil? You have the answer

 

For what it's worth....the owners manual says to use a Heavy Service Diesel motor oil in this type of situation. I know very little about motor oil, so I dunno. And I doubt that Saveway would have the Diesel motor oil. Certainly better to run car oil, than no oil. That's for sure!

 

FYI - the desiel designation will be noted on the back of the can by the letters "CF". Many better auto oils carry this designation.

 

I disagree. I know lots of people that use a "car" oil, some dino, some synth. None of them have ever had a oil related failure.

My Ironhead has had nothing but Pennzoil dino 20w-50 put in it for the past 30 years. No problems due to oil type ever.

 

you realy only need motorcycle specific oil if it also does the clutch, which out Big Twins do not. So no biggie