Amsoil void warranty

ultrafxr · Oct 8, 2020

Since we are talking about the use of non-Harley lubricants I just wonder what is so special about Amsoil that makes it better than Mobil 1 V-Twin which I have used for years with no problems. Mobil was the industry leader in the development of synthetic lubricants and that is the main reason I choose their oil.

rhino 2 · Oct 8, 2020

Trampas said:
I have to agree it is BS, seems like harley will do anything to void your warranty now a days, the EPA put a scare into harley and so harley in turn will void warranty for what ever reason to prevent paying out repairs and since they are hurting in the business and not really selling bikes, that is what I think.

On my bike I was in the service department and talking to them and I told them I changed my oil and filter, my trannie and primary, this was about the 1,000 mile service, they said it will void my warranty doing it myself, like I said harley will do and say anything about voiding your warranty, we know it is BS

All for now Trampas

Being the Devils Advocate here...Harley isn't saying that ....It's some dealers that are saying that....And maybe those are the dealers you should stay away from...:Shrug:..

Jack Klarich · Oct 8, 2020

rhino 2 said:
Being the Devils Advocate here...Harley isn't saying that ....It's some dealers that are saying that....And maybe those are the dealers you should stay away from...:Shrug:..

They should know better, they are representing The MOCO

What they say and do is a reflection of how others perceive The MOCO, this is a bad decision by these dealers IMO

rhino 2 · Oct 8, 2020

Jack Klarich said:
They should know better, they are representing The MOCO

What they say and do is a reflection of how others perceive The MOCO, this is a bad decision by these dealers IMO

Quite a few of those dealers own multiple dealerships and have other businesses they are not motorcycle people so if the business doesn’t pan out they close shop and concentrate on their other businesses the motor company has no control other then that they can suggest but what you have to remember is these dealers are independent dealers/businesses....

cScjhb · Oct 8, 2020

ultrafxr said:
Since we are talking about the use of non-Harley lubricants I just wonder what is so special about Amsoil that makes it better than Mobil 1 V-Twin which I have used for years with no problems. Mobil was the industry leader in the development of synthetic lubricants and that is the main reason I choose their oil.

Hi Jerry. Nice meeting and riding with you last week. At one time I had the same question as you. There was lots and lots of information, claims, and opinions about which is "best", Amsoil, Royal Purple, or Mobile1. I came away with the opinion that they are all pretty much the same. A few tweaks here and there between them but nothing I could find that would convince me to choose one over any of the others.

Hope to see you again in the not too distant future..... Jim

PosseRider · Oct 8, 2020

Well,all I can add is this : I ran a 2003 ultra 105,000 miles on 10,000 mile changes of Amsoil & Amsoil filters. Only failure in all those miles was a tranny seal. Sold it 8 yrs ago & guy is still riding it. After I retired we delivered RV's for 5 yrs. Amsoil in it with a by pass filter system (2 filters) in a Chevy diesel for over 400,000 miles on 60,000 mile changes. Every change ,sample sent in & was returned "ok" to continue use.

GARYD · Oct 21, 2020

ultrafxr said:
Since we are talking about the use of non-Harley lubricants I just wonder what is so special about Amsoil that makes it better than Mobil 1 V-Twin which I have used for years with no problems. Mobil was the industry leader in the development of synthetic lubricants and that is the main reason I choose their oil.

Check the history of Amsoil before you bash it. Mobil didn't have a syn oil for years after Amsoil - check it out - 1970 for Amsoil and 1974 for Mobil1. I've used many different brand name syn oils (even Syn3) and have never had an oil related problem.....EVER!

Don't get me wrong, Mobil1 is a very good oil as are other brand name syn oils. I just prefer Amsoil. Whenever a brand name syn oil goes on sale (for a great price) I will buy a case. Right now in my garage I have a few bottles of BelRay/ Mobil1/ Valvoline/ Castrol and a lot of Amsoil.

If anyone is so concerned about the oil they use, send it in for an UOA and cut out all the brand name bullsh-t everyone keeps telling you.

I've been riding motorcycles for over 60 years and have used every imaginable name brand oil, dino and syn. Changed it regularly and NEVER had an oil related problem - EVER!

Actually I prefer dino oil over syn, but since I'm so lazy, the long change out interval I get with syn wins.

ultrafxr · Oct 21, 2020

GARYD said:
ultrafxr said:

Since we are talking about the use of non-Harley lubricants I just wonder what is so special about Amsoil that makes it better than Mobil 1 V-Twin which I have used for years with no problems. Mobil was the industry leader in the development of synthetic lubricants and that is the main reason I choose their oil.

Click to expand...

