A story about engine oil

[07Ninja250]

For anyone who's interested in the dynamics of engine oils, here's a case of a bike that's been through several different brands of engine oils, with interesting results. Kinda long...From BITOG

A friend of mine in Palmdale, California owns a 1200 Sportster. He has blown three engines (replaced under warranty). He rides the Harley like his Ducati 996, which amazes the guys who think they are fast on Angeles Crest Highway on their Japanese crotch rockets.

He has a habit of heading out to Mojave on the 14 and then onto Randsberg and holding over 100MPH for 15 - 20 minutes at and ambient 100 F. All three engines spewed their oil out at high speed. He's gone through several brands of oil: HD synthetic (real [censored]), Mobil 1 for Air Cooled Twins, better but second engine blew up, Amsoil-third engine blew up, and Redline. The fourth engine is doing fine on Redline.

During this process of destroying engines, he added an oil temperature gauge (oil tank filler cap) after blowing engine #1.

Running engine #1 on HD Synthetic - noticed oil foaming in tank.

Running engine #2 On HD Synthetic and switching to Mobil 1 resulted in lower oil temperatures, but oil still foamed

Switching to Amsoil on engine #3 resulted in slightly lower oil temps than Mobil 1 and slightly less foaming. Engine still blew up.

(Sorry, but I don't recall the oil temps on engines #2 and #3.)

Oil temps on engine #4 reach 325 F. at the tank, but NO FOAMING with Redline oil. Engine still in one piece with more high speed miles than engines #1, #2 and #3 put together.

The theory: Redline oil doesn't foam in this application, so the temperatures are higher because oil foam doesn't carry as much heat as liquid oil. Redline can evidently take the high temperatures and since it doesn't foam, the oil can do its job protecting the engine.

It was amusing to watch HD replace three engines. They wouldn't tell my friend what the exact failure was although they admitted all three engines failed for the same reason. According to HD, the fourth engine doesn't have any upgraded parts relating to the previous failures.

So, he's gone through three engines on three different brands of oil. The fourth engine running Redline has not blown up even though it has more high speed miles than the other three collectively. Can any conclusions be drawn from this? Probably none other than the fact that the engine running Redline hasn't puked its guts out.

I think since 99.99% of Harley riders do 45MPH on poker runs and never blow engines, the company just kept replacing engines instead of admitting that the motor's antique design can't handle extended top speed runs.

P.S.: If you think this is a made up story, ask the service guys at Antelope Valley Harley Davidson in Lancaster, CA about Mark, the guy with a 1200 Sportster and a Ducati 996 who has blown three engines.

[NCDave]

Interesting anticdotal evidence. I've not heard of Redline before. Is it a synthetic and is it pricy?

[07Ninja250]

It's in direct competition with Amsoil and the like. High quality full synthetic, fairly pricey but worth it from what I can gather. I can only find it at peformance shops, but thankfully there's one just blocks from my office. I may switch over as soon as I've used the Mobil1 I already bought.

I'm using thier manual transmission fluid in my car and it made a world of difference in shift quality.

Red Line Oil

[vn2kbob]

With all due respect, it sounds like it's just a matter of time now and Redline oil will be blamed for the next engine destruction. With abuse like this, just about any bike will eventually have problems no matter what oil. The irresponsibility of riding at these extended speeds and making H-D pay for his lunacy is beyond me. I see a snow ball headed for El Paso here.

[trjam]

I would use Spectros full syn before Amsoil. Ran both in several Hondas and after 1000 miles the clutch hated Amsoil. As I am sure I will be after posting this.

[Saleenguy]

IMHO the fault does not lie with the oil used.
Its the bikes design not running as cool as it should.
I would add a huge oil cooler to if mine.

[Jake '53]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

IMHO the fault does not lie with the oil used.
Its the bikes design not running as cool as it should.
I would add a huge oil cooler to if mine.

Yeah, I'm thinkin' if someone wants to run an air cooled engine at high speed through the Mojave Desert an oil cooler might be a good idea.

[herk]

Originally Posted by Jake '53

Yeah, I'm thinkin' if someone wants to run an air cooled engine at high speed through the Mojave Desert an oil cooler might be a good idea.

Bwahahahaha. Yep, that just might be a good idea.

JMK.

[QKENUF4U]

Originally Posted by 07Ninja250

the company just kept replacing engines instead of admitting that the motor's antique design can't handle extended top speed runs.

you answered the question right there .......... ANTIQUE tractor engines......

[RichLockyer]

+1

We're just starting to get into the hotter weather out here. We'll see how well the Redline does when he's doing that 40 degrees hotter than he has been for the last 6 months.

[LoudFastUgly]

And HD didn't want an oil sample from the original, second or third engine?

[techy]

Of course HD dealer will recommend HD oil for their high Performing engines.

There are guys running 500HP + turbo Busas on the street with Mobile 1 and no problems (at least do to oil).

I left nothing stock and never used synthetic until I went turbo.
There are many opinions on this. I'm only relating MY experiences.