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[CVOfan]

Hold On! Wait a minute!

Oil temp gauges not for the worrying type!  If you were not worried about it you would not put one on!!!
Curious, concerned, worried...whatever you want to call it we all spend a fortune trying to make these things last longer, perform at there best, be reliable, start easier, shift better....

I simply asked what temps everyone was seeing to see how accurate my gauge may or may not be.

Definitely agree that folks who worry too much should never install a temp gauge. 

My reply is the only people who have installed a temp gauge are those who are worried about it.

I agree with guppytrash...I am the worrrying type and I plan to have the gauge installed.  Those of us who have the 110 cannot afford to put our heads in the sand...

[grc]

My earlier post was tongue-in-cheek, btw. 

I've posed this question in the past, and haven't received a real answer yet.  What is the plan if the oil temperature gets "too high" (probably need a definition of too high)?  When it hits that magic number, do you shut it down and sit on the side of the road for an hour or two while the oil cools?  To what purpose, since it will heat right back up when you fire it up to continue your ride. 

There are some characteristics that should be monitored on a constant basis, but I don't see oil temp being one of them. Oil pressure is something that should be continuously monitored.  Oil temperature is going to be whatever it's going to be for the conditions under which you are riding, and unless you only plan to ride when the ambient temps are below 70°F and there is no traffic, worrying about the oil temperature is just going to make you nuts.  You bought a 1903 design air cooled V-Twin with the rear cylinder lined up directly behind the front cylinder, effectively shielding it from a significant portion of the air flow necessary to cool the engine.  It runs hot, and it transfers that heat to the oil.  Until someone repeals the laws of thermodynamics, or Harley joins the modern world, that's just the way it's going to be.  Bending over at every stop light to push a button and watch a little LCD display just seems a bit much to me, and it isn't going to make the oil any cooler anyway.  If you want to do that, spend the money on better oil coolers, better tunes, better cylinders with better heat transfer characteristics, etc.  Or you could buy something with a modern engine design, I suppose.

From what I've learned on the subject over the years, regular motor oil has a maximum safe temperature limit of approximately 250°F, and synthetics approximately 300°.  Above those temperatures, the oils break down more rapidly and should be changed more often.  So if you use a good synthetic oil, unless you see temps of 300° or higher on a regular basis I don't think all the worrying and potential ulcers are justified.  If people really must have something to worry about, I can think of a lot more to worry about with a Harley than the motor oil temperature.

As for the accuracy of the dipstick gauge, it should be real easy to check.  Get a lab grade thermometer with a scale that goes to 300°F, check the dipstick reading and then remove the dipstick and insert the thermometer, compare readings.  That will tell you something useful about the accuracy of the gauge.  Trying to compare your readings to those of other people on different bikes ridden under different conditions doesn't really tell you anything.


Jerry


 

[ultrafxr]

My earlier post was tongue-in-cheek, btw. 

I've posed this question in the past, and haven't received a real answer yet.  What is the plan if the oil temperature gets "too high" (probably need a definition of too high)?  When it hits that magic number, do you shut it down and sit on the side of the road for an hour or two while the oil cools?  To what purpose, since it will heat right back up when you fire it up to continue your ride. 

There are some characteristics that should be monitored on a constant basis, but I don't see oil temp being one of them. Oil pressure is something that should be continuously monitored.  Oil temperature is going to be whatever it's going to be for the conditions under which you are riding, and unless you only plan to ride when the ambient temps are below 70°F and there is no traffic, worrying about the oil temperature is just going to make you nuts.  You bought a 1903 design air cooled V-Twin with the rear cylinder lined up directly behind the front cylinder, effectively shielding it from a significant portion of the air flow necessary to cool the engine.  It runs hot, and it transfers that heat to the oil.  Until someone repeals the laws of thermodynamics, or Harley joins the modern world, that's just the way it's going to be.  Bending over at every stop light to push a button and watch a little LCD display just seems a bit much to me, and it isn't going to make the oil any cooler anyway.  If you want to do that, spend the money on better oil coolers, better tunes, better cylinders with better heat transfer characteristics, etc.  Or you could buy something with a modern engine design, I suppose.

