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AMSOIL XL Series Engine Oils Gets Upgrade And Name Change

AMSOIL Extended Life 100% Synthetic Motor OilAMSOIL has reformulated their XL Series Synthetic Engine Oils. This line also gets a name change. It is now called AMSOIL Extended Life 100% Synthetic Motor Oil. This product is available in 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30 or 10W-40.

What’s the Difference Between The Previous XL Series And The New “Extended Life” Version?

The entire product line has received a significant formulation change which has increased the service life. The previous XL Series had a service life of 12,000 miles (19,300 km) or one year (whichever comes first).

The new “Extended Life” formula now has a service life of 20,000 miles (32,000 km) or one year (whichever comes first). The severe service oil change interval is 12,000 miles (20,000 km) or one year (whichever comes first). AMSOIL is a pioneer in safely extending oil change intervals. They have a 50-year track record of reducing oil change frequency, while delivering maximum engine protection.

Has The Price Of The Extended Life Series Changed?

No. Despite the upgrade, the Extended Life Series pricing is unchanged from the previous XL Series pricing.

Where Does The Extended Life Series Fit Into AMSOIL’s Product Line?

The Extended Life Series sits below the flagship Signature Series and above the OE Series. Here’s where each synthetic motor oil product line sits in terms of maximum service life under normal driving conditions.

  • Signature Series- 25,000 miles (40,000 km) or one year (whichever comes first)
  • Extended Life Series- 20,000 miles (32,000 km) or one year (whichever comes first).
  • OE Series- The longest interval suggested by the owner’s manual or oil life monitor.

Will The Extended Life Series Work In My Vehicle?

AMSOIL Extended Life 100% Synthetic Motor Oil is designed for gasoline-powered engines in passenger car and light truck applications. It meets the API SP specification along with dozens of worldwide industry specifications. See the product page at the link above for a full specification listing. Visit our handy online application guide to find all of the AMSOIL products that are suitable for your vehicle.

Where To Buy AMSOIL Extended Life 100% Synthetic Motor Oil?

Oildepot can offer AMSOIL Extended Life Series at wholesale prices with fast shipping from 13 warehouses throughout the US and Canada. Request a price list using the form on this page or call us at 1-800-748-5781.

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Can You Switch From Synthetic To Conventional Oil In A Harley?

AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic Primary FluidA reader asks: A shop did some work on my Harley-Davidson and filled my primary with synthetic oil. I have always used regular H-D oil. Can I drain it and replace with regular oil? Will this cause any problems?

Our answer: You can safely drain the synthetic oil and go back to conventional oil (but read all the way down before you do). There will not be any problems whatsoever. Synthetic and conventional oil can be substituted back and forth without any compatibly issues or mechanical risks. This holds true for engine, primary chain case or transmission oils.

However, we suggest that you give the synthetic oil a try before draining it. You will likely notice that it is easier to find neutral. It is also likely that you will experience smoother clutch performance and cooler primary temperatures.

We are huge advocates of synthetics oils in Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Our customer feedback tells us about performance boosts in every imaginable category. We offer two synthetic options for Harley-Davidson primary chain cases. They are AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic Primary Fluid or AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil. There is no wrong answer between the two products. Each offers identical performance and wear protection. Some like the idea of a dedicated primary fluid, while others like the idea of keeping just the 20W-50 on hand for engine, primary and transmission.

In conclusion, give the synthetic fluid a chance and determine if you experience any improvements. You can go back to conventional oil at any time in the future.

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Articles About Synthetic Oil And Harley-Davidson Motorcycles

AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50Over the years, we’ve posted a number of articles discussing the use of synthetic oil in Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Here are all of the links to these articles on one page.

If you have questions on any of this content, feel free to give a us a call or contact us using the form on this page.

Engine Oil

The Classic AMSOIL V-Twin 20W-50 Torture Test
A few years ago, AMSOIL performed a landmark test to see how V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50 stood up to extreme heat. In a dyno room with no moving air, they ran a 2012 Dyna Street Bob until the engine temperature reached 550°F. The results were staggering.

Is Synthetic Oil Compatible With Harley-Davidson Cam Roller Bearings?
The myth that synthetic oil causes Harley-Davidson cam roller bearings to “slide”, “slip”, “float” or “skate” refuses to die. We still hear it to this day. This article discusses the misconception that started this rumor.

Price Comparison Of Harley Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 vs. AMSOIL V-Twin 20W-50
This article does a cost-analysis of AMSOIL V-Twin 20W-50 versus Harley Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 20W-50. The numbers were updated for the 2020 season.

