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[grc]

The two products measure the oil temperature at different locations, so it's not terribly surprising if you see a relatively small difference in readings.  And of course nothing put out by H-D is necessarily very accurate.  Case in point, check out the variability of the other gauges on the bikes like fuel, volt, air temp, etc.  When they spend about $5.00 on the full set of gauges, you can't expect too much.

The sending unit for the dash mounted gauge is installed where the oil is being returned to the engine after running through the baffles that force it into contact with the metal surfaces that draw some of the heat out of the oil.  The dipstick on the other hand tends to read oil that has just been returned to the tank from the engine.  Would that account for a 30°F difference in readings?  Maybe, maybe not.  But in the overall scheme of things, it really doesn't matter.  What you should be monitoring isn't an absolute number, but any significant changes from what you normally see.  If your gauge usually reads between 210 and 240 for instance, and suddenly you start seeing readings of 280 to 320 on that same gauge, it's an alert for you to investigate to see if something has changed. Oil temperature on an air cooled Harley will never be as consistent as it is on many other kinds of vehicles, unless you install some sophisticated external coolers with thermostatically controlled fans.  As long as you use a good synthetic, I don't see any need to get overly anal about oil temps.

btw, it's not terribly difficult to check the relative readings between the dash mounted gauge and the dipstick.  Get a pan of boiling water and dip both the sending unit for the dash gauge and the dipstick into the same water bath.  That will tell you exactly how much of any difference is due to the different gauges.


Jerry

[110tHunDer]

dipstick is reading in a pool of oil. dash gauge is reading from the return line. i would expect to see a difference.

My sending unit was in the front of the pan.

[moscooter]

 
Looks like a neat unit and gee,  they had the sense to "knurl" the cap area so it doesn't slip out of your hand when you extract it.   Unlike the digital button pushing H.D. unit which is smoooooooooooooooth chrome along the edge of the cap which can cause one to sometimes pull it out to check the oil level and then (due to a little oil in the area),  drop the SOB cause it's slippery and put a dent in your exhaust pipe chrome heat shield

Don't ask me how I know that

[D-N-D]

Sweet I need one.

[grc]

My sending unit was in the front of the pan.

Yup, even Harley now uses the machining plug location in the oil pan for the sending unit, unlike older style gauges that were plumbed into the external oil return line (those external lines no longer exist).  That hole is the one where the oil exits the oil pan on it's way to the oil pump.  And it makes perfect sense that a reading taken there would be different from where the oil enters the pan after returning from the engine.


Jerry

[110tHunDer]

Is this available for my FLHXSE 

Sure is.  Check the website in my original post and select from white or black, air or oil-filled, F or C.  If you want one like the one I got, it's item number: "Blk Face Oil Gauge 07-P"

[hard10]

My sending unit was in the front of the pan.

Any dead cats?





You knew I just had to! 

[spydglide]

Any dead cats?





You knew I just had to! 

Welcome back.. ....we were missing these posts.  har.  spyder

[porthole]

If my LCD takes a dump,

Must be my bike, I am on my 3rd LCD stick, and it has been dead for well over a year.