Miles Between Oil Changes

[NC Triker]

Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?

 

[Gorilla]

You will get many differing opinions. I go 5k personally

 

[nucseal]

You will get many differing opinions. I go 5k personally

+1

Nuc

 

[ultrafxr]

You will get many differing opinions. I go 5k personally

Also - with synthetic.

 

[MDO]

Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?

I personally think it is, with a quality full synthetic & a filter made for it, but keep an eye on it for proper level and just the general appearance of the oil. It should look closer to honey in color & not molasses. The new M8 we have holds a lot of oil. Make sure it's not overfilled & keep an eye on the tranny fluid & make sure it's not going down. I plan on doing the tranny & differential at 10,000 miles & see how they look. I changed them at around 3.250 miles with Lucas & checking the condition at 10,000 will give me a good indication.

It all comes down to what your comfortable with. As stated earlier, you will get enough opinions to make your head spin.:xzqxz:

I'm a fairly decisive person & am pretty much set on what I plan to do, but try to stay flexible for any needed adjustments to my schedule. I have heard the differential will get dirty due to the clutch, so I plan on watching it.

 

[graygoat]

Mine was done at 1k, again at 5k and every 5k since, with HD synthetic in all 3 holes. Most of my riding is highway crusing, not a lot of in-town. Maybe more town/city miles might require a change sooner, I don't know.

 

[jc1300]

You will get many differing opinions. I go 5k personally

+ 3 or where ever we are.....Synthetic. Now if ya ride it like you stole it every time, it might be a different story.

 

[Jack Klarich]

Just had the 1000 mile serving performed on my 2017 Tri-Glide. All fluids were change to synthetic. My question is: How many miles do you go between oil changes? HD owners manual says 5000 miles, others have told me to never go over 3000 miles. Is it OK to go the 5000 miles with synthetic oil?

Its your ride, you decide

If I run mine hard, say on a road trip I will change sooner( When I run to MN from Fla I change oil and filter sooner, I run hard usually set the cruise @85) 24 + hours of riding

I rarely go over 3000 miles on my oil just my way

 

[ScottUSN]

I'm one of those old dogs that can't (won't) change. Even with synthetic (Amsoil), I change the engine oil every 2500 and the transmission/primary (Redline/Formula +) every 5000 miles.

Scott Smith

 

[hardwickbv]

5000 miles for all 3 holes with synthetic.

Bob

 

[ISP-FL]

I was doing all 3 holes at 5,000 with Syn-3, but got lazy at the 15,000 one and only did engine oil. I also don't wait until it is exact, it could be 5,500 or it could be 4,500, it just depends on where I am at and what I am doing.

I've had two different dealers tell me that as long as you are always within 1,000 miles of your scheduled oil changes it will never interfere with your warranty.

 

[GARYD]

Syn = 5K~6K

Dino = No more then 3K

Filter each time.

Amsoil 20-50 (preferably) but will use any brand name oil that's on sale = engine

Amsoil 75-140 Gear oil = trans

HD Formula+ = primary

If the engine oil is clear at time of change = it's NOT working.

 

[Cagmo]

oil change

I change all three every 5K, full synthetic Amsoil and a MoCo filter.

 

[rhino 2]

After the 1k and 5k Free oil change i do it every 6k....And no matter what anyone says, You can't make me do it any sooner .....:laugh:.......So there...

 

[TAC]

What Bob said..

 

[DK Custom Products]

With a full synthetic it is fine go to 5K miles on engine oil change, as long as the oil has not been subjected to temps in excess of 270* F.

If there has been a lot of riding where the temps are over 270*, oil, even synthetic, will begin breaking down.

If you have more top end noise, say at 3000 miles, than you did right after an oil change, that is because the oil has begun breaking down and it would be a good idea to change the oil at that time.

.

My schedule: (my TG is set up so the oil never goes over 250*)

Every 4-5K miles on engine (Full synthetic + Petron additive)

Every 8-10K miles on Primary (Syn3)

Every 16-20K miles on Transmission (Full synthetic + Petron additive)

When I was running non-synthetic oil I changed every 2-3K miles

.

Twin Cams and M8's, in stock condition, usually run the oil well over the 270* mark. This is not good for the engine, or the oil. Here is a LINK to a report on why & how to cool it down.

Kevin

 

[jc1300]

Syn = 5K~6K Dino = No more then 3KFilter each time. Amsoil 20-50 (preferably) but will use any brand name oil that's on sale = engine

Amsoil 75-140 Gear oil = trans

HD Formula+ = primaryIf the engine oil is clear at time of change = it's NOT working.

I loves me that 75-140 Amsoil Severe Gear........smooth as a babies butt! lol

 

[jc1300]

After the 1k and 5k Free oil change i do it every 6k....And no matter what anyone says, You can't make me do it any sooner .....:laugh:.......So there...

Hey Rhino.....you can do it that way......I do 5K because the math is easier!!

 

[Ed H]

I change all three holes in the fall. Then every 5k if I get that far. usually only ride around 4k.

5K is a good number on full synthetic oil.

 

[Burnerboy]

Changing oil is so easy and simple (talking Goldwing here) if you do it yourself, I usually replace every 3,000ish miles (if yea have your dealer do it for you, then that's another story, very expensive then..Always replace BOTH filter & oil at the same time...

