You should let the engine get properly broken in before putting it syn oil. My engine builder told me; don't put that crap in my engine until you have 10,000 on it. I think that is a little over the top, I myself do not start puttingsyn oil in any engineuntil at it has atleast 3000 miles on it.

 

When synthetics first came out, all the car guys said not to switch to it until the engine was broken in. The excuse was always that the gaskets in the engine would not seat and seal well because the synthetic would "seep" through smaller spaces than dino oil.

I don't put a lot of stock in that theory because alot of new cars come with synthetic from the factory.

Based on my experieces, I have switched to either a syn/dino blend or full synthetic in everything I own with a motor in it. Never had any bad experiences, no leaks.

 

I went to synth at 5000 miles.

 

Just changed my oil this weekend at 6200 miles and put in Mobil 1 V Twin 20W50.

 

At 5500 I converted my 883 to a 1200, using dino oil with the change. After another change I asked my HD wrench if I should put in synth and he said to put 1500 on the new pistons, rings and cylinders before I switch. So I don't know the right answer is....

 

I read this article a while ago by an engineer who said synthetics really shine in adverse conditions. If you pull excessive weight, run in very hot weather or very cold weather, or do a lot of stop and go and short trips, synthetics take the abuse in stridemuch better than dino oil.

His opinion was if all your general motoring is not extreme dino oil is fine. Dino oiltoday ismuch better quality than30 yearsago!

That said, air cooled engines do have a rep for being hard (hot) on oil. I'd definitely use it in July/August or if you live in place that's hot all the time...or you are really hard core and ride in subfreezing temps!

Several folks have posted that they've ridden 10's of thousands of miles (one fellow said 130,000 miles) using synthetics almost exclusively w/no problems. I'm sold.

I'm going to go synthetic with my brand new Sportster first oil change.I'll stick to the less expensivebrands like Castrol or Mobil 1 though.

As for synthetics not letting engines break in...consider this: A professional mechanic once told me90% of all engine wear is in the first three minutes when you first start upbecause all the bearing surfaces and what not are bone dry...oil drained to bottom of engine thanks to gravity.

He rebuilt his own engines and said letting the engine idle for two minutes immediately after starting(so the oil would lube up everything before putting the engine under load)caused hisengines to last 30% longer before having to do a rebuild. While that was way back in the day...and engines are built much better nowdays...I still follow that practice.

Illustration: Rub your hands together real fast dry.Do it againwith oil on them...see thedifference? The forces on your engine are 100's of times that.

Bud

 

If I am not mistaken many cars and Harley CVO bikes come with synthetic from day one. Harley states that Syn 3 can be added on delivery of a new bike.

 

Now is the time to go synthetic.....

 

GM puts syn in new Vetts,Caddys. Benz does so does BMW. HD say's put theres in at any time. Guess it don't hurt brake in.