I have yet to pick up a service manual for my new to me bike. I am planning on picking one up when I get the oil filter. When I bought my bike the sales guy told me I need to change the fluids every 2,500 miles. I asked him why and i got told be cause it's Texas, the heat, climate, etc, etc, etc... While he was giving the reasons. I just kept thinking BS, BS, BS ... You guys are just trying to get more money...... I have always done 5,000 on all my bikes.

Anyway, I am going to ask:
Bike: 2013 Electra Glide Ultra Classic
1. What is the fluid change frequency?
* Engine: ?
* Primary: ?
* Trans: ?
** Been told by one bike mechanic that the trans doesn't need to be change but every 20,000 miles or else it's a waste. Any advice to back this up?

2. Does it take the same oil in all 3 holes like my old 08 Dyna Superglide did?

3. Is it 20w50?

Thanks

I will probably be running Mobil 1 V-Twin

 

Brother, congrats on the new bike ... Now be prepared for the wrath of God from this email. Personally, I live in Florida and change my engine oil every 4000 miles. 10,000 miles for the primary and 20,000 miles for the transmission. I also use the same oil for all three holes. Many differences of opinion on this. Good luck!!!
Yes I use MC specific oil 20w50

 

Were it me, I'd run Formula+ in primary and change every 10k, gear oil like 85/140 in trans and change every 10k, change oil every 5k, yes it's 20/50....I run Mobil 15/50

 

I use Mobil 1 V-Twin for all three. Change motor every 3k-4k, primary around 10k and trans every 20k.

 

Yeah, I already figured that before I even asked.

 

Read your manual. It's not there for a paper weight. It tells you when to change the fluids. There's even a check list for each service interval.

Batman

 

This site will tell you the service intervals and what to service. The Service Manual is a great tool too.
https://www.harley-davidson.com/cont...schedules.html#
I use Syn 3 in the engine and Red Line Vtwin Primary and Red Line Vtwin Transmission oil.
Good Luck with the new bike.

 

If you ride in the texas heat try to use synthetics in all 3 and changing early is not bad.

I use mobil 1 v-twin 20/50 in the engine and redline in the primary and trans.

 

Yup. If you can get your VIN from the dealer you can download the owners manual, just go to the H-D website, Owners tab. Of course make sure you get the book from the dealer. If you intend servicing yourself also get the factory service manual. I doubt if anything you've been told so far is what the books will tell ya! Evos are 2,500 mile intervals for engine oil and filter, but your bike is a bit newer.

 

Engine 5000 miles, 15w50 or 20w50
Primary 10000 miles formula plus or your preferred primary fluid
Transmission 20000 miles formula plus or your preferred gear oil

It's not magic and if the dealer is telling you 2500 miles, I wouldn't ask them many more questions.

Use the fluids you want but the main thing to remember is actually change them. In my opinion , we generally waste oils by changing them early, I try to follow the above intervals as close as I can, I have changed my tranny oil before 20k. Look at it this way, if it was a car with a manual transmission, how often would you change the transmission oil and differential gear oil? They do last a long time in there, why not the bike.