Dealership fluids

[mtworks]

Funny thing happened at the Harley dealership today. Stopped in to get a complete fluid change kit for my 2019 tri glide. I have always run syn3 in the crankcase, HD heavy duty 80-140 gear oil in the trans, and Formula+ in the primary, since first oil change in 2019. The parts counter guy refused to sell me the qt of Formula+ saying that Harley is now recommending the heavy duty gear oil for the primary. I got mad and finally got him to sell me a qt. Does anybody know if this is now true even though my manual says to use Formula+? He seemed to be a part of the service mgmt team and seemed knowledgable. Would rather stick with and use what seems to work. Any thoughts?

[rhino 2]

Funny thing happened at the Harley dealership today. Stopped in to get a complete fluid change kit for my 2019 tri glide. I have always run syn3 in the crankcase, HD heavy duty 80-140 gear oil in the trans, and Formula+ in the primary, since first oil change in 2019. The parts counter guy refused to sell me the qt of Formula+ saying that Harley is now recommending the heavy duty gear oil for the primary. I got mad and finally got him to sell me a qt. Does anybody know if this is now true even though my manual says to use Formula+? He seemed to be a part of the service mgmt team and seemed knowledgable. Would rather stick with and use what seems to work. Any thoughts?

Just thinking out loud here it might be because of the problem they had with oil migration and just in case they don’t have the problem totally fixed they don’t want the trans oil mixing with formal +. ???

[Jack Klarich]

Looks like your dealer is trying to bait and switch you into buying the new and more expensive lube

[bikerbillone]

Parts guy works on commission? Dunno, the world is a mess top to bottom.

[mtworks]

This dealership has always been aggressive on sales but never on parts, especially when the customer tells them exactly what they want. With low bike sales, I guess they need to make money somewhere, but there is always another dealership within riding distance.

[PosseRider]

This dealership has always been aggressive on sales but never on parts, especially when the customer tells them exactly what they want. With low bike sales, I guess they need to make money somewhere, but there is always another dealership within riding distance.

Use other brand fluids... HD fluids are only in my bikes when NEW from the dealer. I don't know who is making their oils now,used to be Citgo,now ,anyones guess, There are better fluids out there . Same with the oil filters.

[Mykneesbehurtin]

Everyone has their personal choice for fluids, mine is Lucas straight 50wt full syn motorcycle oil, Lucas primary oil and Bel Ray 75/140 for the transmission. I was just never impressed with Syn3 especially in the transmission. I myself if a parts person refused to sell me a product I wanted that would be the last time I would use that store.

[ultrafxr]

Just checked the owner's manual on my 2020 TG and it says Formula + for both tranny and chaincase (primary). The HD heavy gear oil was just introduced in early 2019 and I'm thinking the owner's manuals had not yet been updated as I suspect the later models most likely say either Formula + or the HD heavy gear oil - same as for the crankcase saying Syn 3 or the dino oils.

Sure the parts guy was way too aggressive but I'm not sure why your reluctance to use the HD heavy gear oil in the primary. Harley says both Formula + and the heavy gear oil are designed to use in the tranny and the primary. And the heavy gear oil is full synthetic.

I use Red Line Shockproof in the tranny as I can definitely tell a difference. Used the Formula + in the primary but switched to the heavy gear oil when it came out. I like synthetics when available since I think it will hold up to the heat better. And it gets mighty hot in the primary.

[Old Road Dog]

The stupidest thing HD ever did...and theyve done a few, is the Syn3 campaign. Why would I put motor oil in my gear box? I dont do it in my semi truck, JD tractor, pickups...well you get the idea. Formula+ is tried and true but there's nothing special about it. Mainly it does no harm to yellow metal components. I dont blame the counter guy for insisting on gear oil even tho HD's stuff is overpriced. I bought a 5 gallon pail of gear oil same spec from Ultra1 Plus.

