I would like to honestly know what engineering science states about the recommended milage that can be driven before needing to change the synthetic oil in my Sportster 1200. I have been lead to believe that the oil changes would be less frequent than organic engine oil due to synthetic not breaking down as fast. My owners manual shows that oil changes are recommended every 5000 miles; but this does not allow for the upgrade of synthetic oil being used as the lubricant. I would appreciate all of your experienced responses to help in clearing up the chatter....Thank you and Happy Riding!!!!!!

 

You can change anytime after 1000 miles. Some new vehicles come from the factory with syn already installed, but these are late model, close tolerance, high tech, motors, and your Harley is not.

 

Most will double the frequency of changes when using synthetic. Keep in mind the quality of filter used plays a role in service. Also, if your putting your bike away for the season, you should change the oil before doing so as old oil can be contaminated with acidic by-products. Something you don't want your innards marinating in over the winter.

 

I change my synoil and filter every 3000. miles on everything I own.
Car/Truck/Motorcycle. It's cheap insurance. Don't go cheap on oil filters.
I also found you get pretty familar with your equipment, and sometimes you will spot something wrong. This is a good time to inspect your bike really well. Plus the more time you spend in the garage, the less time you spend listening to the ole lady bitch.

 

I change my Mobil 1 syn. every 5k like the manual states

 

You could probably run the synthetic out to 10,000mi but that seems like a long time for oil to be in a bike (even if you ride a lot). I'd say 7,000mi or 1 full riding season, whichever comes first. Personally, if I were going to stretch my oil change intervals that far I would buy 2 filters and change just the filter at the 1/2 way point (3500mi). The oil may still be perfectly good but filters can clog up long before that.

Also, stay away from Fram filters; VERY cheap construction. I wouldn't trust one on my lawn mower after what I've seen. I've personally taken them apart to check them out and it aint pretty in there (cardboard endcaps on the filter media, signficantly less filter media than others, cheap plastic pressure releases that leak, poor anti-drainback seal). The Hiflo filtro filters are surprisingly well made inside despite a rather cheap sounding name (it's what my local Indy keeps in stock so I gave it a try). I wouldn't hesitate to use them again. Can't speak for the other as I haven't checked them out. I'm currently using a Wix. I know their car filters are good quality and the bike filter was priced right so I tried it.

If you really want to get **** about it you can ship in a sample of your old oil here: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/ and they'll run an analysis of it that'll tell you if you went too far or if there's still some life in it. Only costs like $25 so it's not expensive either.

Gbav1: 3000mi changes on synthetic??? You're wasting a lot of money throwing out perfectly good oil. Sythetic oil can EASILY go 3-4 times that far in a modern car/truck. Heck, Dino oil can go 2x that any more. On older vehicles (20+ years) it's a little more necessary to change it at 3-5000mi but newer ones it's a waste of money to change before 5000 at the earliest w/ synthetics. I would change filters at 3-5000 but the oil can ride it out a bit longer w/o hurting a thing or making the engine wear out any faster. I currently have 170,000mi and counting on my daily driver and I've never change the oil before 5000mi on it. It still runs fine and doesn't use a drop. Whatever gives you the warm fuzzys though. Gotta keep those poor starving oil companies in business, I guess.

 

Yes, twice the mileage (10,000 miles) is likely overkill, since you get lots less wear and oil breakdown with good synthetic.

Also remember, VERY few people keep a bike or car till it would wear the motor out.

How many people are going to keep a vehicle till its worn out the motor?
On the Harley, that would be what, 20 years and 100,000 miles?

The only thing you would be doing is helping out the 4th or 5th owner of the bike....

Now with dino oil, I would not go the 5000 miles since the bikes run very hot.


Brett

 

Well, oil gets dirty as well. You can't base intervals strictly on mileage. I mean if it took you 2 years to put 3 or 5k on it, would you only change your oil once every 2 years? If you do it yourself, it's cheap. No way you should change less than once a year.