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[ukharley]

Hi from across the pond. I have 2015 CVO street glide at 2500miles  bike was using coolant. dealership says traces in oil and slight Head Gasket leak but they`re not sure not sure this is only cause. HD UK Tech just want to replace head gasket. Is this an issue with this engine? Any help gratefully received.

[sadunbar]

Hi from across the pond. I have 2015 CVO street glide at 2500miles  bike was using coolant. dealership says traces in oil and slight Head Gasket leak but they`re not sure not sure this is only cause. HD UK Tech just want to replace head gasket. Is this an issue with this engine? Any help gratefully received.

There have been issues with porosity in the head casting allowing coolant into the oil and oil into the coolant...  I've not yet heard of any head gasket issues, but I'm sure it's possible.   

[ukharley]

Thanks for that info will put it to dealer principle when I meet him next week. It`ll be interesting what they say!

[ukharley]

Got my bike back today new head gaskets and all. 130miles later coolant bottle low! Dealership can`t confirm if they filled it properly how rubbish is that. Now have to top up and check again. Owner of dealership not interested. Do you get same issue with dealerships with not being interested once you`ve paid your money! 

[grc]

Got my bike back today new head gaskets and all. 130miles later coolant bottle low! Dealership can`t confirm if they filled it properly how rubbish is that. Now have to top up and check again. Owner of dealership not interested. Do you get same issue with dealerships with not being interested once you`ve paid your money!

That is the same attitude found in many (most?) dealerships in the USA as well.  Service after the sale has never been something Harley pressured their dealers on.  As long as you walk in with hundred dollar bills sticking out of your pockets looking to buy something they treat you great, but when you come back with a problem they don't know you and usually try to blow you off with BS instead of actually listening to what you have to say and then checking it out completely.  Don't get me wrong, there are some great dealerships over here but unfortunately they aren't the majority.

People in the USA have had the same issue you're talking about, and the ones I'm familiar with were also long drawn out affairs with clueless service departments.  It shouldn't be that way, since this is a very simple cooling system with very few places that can leak.  Before yours gets too far along you might want to file a complaint with H-D and get things documented.  I don't know if you have to deal with the distributor in Britain or the corporate home office in Milwaukee, but definitely go over the dealership's head.

Jerry

[sadunbar]

Got my bike back today new head gaskets and all. 130miles later coolant bottle low! Dealership can`t confirm if they filled it properly how rubbish is that. Now have to top up and check again. Owner of dealership not interested. Do you get same issue with dealerships with not being interested once you`ve paid your money!

Did they check for traces of coolant in the oil (i.e. your original problem)? 

Do you know the head gasket had actually failed and you don't have porosity in a head casting?

I've heard of several porosity issues, but yours is the first head gasket issue I've heard of on this motor.

[ukharley]

Over here we have to deal with dealership as they are the people we have a contract of purchase with, they then talk to HD UK for advise. Took bike back again today with proof that its still using coolant. Service manager confirmed that coolant found in oil and that HDUK had told them to replace head gasket although he couldn`t find a lot wrong with the ones they took off! Anyway they are now going to mark the coolant bottle and take the bike on a long test ride to confirm what I am saying is right! Also according to the head tech guy at HD UK they have never heard of any problems regarding the coolant system and that the coolant is just finding its level within the reservoir between the upper and lower marks. This is despite the fact it only has one level mark! Certainly knows his stuff!  Stand by for the next chapter. 

[sadunbar]

Over here we have to deal with dealership as they are the people we have a contract of purchase with, they then talk to HD UK for advise. Took bike back again today with proof that its still using coolant. Service manager confirmed that coolant found in oil and that HDUK had told them to replace head gasket although he couldn`t find a lot wrong with the ones they took off! Anyway they are now going to mark the coolant bottle and take the bike on a long test ride to confirm what I am saying is right! Also according to the head tech guy at HD UK they have never heard of any problems regarding the coolant system and that the coolant is just finding its level within the reservoir between the upper and lower marks. This is despite the fact it only has one level mark! Certainly knows his stuff!  Stand by for the next chapter.

Have they checked to be certain you don't again have coolant in your oil, thus the repeat of the low coolant level problem?  If the head gaskets they removed looked good, then logically there is another path allowing coolant into your oil - i.e. porosity.  Have you questioned the service advisor as to whether they inspected your heads for porosity?  The only instances I am of aware of allowing coolant into the oil was due to porosity in the cylinder heads (faulty castings).

Good luck...