From what I've learned on the subject over the years, regular motor oil has a maximum safe temperature limit of approximately 250°F, and synthetics approximately 300°.  Above those temperatures, the oils break down more rapidly and should be changed more often.  So if you use a good synthetic oil, unless you see temps of 300° or higher on a regular basis I don't think all the worrying and potential ulcers are justified.  If people really must have something to worry about, I can think of a lot more to worry about with a Harley than the motor oil temperature.

As for the accuracy of the dipstick gauge, it should be real easy to check.  Get a lab grade thermometer with a scale that goes to 300°F, check the dipstick reading and then remove the dipstick and insert the thermometer, compare readings.  That will tell you something useful about the accuracy of the gauge.  Trying to compare your readings to those of other people on different bikes ridden under different conditions doesn't really tell you anything.


Jerry

 

Guys named Jerry are really smart (and they write good too!).
 
Jerry

[CVOfan]

My earlier post was tongue-in-cheek, btw. 

I've posed this question in the past, and haven't received a real answer yet.  What is the plan if the oil temperature gets "too high" (probably need a definition of too high)?  When it hits that magic number, do you shut it down and sit on the side of the road for an hour or two while the oil cools?  To what purpose, since it will heat right back up when you fire it up to continue your ride. 

There are some characteristics that should be monitored on a constant basis, but I don't see oil temp being one of them. Oil pressure is something that should be continuously monitored.  Oil temperature is going to be whatever it's going to be for the conditions under which you are riding, and unless you only plan to ride when the ambient temps are below 70°F and there is no traffic, worrying about the oil temperature is just going to make you nuts.  You bought a 1903 design air cooled V-Twin with the rear cylinder lined up directly behind the front cylinder, effectively shielding it from a significant portion of the air flow necessary to cool the engine.  It runs hot, and it transfers that heat to the oil.  Until someone repeals the laws of thermodynamics, or Harley joins the modern world, that's just the way it's going to be.  Bending over at every stop light to push a button and watch a little LCD display just seems a bit much to me, and it isn't going to make the oil any cooler anyway.  If you want to do that, spend the money on better oil coolers, better tunes, better cylinders with better heat transfer characteristics, etc.  Or you could buy something with a modern engine design, I suppose.

From what I've learned on the subject over the years, regular motor oil has a maximum safe temperature limit of approximately 250°F, and synthetics approximately 300°.  Above those temperatures, the oils break down more rapidly and should be changed more often.  So if you use a good synthetic oil, unless you see temps of 300° or higher on a regular basis I don't think all the worrying and potential ulcers are justified.  If people really must have something to worry about, I can think of a lot more to worry about with a Harley than the motor oil temperature.

As for the accuracy of the dipstick gauge, it should be real easy to check.  Get a lab grade thermometer with a scale that goes to 300°F, check the dipstick reading and then remove the dipstick and insert the thermometer, compare readings.  That will tell you something useful about the accuracy of the gauge.  Trying to compare your readings to those of other people on different bikes ridden under different conditions doesn't really tell you anything.


Jerry


 

Jerry, that's a good argument....you may have me convinced.      I've just installed the SE Hi-Flow filter (same as the SESG version) and a set of Rinehart slip-ons.  How much difference do think this should make with the engine/oil temp?

[guppytrash]

Hold on!  Wait a minute!

grc

I hope it was obvious there was no offense taken on my end and that my response was tongue-in-cheek.
 
It was just a simple face value question...  You know like what brand synthetic do you use?  What cam?  Which exhaust?  Who cuts you hair??
Legs or breasts?

If I was worrying I would have bought a Honda with a radiator.

[grc]

Hold on!  Wait a minute!

grc

I hope it was obvious there was no offense taken on my end and that my response was tongue-in-cheek.
 
It was just a simple face value question...  You know like what brand synthetic do you use?  What cam?  Which exhaust?  Who cuts you hair??
Legs or breasts?

If I was worrying I would have bought a Honda with a radiator.

    I thought about recommending the Honda, but I figured I wouldn't be able to get away with that one.

No offense taken, no offense intended. 


Jerry

[tennisman]

Just a couple comments:

- somewhere I read HD recommended max temp = 300.  I have a sump temp gauge and have never seen > 280 deg. F

- regarding oil cooler, the CVOs come with the cooler and it has a thermostatic valve so winter riding is not a concern.

[Decano]

Stock air cleaner, stock exhaust, no engine mods and I use HD brand synthetic.  275 is the highest it has been.  As long as it runs, why should I care how hot?  I have extended warranty and really do not care what happens to the engine.

