Topic: How much oil does it take for an oil change? (Read 27295 times)

tmitchellofpg · « **on:** August 06, 2008, 10:21:35 AM »

Things that make you go Hmmm.
I have the owner's and service manual. They state to fill with no more then 3 1/2 quarts. The 2 times I have changed oil it took a little less then 2 1/2 qts to bring to full mark on dipstick (Checked with engine at operating temperature and bike on jiffy stand). The first oil change I assumed the engine was not hot enough, so the next oil change I made sure it was fully warmed up. I put about 2 1/4 qts in, drive it for a few miles then top off to the full mark.
I am just a bit confused as to why it doesn't take closer to 3 1/2 qts.
How much oil does your 2005 SE Fat Boy take?
Tom

fatty4x4 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 07, 2008, 02:19:55 AM »

When they say 3.5 quarts or whatever the manual says it is referring to a dry engine. When you change your oil not all of it comes out.
Just go by the dipstick, just as your doing. The dipstick is accurate.

murphy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 07, 2008, 04:11:30 AM »

Change the oils hot... not just warm, it makes a difference!

Screamin · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2008, 06:21:06 AM »

You are replacing the oil filter at the same time aren't you?

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2008, 12:17:33 PM »

Yes I change the oil filter and the engine is up to operating temperature.

It amazes me that with 42 viewings, of this post, not one person could say how much oil they actually put in when they do an oil change.
I realize my question doesn't have much bearing on anything. I was just curious why my bike seems to take a quart less then what is mentioned in the owner's and service manuals.
Tom

Screamin · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2008, 05:30:00 PM »

3 1/2 +/- quarts every time.

Twolanerider · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2008, 05:39:09 PM »

Quote from: tmitchellofpg on August 07, 2008, 12:17:33 PM

It amazes me that with 42 viewings, of this post, not one person could say how much oil they actually put in when they do an oil change.

I was just curious why my bike seems to take a quart less then what is mentioned in the owner's and service manuals.

Tom

Tom, a problem is that answering the former sheds no light on the latter. Just about everyone's bike is going to be normal. So it doesn't do a lot of good to keep saying that over and over again.

That 99.9% of everyone's bikes will take normal volume, however, has nothing to with why yours does not. And that we can't really know since we can't remotely check out your bike or see inside your oil tank.

Hoist! · « **Reply #7 on:** August 07, 2008, 05:52:41 PM »

Quote from: Screamin on August 07, 2008, 05:30:00 PM

3 1/2 +/- quarts every time.

Yeap, with filter, and never bother to check it when finished either!

Hoist!

iski · « **Reply #8 on:** August 07, 2008, 06:10:42 PM »

Quote from: Screamin on August 07, 2008, 05:30:00 PM

3 1/2 +/- quarts every time.

Same here. 02 RK with a TC 88 & an 07 SEULTRA with a 110. Fill to slightly under full usually.

sadunbar · « **Reply #9 on:** August 07, 2008, 06:15:43 PM »

Quote from: Screamin on August 07, 2008, 05:30:00 PM

3 1/2 +/- quarts every time.

ditto...

Twolanerider · « **Reply #10 on:** August 07, 2008, 06:17:15 PM »

Quote from: Hoist! on August 07, 2008, 05:52:41 PM

Yeap, with filter, and never bother to check it when finished either!

Hoist!

I used to change my oil with what blew out of Cybil.

Coolbreeze · « **Reply #11 on:** August 07, 2008, 07:12:33 PM »

It sounds to me like you have a BIG something stuck in the oil tank, OR, (correct me if I'm talkin' out my a$$ guys), If the motor is wet sumping a bit, could it trap a quart or so in the case that won't come out when you drain the tank? (no, that doesn't make sense because you'd still get 3 quarts out of the iol tank another 1/2 with the filter....)

You got some "thing" in in the oil tank... my verdict. (Just another lousy opinion by the way...)

oh yea.. mine eats 4 full quarts when I overfill it. Then it runs kinda warm....

Rooster · « **Reply #12 on:** August 07, 2008, 07:20:11 PM »

Three quarts is what mine takes every time. That is half way up the checkered section on the stick. My old RK was 3 and 1\2 everytime. Don't know why but I just go by the stick. Oh yea, no oil puking at all.

grc · « **Reply #13 on:** August 07, 2008, 07:45:25 PM »

Tom, once the engine stops turning over no more oil is going to be pumped to the remote tank, so anything left in the engine isn't going to affect your dipstick reading. Is the dipstick showing full before you drain out the 2.5 quarts? If it is, you either have the wrong dipstick or the tank isn't draining completely for some reason. Time to verify the dipstick and check the tank with a flashlight to see if oil remains after draining.