AMSOIL Releases Updated Oil Change Kits For H-D Twin Cam and Milwaukee-8 Engines
For the 2020 season, AMSOIL released updated oil change kits for the Twin-Cam and Milwaukee-Eight engines.

AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Options For The Milwaukee-8 Engine
Here we discuss the introduction of the Milwaukee-Eight engine. We also recommend AMSOIL products for the engine, filter, primary chain-case and transmission.

When To Switch To Synthetic Oil In Harley-Davidson Milwaukee-8 Engine
A reader wonders when they can safely switch to synthetic oil in a new Harley Milwaukee-Eight engine. We discuss when to change the factory-fill oils and replace with synthetic oil.

Can Synthetic Oil Cure Valve Tick In A Harley Milwaukee-8 Engine?
A Milwaukee-Eight owner is hearing a valve-train noise. They wonder if AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50 will cure the noise. We cite some customer feedback on this issue.

Should A Thicker Oil Be Used In Extreme Heat? 
Does an SAE 60 engine oil offer better protection than 20W-50 in hot climates?

Can You Switch To Synthetic Oil In An Older Harley-Davidson Engine? 
Will synthetic oil cause problems or leaks in an older engine? What are the benefits?

Primary And Transmission

AMSOIL Introduces Dedicated V-Twin Primary And Transmission Oils
This 2015 article discusses AMSOIL’s introduction of dedicated Primary and Transmission Fluid for Harley Davidson motorcycles. Here is the rundown including how the viscosity of each product compares to V-Twin 20W-50.

Synthetic Oil Options For Harley Primary And Transmission
A reader wonders about the best AMSOIL synthetic oil options for his Harley-Davidson transmission and primary. We go through the options in detail.

Is ATF Suitable For Harley-Davidson Primary Chaincase Use?
Should automotive automatic transmission fluid (ATF) be used in Harley-Davidson primary chaincases? This article covers where this practice originated and details the pros and cons.

Should I Use 20W-50 Or Gear Oil In My Harley-Davidson Transmission?
Let’s explore whether gear oil offers better protection over AMSOIL V-Twin 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil in Harley-Davidson transmissions.

Should 75W-140 Gear Oil Be Used In Harley-Davidson Transmissions? 
Here are the pros and cons of running a thicker 75W-140 gear oil in Harley transmissions. We also show a comparison of the viscosity numbers of 20W-50 engine oil and dedicated V-Twin transmission oil.

Can You Switch From Synthetic Oil Back To Conventional Oil In A Harley?
Once synthetic oil has been used in a motorcycle transmission, primary or engine, can you go back to conventional oil again?

Oil Filter

Do Harley Oil Filters Actually Filter Down To 5-Microns?
Harley-Davidson markets their oil filters as “5-micron”. Do they really stop all particles down to 5-microns? We discuss AMSOIL and Harley-Davidson’s micron ratings. Harley’s actual micron-rating is not what you might expect and we explain why.

Why Did Harley-Davidson Bring Out A Longer Oil Filter For the Milwaukee-8 Engine?
Harley-Davidson released a new oil filter for the Milwaukee-Eight engine that is ½” longer than the previous filter. We discuss why the new filter was released and whether or not a longer filter is vital to this engine.

Does A Motorcycle Oil Filter’s By-pass Spring Setting Matter?  
We discuss the by-pass spring pressure setting number for AMSOIL’s Harley-Davidson oil filters. Should this factor be a consideration when shopping for an oil filter for your motorcycle?

K&N Versus AMSOIL Oil Filters
K&N and AMSOIL are two of the most reputable oil filter makers in the motorcycle space. This article discusses the features and (most importantly) the filtering ability of K&N and AMSOIL automotive and motorcycle oil filters.

 

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New Dodge EcoDiesel Motor Oil Coming Soon

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Update # 1 August 2016: FCA changes motor oil spec and viscosity requirements for Ram 1500 and Jeep Grand Cherokee Models with EcoDiesel engine

Update # 2 August 2016: Oildepot offers new oil filter for EcoDiesel engines in Canada and United States

Important: 5W-30 Motor Oil is no longer recommended for EcoDiesel engines. 

We will soon have a synthetic 5W-30 engine oil for the new Dodge Ram and Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel 3.0L V-6 engine. The AMSOIL Low-SAPS European Formula 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil is being reformulated to meet both the ACEA “C-3” and Chrysler “MS-11106” specifications. The EcoDiesel engines require an engine oil with low levels of sulfated ash, phosphorous and sulfur (known as “SAPS”). This product will be a high quality substitute for Mopar MaxPro 5W-30 Synthetic Diesel Oil (part # 68231014GA) Pennzoil Ultra Euro L 5W-30 and Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30.