Check the history of Amsoil before you bash it. Mobil didn't have a syn oil for years after Amsoil - check it out - 1970 for Amsoil and 1974 for Mobil1. I've used many different brand name syn oils (even Syn3) and have never had an oil related problem.....EVER!

Don't get me wrong, Mobil1 is a very good oil as are other brand name syn oils. I just prefer Amsoil. Whenever a brand name syn oil goes on sale (for a great price) I will buy a case. Right now in my garage I have a few bottles of BelRay/ Mobil1/ Valvoline/ Castrol and a lot of Amsoil.

If anyone is so concerned about the oil they use, send it in for an UOA and cut out all the brand name bullsh-t everyone keeps telling you.

I've been riding motorcycles for over 60 years and have used every imaginable name brand oil, dino and syn. Changed it regularly and NEVER had an oil related problem - EVER!

Actually I prefer dino oil over syn, but since I'm so lazy, the long change out interval I get with syn wins.

Hi Gary. I wasn't bashing Amsoil at all. I know it is a fine lubricant. I just though (wrongly) that Mobil had pioneered the synthetic lubricants. In any case you said they are both fine products and I don't think one could go wrong with either. And like you in many hundreds of thousands of miles I've never had a lubricant related failure. Plenty of failures in various H-Ds (110" motors especially) but the lubricant didn't cause them.

gfaltersack · Mar 3, 2021

paws said:
You guys are making Harley Davidson sound a lot like Big Brother... don’t do this, don’t do that..if you do you are in trouble...just give us money and you get wheels and a frame in return.. surely they have not gotten that bad..?

Actually Harley Davidson the company has been getting tougher on warranties but not about oil. It is mainly EPA restrictions, aftermarket tuners, etc in which Harley was sued and lost. REGARDING OIL THE DEALERS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND AROUND 50% OF THEM IN WISCONSIN OFFER AMSOIL, MOBIL 1, ETC ALONG WITH THEIR OWN SYN 3. THEY JUST HAVE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE AWAY FROM THE HARLEY PRODUCTS. I HAVE VISITED ALL DEALERS IN WISCONSIN AND SOME OF THOSE NOT OFFERING AMSOIL WILL GIVE THE "SYNTHETIC OILS ARE BAD" SPEECH WHILE SELLING SYN 3, GO FIGURE! I PERSONALLY WILL USE MOBIL 1 AND AMSOIL ONLY WHEN GOING SOUTH TO THE HOT DESERTS AND ALWAYS USE SAME UP HERE IN WISCONSIN. JUST MY CHOICE

BKtrike · Mar 3, 2021

gfaltersack said:
Actually Harley Davidson the company has been getting tougher on warranties but not about oil. It is mainly EPA restrictions, aftermarket tuners, etc in which Harley was sued and lost. REGARDING OIL THE DEALERS ARE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND AROUND 50% OF THEM IN WISCONSIN OFFER AMSOIL, MOBIL 1, ETC ALONG WITH THEIR OWN SYN 3. THEY JUST HAVE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE AWAY FROM THE HARLEY PRODUCTS. I HAVE VISITED ALL DEALERS IN WISCONSIN AND SOME OF THOSE NOT OFFERING AMSOIL WILL GIVE THE "SYNTHETIC OILS ARE BAD" SPEECH WHILE SELLING SYN 3, GO FIGURE! I PERSONALLY WILL USE MOBIL 1 AND AMSOIL ONLY WHEN GOING SOUTH TO THE HOT DESERTS AND ALWAYS USE SAME UP HERE IN WISCONSIN. JUST MY CHOICE

I will continue using all HD products while under warranty. If I get an extended warranty I’ll look at any oil restrictions. Trike too expensive to void warranty.

Fearless · Mar 3, 2021

Possibly need to say this any lubricant that meets or exceeds the manufacturer standards must be accepted in a warranty repair issue. That is providing you have documented proof of product that is the law. Crooked service writers like to threaten otherwise tell them your lawyer will be in touch ....

PosseRider · Mar 3, 2021

Fearless said:
Possibly need to say this any lubricant that meets or exceeds the manufacturer standards must be accepted in a warranty repair issue. That is providing you have documented proof of product that is the law. Crooked service writers like to threaten otherwise tell them your lawyer will be in touch ....

What Fred said , Have used Mobil 1 for over 45000 on the 16, no warranty denied ever. Also use a diff oil now in the 20. No problem

GARYD · Mar 4, 2021

BKtrike said:
I will continue using all HD products while under warranty. If I get an extended warranty I’ll look at any oil restrictions. Trike too expensive to void warranty.

Harley CAN NOT void your warranty if you use any other oil besides Syn3 - PERIOD - END OF STORY!!!!!

Read the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

If you like using Syn3, by all means use it. Nothing wrong there, but you can get a better quality blend and price from after market brands.