Jerry

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2008, 08:09:42 PM »

I think I may of figured it out. The original owner had the extended jiffy stand kit installed. It comes stock on Deluxe models. It should work fine on a 2005 SE FB, since they are both lowered in the rear. I have always thought that my bike doesn't lean over as far as the average Harley, when it's on the jiffy stand. If my bike doesn't lean over as far as it should, this would give a false reading on the dip stick.
Does it sound feasible that my dipstick would show the oil at the full mark, when it is a quart low, because the bike is not leaned over far enough?
Could someone do me a big favor and check their oil, when the bike is up to operating temperature. If it checks good to the full mark when it is on the jiffy stand, could you check once more to see where the reading is when the bike is stood up straight?
Thanks,
Tom

Screamin · « **Reply #15 on:** August 07, 2008, 08:21:55 PM »

You changing the oil w/ the bike on a jack or leaned over on the kick stand?

murphy · « **Reply #16 on:** August 07, 2008, 08:41:05 PM »

Your level will be distorted if not leaned fully to the side... we can check but we don't know how far off the mark yours is.

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2008, 12:03:45 AM »

Murphy,
Right now my dipstick level reads exactly at the full mark, when the bike is on the jiffy stand and the oil is up to operating temperature. If my bike is not leaning over far enough due to the different jiffy stand, I am probably getting a bad reading. If you have your oil level at the full mark and you checked it at operating temperature on your stock jiffy stand, our dipsticks should have the same reading when both bikes are stood up straight. For example if your reading is 3/4" below full when the bike is upright and mine reads 1 1/2" below full, I would add enough oil to bring it to 3/4" below full to match your reading. Then I could lean it over onto the jiffy stand and see what the dip stick reads and consider that my actual full mark.
Hopefully that makes some sense. Another possibility is my dip stick is incorrect.
Thanks,
Tom

Twolanerider · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2008, 12:08:14 AM »

Take a picture of your dipstick with a tape measure next to it. Someone else with a Softail can do the same. Then you'll know if it's that simple or if you have more to be concerned about.

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:44:56 AM »

I attached a picture of the dip stick that was with my 2005 SE Fat Boy when I bought it.
I measured from the bottom of the rubber gasket that nests against the oil tank filler neck to the top of the fill mark. It was just shy of 3 1/2". I would think my current dipstick would have to be about an inch too long, for me to get a full reading with just 2 1/2 qts. of oil. I am the second owner so it is possible that this is not the original dip stick.

Could someone that adds approximately 3 1/2 qts of oil to their 2005 SE Fat Boy, when they change oil, please measure their dipstick from the top of the full mark to the bottom of the rubber gasket that nests against the oil filler neck.
Thanks,
Tom

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #20 on:** August 20, 2008, 02:56:20 PM »

Still would appreciate it if a 2005 or 2006 SE Fat Boy owner would measure their dipstick and tell me if it is the same as in the photograph from the prior post.
Thanks,
Tom

AUSSIE_FLSTFSE · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2008, 07:29:26 AM »

Tom,

I always put 3 qts of Mobil 1 V-Twin in my 2005 fatboy. I will measure when I get a chance but I am sure the stick it will be the same as yours!
Cheers
Aussie

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2008, 08:54:59 AM »

Aussie,
Thanks for the reply.
I think I may have figured out why my 2005 SE Fat Boy only takes 2-1/2 qts., to bring the level to the full mark, on my dipstick. I am pretty sure all the 2005 Softails have the same length dipstick, even though the Deluxe and the SE FB are approximately 1" lower in the rear. That means these 2 models do not lean over as far when on the jiffy stand, resulting in a false high reading on the dipstick.
Does the MOCO use a shorter jiffy stand on our models to compensate for the rear end being lower?
The original owner of my bike had the extended jiffy stand installed. Which as far as I can tell means that it has the additional piece that extends out so it is easier to access with your heel. I don't think it is suppose to be longer then the stock jiffy stand, but it could be a bit longer, which would further compound the problem.
So my theory is: in order to get a proper reading on the SE dipstick I would have to put a 1" thick board under the rear wheel and make sure my jiffy stand is the stock length. Then my dipstick will read properly and should show that I am a quart low.
This problem will not exist on the 2006 SE FAT Boy because it sits an inch higher the the 2005 SE, due to the taller tires.
As minor as this problem is. It has been driving me crazy trying to find a logical reason for it.
Thanks,
Tom

tmitchellofpg · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2008, 11:55:12 AM »

Aussie,
I just shot my theory all to h#ll. Got back from riding. I followed the manual instructions for an oil check. Let it idle for 2 minutes, before shutting engine off (I never did that before). Shut it off. Put it on jiffy stand. Wait 4 minutes to check oil level. It read full. Rolled back tire up on 1" thick piece of wood. Rechecked oil level,while on jiffy stand. Not more then 1/8" difference.
Tom

Author Topic: How much oil does it take for an oil change? (Read 27295 times)