[mtworks]

I know that there probably are better fluids out there for my tri glide, but I have a little less than 2 years left on my extended warranty and I like having receipts showing that I put the recommended fluids in at the recommended times. I did try syn3 for all three holes in my road king, but it didn’t shift as well and had more trouble finding neutral. Didn’t see any diff in the primary and I always changed the crankcase oil at about 2500 miles. The parts guy was probably trying to be really helpful, but I had my own reasons for using the fluids of my choice, and he really didn’t need to be pushy about it cause I’m a paying customer. Just another case of me being 69 years old, and him being 25 or so.

[Jack Klarich]

I know that there probably are better fluids out there for my tri glide, but I have a little less than 2 years left on my extended warranty and I like having receipts showing that I put the recommended fluids in at the recommended times. I did try syn3 for all three holes in my road king, but it didn’t shift as well and had more trouble finding neutral. Didn’t see any diff in the primary and I always changed the crankcase oil at about 2500 miles. The parts guy was probably trying to be really helpful, but I had my own reasons for using the fluids of my choice, and he really didn’t need to be pushy about it cause I’m a paying customer. Just another case of me being 69 years old, and him being 25 or so.

Leo, as long as you keep good records( receipts) Harley cannot under Federal law force you to use their oils, as long as the oils you use meet or are greater than HD standards they cannot void your warranty

I have used RedLine and Bel Ray products for years and never had any problems

Remember one important thing Harley does NOT manufacture any of it lubes period, it is put out to tenders with Harley stipulating what they want the additive package to have

Their new tranny lube is a big plus IMO, I am currently running it in my 21 Freewheeler tranny and primary, tho I may switch back to Redline @ 5K miles

[ISP-FL]

I know our motors run pretty hot but I've always thought that changing oil at 5,000 miles was an overkill, especially when using Syn-3. I still do it and record it but mainly just to make sure my warranty is honored in case something goes south.

I agree with finding a better lubricant for the transmission though. The dealer that did my Stage 1 swore by BelRay but there are some others out there just as good or better. I'm still dumping Syn-3 in the primary but thats just me.

[hardwickbv]

I ran SYN 3in all 3 holes for a couple years then started using SYN 3 in the engine, the new gear oil in the primary with Redline in the tranny.

Now I am running Redline in all 3 holes. They all did the job and I now have 74000 on my TG with no mechanical issues with the engine, tranny or primary.

I like the convenience of buying the redline in a kit.

Run what you like as long as it meets specs and makes you happy!!!

My 2 cents.

Bob

[Notgrownup]

Harley-Davidson branded fluids are fine to use. So are other branded fluids. I run 15W50 Napa full synthetic in the motor, 75W90 full synthetic Walmart gear oil in the transmission, in my trike with stock clutch I run Formula + but in my 07 Flhtc with Barnett Clutch I run Redline primary fluid only because it’s what Barnett recommended at the time. Bikes run fine, I have 111000 miles on the 07 but only 35000 on the trike that I bought with 30000 miles.

biggest thing is to actually change the fluids.

[DK Custom Products]

Here's our take on oil-



Kevin

[Notgrownup]

Here's our take on oil-



Kevin

My question is what kind of oil does she use… the girl on the poster. Aye Caramba Papi.

[rhino 2]

My question is what kind of oil does she use… the girl on the poster. Aye Caramba Papi.

What ever they pay her to say she uses…$$$$

[Teufelhunde]

At my last service on my Tri-Glide, they wanted to put their new heavy oil in the tranny. I decided to let them use that. This bike is my 10th Harley, 3 sportsters (57,82,86), 79 FXS (Damn, I wish I would never have sold that one), 01FLHT, 04 Heritage Softail, 06 Ultra Glide, Dyna Lowrider(don't remember the year), 17 Street Glide, and now the 2018 Tri-Glide.

After they put in their heavy Trans oil, this is the best shifting Harley I have ever had, hell, I can even find neutral when stopped....

YMMV

Lon

[Notgrownup]

It’s continually evolving with MOCO.

[Phu Cat]

Harley is now recommending the heavy duty gear oil for the primary

So what if HD is recommendingheavy duty gear oil for the primary? You are free to use what you want.

PC