[Menessis]

My buddy has the Shadow. He's thinking about using the synthetic oil. I know there are many threads here about the synthetic oil but none specific to the Shadow. Are there any problems associated with the use of the synthetic oil? I have 1980 AirHead and have read lots of people switching to synthetic and then switching back because the oil seals started leaking for instance.

Any thoughts?

Menessis

 

[Easy Rider]

There is more than one Shadow model; several in fact.
There is more than one kind of synthetic oil too.
IF.....you get oil that is approved for motorcycle use (wet clutch), any kind should be fine.......including full synthetic.

 

[Aussie Steve]

Never heard of oil seals being damaged by any oil....other than dirty oil

 

[Easy Rider]

Never heard of oil seals being damaged by any oil....other than dirty oil

Harleys leak.
Harleys leak worse with thinner oil.
Nothing new here.

 

[vtwintramp1900]

My buddy has the Shadow. He's thinking about using the synthetic oil. I know there are many threads here about the synthetic oil but none specific to the Shadow. Are there any problems associated with the use of the synthetic oil? I have 1980 AirHead and have read lots of people switching to synthetic and then switching back because the oil seals started leaking for instance.

Any thoughts?

Menessis

Just be sure to use a synthetic specified FOR MOTORCYCLES because air cooled bike engines have different requirements then water cooled motors...Otherwise any of the more popular name brands are fine...Personally, I prefer to use S&S oil or Torco motor oil but I have also used Walmart's brand Synthetic motor oil. Keep in mind there's not that many companies that actually MAKE their own oil,,, What you're really paying for is their additives and their name.

 

[Easy Rider]

I prefer to use S&S oil or Torco motor oil but I have also used Walmart's brand Synthetic motor oil.

I think that NONE of those you listed are approved for MOTORCYCLE USE.
I've never hear of S&S or Torco.

 

[vtwintramp1900]

I think that NONE of those you listed are approved for MOTORCYCLE USE.
I've never hear of S&S or Torco.

S&S is motorcycle oil that S&S motors sells and recommends for their motors. I Assume you've heard of S&S motors?...They make motors that are similar to Harleys motors and most of the custom built bikes are using S&S motors. As for Torco it is mainly a motorcycle oil that most bike shops in pretty much any area I've lived in will carry....I'm 71 and I've used mainly Torco since I was around 20 years old....I started using the S&S oil around 10 years ago in my V-twins.

 

[Easy Rider]

I Assume you've heard of S&S motors?...

No.
Maybe that's because I never rode what is commonly known as a "V-twin".
Some or most of which have a dry clutch and actually can use "car" oil.

 

[vtwintramp1900]

Not really friend, The older Harleys could use car oil in the clutch area which I did use a little in my Shovel Head but the newer belt drives do not need to be wet but they are still an air-cooled motor and air-cooled motors do have different needs then water cooled motors. For one thing air cooled motors can run much hotter than your water cooled motors so they require different additives to compensate for that increased heat potential. Car oils can break down if they are forced to run as hot as an air-cooled motor. I do know guys who run like Mobil one full synthetic in their water cooled bikes like the Gold Wings but they are water cooled. I had a very chopped Kawasaki 2000 and Mobil one was fine in it but again it was water cooled...

 

[Easy Rider]

Not really friend,

I'm not your friend.
And you need to get a better handle on what you do NOT know.......which appears to be a lot.
Most of the above post is pure garbage.

 

[Aussie Steve]

Harleys leak.
Harleys leak worse with thinner oil.
Nothing new here.

I always thought that was old British bikes....the advantage being you never needed to change the oil as it was done on a regular basis via top ups

 

[vtwintramp1900]

I'm not your friend.
And you need to get a better handle on what you do NOT know.......which appears to be a lot.
Most of the above post is pure garbage.

You know what, we were having an intelligent conversation until YOU turned it into a personal attack....Well *******, I've been riding now for 61 years and I've probably forgotten more than you'll ever know. I've owned about 28 bikes in all these years and then I think I might be talking to a decent guy and you blew it...Its little pricks like you that really thrive on the net because it gives you a chance to lip off where you aren't in danger of getting an attitude adjustment...Any further comments from you will be ignored...

 

[Easy Rider]

You know what, we were having an intelligent conversation until YOU turned it into a personal attack...

The fact remains that most of what you posted is totally untrue or at best misleading.
Anyone with as much experience as you have should know better.
But it takes all kinds, I guess.

 

[alschott]

I run synthetic in my GS650, its air cooled and there are no problems with leakage, burning is another matter, it needs valve seals. From 10500 to present mileage 22500, synthetic motorcycle oil and mid-grade gas. No clutch slippage, and the oil picks up any blow-by from the rings.