RickDeVon · Mar 4, 2021

I would have just laughed at him and ask what planet was he from....you can't fix stupid and I would find another dealer...

Fasteddy · Mar 4, 2021

Amsoil

evermill said:
I was just told by my dealer that they no longer use Amsoil, it will void your warranty. Just wondering if anyone has been told this.

....so why even mention it?

Lee H. Mann · Mar 4, 2021

I was told that Hillary would win in 2016 too ......

GARYD said:
Harley CAN NOT void your warranty if you use any other oil besides Syn3 - PERIOD - END OF STORY!!!!!

Read the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

If you like using Syn3, by all means use it. Nothing wrong there, but you can get a better quality blend and price from after market brands.

The text from an earlier post:

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

3700 West Juneau Ave.,

P.O. Box 653,

Milwaukee, WI 53201

414/342-4680

January 31, 2003

Aaron Scanlon

AMSOIL Building

Superior, WI 54880

Dear Mr. Scanlon:

Thank you for your recent letter requesting information on Harley-Davidson's one-year, unlimited mileage warranty when Synthetic Lubricants are used.

Until now, the Motor Company has never supported the use of synthetic products in our vehicles because there had never been any test validations completed on the numerous formulations in HD/Buell motorcycles to determine the viability of using these products on Harley-Davidson products until now.

We have developed a specially formulated synthetic fluid called SYN3. This fluid can be used in Harley-Davidson engines, transmissions and primary chaincases. This product had been exclusively designed for Harley-Davidson and is the only synthetic product tested and certified by Harley-Davidson engineering for use on HD/Buell motorcycles.

The use of a different brand of fluid does not void the one-year, unlimited mileage warranty unless it can be confirmed that the use of such products was the cause of the failure.

Thank you, Mr. Scanlon, for taking the time to write to Harley-Davidson and allowing me to answer your questions.

Sincerely,

Lisa Sagen

Powertrain Customer Service

Fearless · Mar 4, 2021

Lee H. Mann said:
The text from an earlier post:

Harley-Davidson Motor Company

3700 West Juneau Ave.,

P.O. Box 653,

Milwaukee, WI 53201

414/342-4680

January 31, 2003

Aaron Scanlon

AMSOIL Building

Superior, WI 54880

Dear Mr. Scanlon:

Thank you for your recent letter requesting information on Harley-Davidson's one-year, unlimited mileage warranty when Synthetic Lubricants are used.

Until now, the Motor Company has never supported the use of synthetic products in our vehicles because there had never been any test validations completed on the numerous formulations in HD/Buell motorcycles to determine the viability of using these products on Harley-Davidson products until now.

We have developed a specially formulated synthetic fluid called SYN3. This fluid can be used in Harley-Davidson engines, transmissions and primary chaincases. This product had been exclusively designed for Harley-Davidson and is the only synthetic product tested and certified by Harley-Davidson engineering for use on HD/Buell motorcycles.

The use of a different brand of fluid does not void the one-year, unlimited mileage warranty unless it can be confirmed that the use of such products was the cause of the failure.

Thank you, Mr. Scanlon, for taking the time to write to Harley-Davidson and allowing me to answer your questions.

Sincerely,

Lisa Sagen

Powertrain Customer Service

thank you

Jack Klarich · Mar 4, 2021

Harley Syn3 is NOT a full synthetic,

According to the "Material Safety Data Sheet" for H-D's SYN3, it is chemically a blend of 60% synthetic and 40% petroleum oils.

GARYD · Mar 4, 2021

Jack Klarich said:
Harley Syn3 is NOT a full synthetic,

According to the "Material Safety Data Sheet" for H-D's SYN3, it is chemically a blend of 60% synthetic and 40% petroleum oils.

That's what I keep hearing, but the dealers keep saying otherwise. I'll stick with 3 different 100% syn aftermarket fluids for each hole. After over 300000 miles on syn and no problems - it's a no brainer - for me.

MDF48 · Mar 8, 2021

Straight 50W synthetic?

I don't want to start another "oil thread" so I thought I would add my questions to this thread. Down here in the deep South, as you all know, we have pretty good temps year around and of course the late Spring and Summer months are very hot. I have always run 20W-50 synthetic. I am going to start running a straight 50W synthetic oil in my 2016 TGU during the Spring and Summer. I see Royal Purple, Lucas, Valvoline VR1 have synthetic available in 50W. Several others have a 50W blend. Valvoline VR1 is a blend, but supposedly they have a synthetic 50W available?? Any of you had experience with running the straight SYNTHETIC 50W and if so which brand?

Edit: I think I remember seeing some info from Kevin that he runs a 50W or 60W but I don't remember what brand he used.