[Twolanerider]

why should I care how hot?  I have extended warranty and really do not care what happens to the engine.

Kinda depends on how far the walk is or how heavy is the traffic when she craps out....

[59ironman]

Riding in Lower Alabama yesterday on my ( new to me, 2 weeks worth) 02 SERK Stock, other than V & H slip ons, 95* temp,  heat index around 103* 2 up combination town and winding back roads over to MS to feed my catfish addiction, temp gauge showed 258* came home on interstate 80mph still 258* seems to hot for my liking, my 79 shovel with stroker kit stays in the 190-200* no matter how hard I ride it ( Ride it as hard as It will let me) , old Iron head same, both have twin down tube oil coolers,Evo runs about 205 tops on a hot day here, will be looking at a oil cooler for sure. I run synthetic in all 3 holes.
Saw someone post saying all CVO have oil coolers? Where?

[LRebel]

Oklahoma Summer -- V & H Big Shot Duals -- On the hundred dollar dip-stick usually see 225 degrees

[tennisman]

As far as oil temps go, I don't think the type of exhaust means as much as whether you have a SERT, PCIII, etc. and have done a dyno to change AF ratio.  And 260 degrees as a max temp is pretty good, IMO.

T

[SERK3]

You guys make me feel better, The highest temp i've ever seen was in the upper 230's and that was on a hot and humid day riding 2 up in Gatlingburg, Piegon Forge traffic. 

[skreminegul07]

My earlier post was tongue-in-cheek, btw. 

I've posed this question in the past, and haven't received a real answer yet.  What is the plan if the oil temperature gets "too high" (probably need a definition of too high)?  When it hits that magic number, do you shut it down and sit on the side of the road for an hour or two while the oil cools?  To what purpose, since it will heat right back up when you fire it up to continue your ride. 

There are some characteristics that should be monitored on a constant basis, but I don't see oil temp being one of them. Oil pressure is something that should be continuously monitored.  Oil temperature is going to be whatever it's going to be for the conditions under which you are riding, and unless you only plan to ride when the ambient temps are below 70°F and there is no traffic, worrying about the oil temperature is just going to make you nuts.  You bought a 1903 design air cooled V-Twin with the rear cylinder lined up directly behind the front cylinder, effectively shielding it from a significant portion of the air flow necessary to cool the engine.  It runs hot, and it transfers that heat to the oil.  Until someone repeals the laws of thermodynamics, or Harley joins the modern world, that's just the way it's going to be.  Bending over at every stop light to push a button and watch a little LCD display just seems a bit much to me, and it isn't going to make the oil any cooler anyway.  If you want to do that, spend the money on better oil coolers, better tunes, better cylinders with better heat transfer characteristics, etc.  Or you could buy something with a modern engine design, I suppose.

From what I've learned on the subject over the years, regular motor oil has a maximum safe temperature limit of approximately 250°F, and synthetics approximately 300°.  Above those temperatures, the oils break down more rapidly and should be changed more often.  So if you use a good synthetic oil, unless you see temps of 300° or higher on a regular basis I don't think all the worrying and potential ulcers are justified.  If people really must have something to worry about, I can think of a lot more to worry about with a Harley than the motor oil temperature.

As for the accuracy of the dipstick gauge, it should be real easy to check.  Get a lab grade thermometer with a scale that goes to 300°F, check the dipstick reading and then remove the dipstick and insert the thermometer, compare readings.  That will tell you something useful about the accuracy of the gauge.  Trying to compare your readings to those of other people on different bikes ridden under different conditions doesn't really tell you anything.


Jerry


 

I was a bit less scientific, I put it in water to see the temp when it started to boil, it was very close to 212 degrees.  Seemed accurate enough.
i would imagine an oil temp sending unit in front of the oil cooler would give a more accurate idea of the oil temp in the motor? rather than in the tank?

[59ironman]

Another thought,I changed my fluids yesterday and went with the Mobil 1 syn 20-50 in the motor,B & M trick shift in primary, and Lucus Lube 75-90 syn in the tranny, cold front today in Mobile ONLY 90* 55 percent humidity temp gauge says 245* posted the other day was 258* bike had all syn3 in it at the time, me thinks fluids changed it some even though temp was down some here, still gave it a hard workout to see if oil brands made difference, will try again when the weather warms back up to high 90's. Gotta love the deep south.