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SYN3 Oil Viscosity

  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    Hi All,
    I know this has been probably debated to death, but I could find anything specific about this.

    So my 103 Dyna currently has SYN3 in it and I went for a run on the weekend pretty hot in western Sydney. What I noticed was the oil temp was up around 130DegC (electronic oil temp gauge) and the engine was pretty noisy. I was just wondering if others have experienced that and what does the viscosity drop to on SYN3 at the higher temperatures. Its just seems very thin.

    Regards
    Leachy.
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    It has been thrashed to death on EVERY website in the WORLD.  This could be a good case for 'google'
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    I found SYN3 made my 103 engine noisier than HD Dino or Mobil1 (which I swapped to after SYN). Can’t help with temp issues.
  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    It normally isn't to noisy but it generally runs around the 120DegC mark, it just seemed once it was at the higher temp it made a big difference to the viscosity and the clatter in the top end. I just wouldn't have thought it would change that much. I understand clearances on rockers change with temp but it didnt seem that was the issue.
    Regards
    Leachy
  • tussuck
    tussuck
    5 years ago
    Quoting JFE on 06 Nov 2019 01:29 AM

    I found SYN3 made my 103 engine noisier than HD Dino or Mobil1 (which I swapped to after SYN). Can’t help with temp issues.

    Ditto...Tried Synth 3 once only in the old Evo and its sprung leaks and was noisey as heck.  
    Its better than Dino oil and has a far greater temp operating range.  I googled Synth oil temps etc, and instantly regreted it.  Its a big world of rumor and theory and hearsay and bugger all facts out there in harley land.
  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    I was really surprised, I could also smell the burnt oil vapor. I think Ill run with Penrite MC-4ST V TWIN 20W-50 fully syn. I use Penrite in my Honda VFR and DR650 without any issues.
  • JFE
    JFE
    5 years ago
    Quoting leachy on 06 Nov 2019 02:11 AM

    I was really surprised, I could also smell the burnt oil vapor. I think Ill run with Penrite MC-4ST V TWIN 20W-50 fully syn. I use Penrite in my Honda VFR and DR650 without any issues.

    Agree on the smell but that was the one thing I liked about SYN3. Plenty of ppl swear by Penrite.
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    5 years ago
    A sustained 120c is a bit high , 130c in the oil tank is too hot for me.
    Your cylinder head temps would be climbing.
    Most oils will get really thin by then, and you will hear it, and smell it !

  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    Quoting speedzter on 06 Nov 2019 02:56 AM

    A sustained 120c is a bit high , 130c in the oil tank is too hot for me.

    Your cylinder head temps would be climbing.
    Most oils will get really thin by then, and you will hear it, and smell it !

    Yeah, its high, its a Dyna so no oil tank, but I do run a HD side mounted oil cooler. It would be much higher without that, I wasn't in traffic either. Im beginning to think it might be running a bit lean. It only has the Harley pre-loaded stage 1 tune, but I think the ventilator air filter might be flowing a bit more. 
  • speedzter
    speedzter
    5 years ago
    Dyna's still have an oil tank, it's just under the gearbox.
    Reality is, 130c won't kill your motor, but it would be worth investigating.
    I would hate to see the CHT's and oil temp in traffic !!
    Buy yourself a cheap IR thermometer to measure head temps near the plugs.

    Syn3 is 20w-50 so changing to a 20w-60 might help with the noise.
    Penrite also has a MC 10w-60 that has a fairly high viscosity rating at 100c

    Here's a calculator to give an idea of Viscosity V temp if you have the basic specs (needs flash player)


  • leachy
    leachy
    5 years ago
    Thanks for the info, I have an IR temp gun so I will check it next time.
    Thanks
    Leachy
  • bigfella236
    bigfella236
    5 years ago
    watching this one then to see what comes of it
  • Grease Monkey
    Grease Monkey
    5 years ago
    Many moons back there was a link on HTT to a comparison sheet someone had paid an oil analysis company to do on many different oils, back then Mobil 1 Vtwin was near top of the pile, syn3 was lower down the list.
    If you live in the hot country a good tune and a good syn 20w/60 or better is the go, my opinion only but it's not without some mechanical experience.
  • Baloffski
    Baloffski
    5 years ago
    Use to use Pennzoil on an Italian bike had years ago, was Pennzoil 'coarse 20-50 , it too had a distinct smell, which was not offensive.
    Never used Harley oil, mainly Penrite, may try the syn 3 one day. What I 'm going to do is take out the relative Fahrenheit temperature gauge and replace it with an engine oil temp. gauge, to monitor the engine temp in c.
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