This product will also be receiving a name change. Effective December 1st, it will be called “European Formula 5W-30 Improved Emissions System Protection Synthetic Motor Oil” (product code: AEL).

When Will This EcoDiesel Oil Be Available?

AMSOIL European Formula 5W-30 Improved ESP Synthetic Motor Oil will be available in US gallon jugs on December 1st. The quart bottles will be available as the old formulation sells out (projected to be sometime in January 2016).

We also hope to have an oil filter to go with this oil in the near future. Please check back with us in early 2016 or contact us and get on our EcoDiesel mailing list.

Where Can I Buy EcoDiesel Engine Oil At A Great Price?

Oildepot will sell AMSOIL European Formula 5W-30 Improved ESP Synthetic Motor Oil for Ram EcoDiesel engines at the best prices in Canada or the US. We ship from two warehouses in Canada and eleven in the USA (with great shipping rates!).

Request a wholesale price list using the form on this page and put “EcoDiesel” in the comments section or call us at 1-800-748-5781.

Dodge Ram EcoDiesel Logo

(photo credit: trucktrend.com)

Features Of AMSOIL European Formula ESP 5W-30 Synthetic Oil

  • Synthetic wear protection
  • Low friction for maximum efficiency
  • Designed for turbocharger protection
  • Easy Cold temperature starting  (cold-pour-point of -51°C)
  • Stable oil temps when dealing with high heat and heavy loads
  • Maintains its 5W-30 viscosity over the length of the OEM service interval (will not thin out)

 

Questions? Contact us using the form on this page or call us at 1-800-748-5781.

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Does Synthetic Oil Cause Harley Roller Bearing Problems?

Ever notice how some old wives tales refuse to die? Regardless of how much evidence exists to refute them, many seem to go on forever. An example is the baseless theory that synthetic oil is too “slippery” for Harley-Davidson cam roller bearings. The suggestion is that the bearings remain stationary once they are bathed in synthetic oil and put under heavy loads. Allegedly when this occurs, the cam shaft spins on the motionless rollers and scores the surface until a flat spot occurs. The assertion is that the roller bearings “slide”, “slip”, “float” or “skate”.

We had thought that this theory was proven false and forgotten years ago. We thought wrong. One of our most faithful customers (who also happens to be a journeyman auto mechanic) told us that he couldn’t use our AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil in his Harley this season. He had been told by the service manager at his Harley dealership to stay away from synthetic oil because it causes roller bearing damage. This was enough to spook our customer back to using Harley-Davidson-branded mineral oil. We were very surprised that this customer was swayed by this groundless warning.

This customer had been using AMSOIL V-Twin 20W-50 for several seasons. He had previously raved about the product. It had eliminated his engine’s oil consumption, boosted his fuel economy, lowered his engine operating temperatures and improved his bike’s throttle response.

AMSOIL guarantees that their synthetic oil does not cause roller bearing damage. Every season, Harley-Davidson owners log millions of very successful miles using AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50.

Related: See Our Complete List Of Harley-Davidson Articles

The Real Reason Some Harley-Davidson Roller Bearings Failed

AMSOIL Technical Services tells us that roller bearing damage was never due to synthetic oil causing the roller bearings to “skate”. The real reason is that some older Harley bearing configurations could not handle heavy loads. At one time, Harley-Davidson used cam bearings that had 16-rollers. The 16-roller units would overload and then fatigue. Ultimately, the roller bearing surface would flake or pit which would cause binding and ultimately a flat spot. Harley-Davidson eventually moved to cam bearings that had 32-rollers. The 32-roller design was better-equipped to distribute loads.

When this bearing failure occurred, Harley mechanics would often point to synthetic oil as the culprit. Synthetic oils were a new concept to many Harley techs. This was an was an easy place to pin the blame. It was easier to tell the customer that the issue was their fault for using some peculiar synthetic motorcycle oil. But once Harley-Davidson introduced their own synthetic oil, they had to find other reasons for these failures.

Harley-Davidson corrected their bearing design deficiency long ago. But this myth is still floating around.

Reasons For Roller Bearing Failure

There are four main reasons for roller bearing failure:

1. Overloading
2. Misalignment
3. Dirt or debris contamination
4. Insufficient lubrication

Oil that is too “slippery” is not a plausible cause. Any flat-earth fears about synthetic oil and roller bearing should have been left in the 1970’s.

To conclude, AMSOIL V-Twin Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Oil is the most cost-effective (and safe) upgrade you can make for your Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

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