A couple of years ago, I had cut open a oil filter on one of my service trucks, I was just curious to see what it looked like after 5,000 mile...Well there was so much gunk in there that it would be hard to flow , all plugged up! That turned me into a true believer to replace oil/filter at the same time, and at a 3,000ish interval...



I purchase oil and filter(s) when I happen to see it on sale, I have approx. 8 to10 filters left (for my wing) unopened in my garage along with a case of mobile one synth, oil just ready to be used.....

PS: I just changed my plugs along with oil/filter last week on my bike getting her ready for this spring rides..(if it will ever get here)

Ronnie

 

[DK Custom Products]

Changing oil is so easy and simple (talking Goldwing here) if you do it yourself, I usually replace every 3,000ish miles (if yea have your dealer do it for you, then that's another story, very expensive then..Always replace BOTH filter & oil at the same time...

A couple of years ago, I had cut open a oil filter on one of my service trucks, I was just curious to see what it looked like after 5,000 mile...Well there was so much gunk in there that it would be hard to flow , all plugged up! That turned me into a true believer to replace oil/filter at the same time, and at a 3,000ish interval...



I purchase oil and filter(s) when I happen to see it on sale, I have approx. 8 to10 filters left (for my wing) unopened in my garage along with a case of mobile one synth, oil just ready to be used.....

PS: I just changed my plugs along with oil/filter last week on my bike getting her ready for this spring rides..(if it will ever get here)

Ronnie

You bring up a really good point. If I was still using paper filters, I would probably still be changing oil and filter every 2500-3000 miles.

I've been using the Stainless Steel cleanable filter so long, I forgot about that...I just clean them out every time I change the oil...in fact, sometimes I'll skip cleaning the filter til the 2nd oil change. They flow that much better!

Kevin

 

[TonkaDriver]

Syn = 5K~6K

Dino = No more then 3K

Filter each time.

Amsoil 20-50 (preferably) but will use any brand name oil that's on sale = engine

Amsoil 75-140 Gear oil = trans

HD Formula+ = primary

If the engine oil is clear at time of change = it's NOT working.

I am new to Harleys and am going to do my own oil changes because

I got a quote of $300 for a 3 hole change. I watched a few youtube videos and it looks pretty simple to do. The manual calls for 20-50 in the trans. What is the benefit of Amsoil 75-140? Does the thicker oil affect power at all?​

 

[1dn5up]

I am new to Harleys and am going to do my own oil changes because

I got a quote of $300 for a 3 hole change. I watched a few youtube videos and it looks pretty simple to do. The manual calls for 20-50 in the trans. What is the benefit of Amsoil 75-140? Does the thicker oil affect power at all?​

I’m old school, as gears need gear oil. Redline shock proof is what dealers are using. What ever you choose, use synthetic as it has a longer run life.

 

[jc1300]

I am new to Harleys and am going to do my own oil changes because

I got a quote of $300 for a 3 hole change. I watched a few youtube videos and it looks pretty simple to do. The manual calls for 20-50 in the trans. What is the benefit of Amsoil 75-140? Does the thicker oil affect power at all?​

I can't feel and power issue....but I can say My trike loves the 75-140. Smooths a lot of those clunk shifts and all thru the RPM curve shifts...IMO only

 

[Jack Klarich]

I am new to Harleys and am going to do my own oil changes because

I got a quote of $300 for a 3 hole change. I watched a few youtube videos and it looks pretty simple to do. The manual calls for 20-50 in the trans. What is the benefit of Amsoil 75-140? Does the thicker oil affect power at all?​

There are SO many good answers here, IMO gear lube in the tranny is your best bet

It can cushion the gears better and stay put at higher temps than oil

It is your ride YOU decide what is right

I have ALWAYS run gear oil in ALL my bikes, and never had any tranny issues

 

[GARYD]

I’m old school, as gears need gear oil. Redline shock proof is what dealers are using. What ever you choose, use synthetic as it has a longer run life.

What dealers are using Redline instead of Syn 3? All the dealers in my area( 7 - owned by the same people) use H-D Syn3.

Although, I do remember my dealer using Bel-Ray gear oil back in 03 when I had a 6 speed put in my 03 Ultra.

 

[rhino 2]

What dealers are using Redline instead of Syn 3? All the dealers in my area( 7 - owned by the same people) use H-D Syn3.

Although, I do remember my dealer using Bel-Ray gear oil back in 03 when I had a 6 speed put in my 03 Ultra.

My dealer uses HD Formula + Trans oil Syn.....

 

[GARYD]

I am new to Harleys and am going to do my own oil changes because

I got a quote of $300 for a 3 hole change. I watched a few youtube videos and it looks pretty simple to do. The manual calls for 20-50 in the trans. What is the benefit of Amsoil 75-140? Does the thicker oil affect power at all?​

I cannot believe a single product can do the best job of protecting three different functions. For the miniscule cost difference, I will use the best product for each application knowing I'm getting the BEST protection possible.

You have to be out of your mind to pay $300 for a 3 hole fluid change.

With all the complexities of a new motorcycle, changing the oil is one of the last simple things an owner can do themselves - if they have the right tools, time and place to do so. Good luck