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[shuskisson]

I just traded in an 08 streetgide for a CVO ultra w/ 3400 miles on it. I love the new bike...... except the gas mileage and slight oil leak. Ive put about 3000 miles on it in the 2 months I've had it. The first tank of gas got around 42mpg which I was happy about. Since then I've took it on two long trips. I've averaged only 28-29mpg city/hwy, 1up or 2up it doesn'nt matter. AND theres a film of oil at the bottom of the back cylinder and a build up in the air cleaner. The dealership is telling me its normal and it will do better if I never use 6th gear except when driving over 80mph and keep it at 3000+rpm's all the time. I dont know, but this doesn't seem right to me. I just want to know if anyone else has this problem and if this is what I can expect after spending so much on a bike.

[PASN YU]

Really?? Base gaskets are supposed to leak? Only ride in 6th gear over 80?? Are you serious? What dealership is this? I want to avoid it at all costs. I suggest going to another dealership.

[shuskisson]

its an 08 ultra

[Twolanerider]

its an 08 ultra

Whomever you spoke with at that dealership is either a willfull ass or an ignorant ass.  Sorry.  Hopefully you'll not let the shop get away with that kind of BS.  Either find another shop or speak to his superior.  Need to do one or the other (or both) or you've become as much a part of the problem as this ass is.

No, it shouldn't leak.  Have someone (you can do it yourself at the HD website also) make sure your bike is or is not part of the cylinder head/cylinder head gasket recall problem from a couple years ago. 

Harley didn't call it a recall.  Because they think we're too stupid to understand that a significant problem is a significant problem regardless of whether it's called a recall or a pile of posies.  But many bikes had serious oil leaking issues.  It's worth checking to see if yours is part of that steaming pile of bikes.  Good luck.

[roadking71865]

I have a '10 Ultra and recently had my 10K service.  At that time I had been burning oil.  My air filter was full of oil.  I was told to ride a little longer and if it continued to burn oil the tech. would take off the top end.  I think he said I may have a lifter?? stuck or something like that causing it to burn oil.  Haven't really riden since the check so have no news yet.  Glad I have the extended warranty.

[ultrafxr]

I have a '10 Ultra and recently had my 10K service.  At that time I had been burning oil.  My air filter was full of oil.  I was told to ride a little longer and if it continued to burn oil the tech. would take off the top end.  I think he said I may have a lifter?? stuck or something like that causing it to burn oil.  Haven't really riden since the check so have no news yet.  Glad I have the extended warranty.

Makes perfect sense to me, not.  It is using oil so keep riding it and maybe it will cure itself - or maybe run out of oil, lol.  I can see them perhaps wanting to carefully check the oil level then have you ride it for a number of miles and recheck the oil level to verify that it is using oil.  But if they already agree that it is using oil then they should just go ahead and fix the problem imo.  Good luck.  

[Chipster]

Hi. I had a similar problem with my 07 CVO Ultra.  Since it was my first Harley I hate to say this but i did not know much about the bike or Harley's in general. I thought they all were suppose to leak and get crappy mileage. Well when I took it to my mech he set me strait....  First that oil leak is a problem and it should be taken care of by the dealer second and I hate to admit this but low tire pressure was causing my crappy mileage.  Yes I am a dumb ass and now know better and check my tire pressure often.  The CVO ultra is a well crafted machine that may need a couple of changes (engine mount (pre-09).  Which I have done because of what a great bike it is. A CVO rider forever!

[ultrafxr]

Hi. I had a similar problem with my 07 CVO Ultra.  Since it was my first Harley I hate to say this but i did not know much about the bike or Harley's in general. I thought they all were suppose to leak and get crappy mileage. Well when I took it to my mech he set me strait....  First that oil leak is a problem and it should be taken care of by the dealer second and I hate to admit this but low tire pressure was causing my crappy mileage.  Yes I am a dumb ass and now know better and check my tire pressure often.  The CVO ultra is a well crafted machine that may need a couple of changes (engine mount (pre-09).  Which I have done because of what a great bike it is. A CVO rider forever!

Not only that but it is a major safety issue.  I will not mention any names but at Ribfest a guy who should know better left the hotel to gas up and checked his tire pressure to find that it was SERIOUSLY low.  Oh, that's why it has been handling so crappy he said!  And he went on to say air pressure had not been checked in almost a year!  When his friend and riding companion heard that he admitted that his had not been checked in many months.  So we checked it, found it low and since I carry an air compressor with me we aired it up right there in the parking lot.

I am anal about checking my tire pressure.  You only have two wheels and they better be 100% or you can get in real trouble really quick.

[Midnight Rider]

I just traded in an 08 streetgide for a CVO ultra w/ 3400 miles on it. I love the new bike...... except the gas mileage and slight oil leak. Ive put about 3000 miles on it in the 2 months I've had it. The first tank of gas got around 42mpg which I was happy about. Since then I've took it on two long trips. I've averaged only 28-29mpg city/hwy, 1up or 2up it doesn'nt matter. AND theres a film of oil at the bottom of the back cylinder and a build up in the air cleaner. The dealership is telling me its normal and it will do better if I never use 6th gear except when driving over 80mph and keep it at 3000+rpm's all the time. I dont know, but this doesn't seem right to me. I just want to know if anyone else has this problem and if this is what I can expect after spending so much on a bike.

If that's the only dealer in town, go back and MAKE them pull up your bike by VIN number to ensure it is not part of the "product enhancement" program they (HD) did to fix all the oil leaks that happened on the 110" motors when released in '07 and part of '08.  The "fix" did not happen until well into '08, and with that few miles on your bike, my bet is that the work was never performed.  All work done by HD dealers is tied to your VIN number, so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to check it out.

If they tell you that oil leaks are normal, tell them, in no uncertain terms, that they are as full of chit as a Christmas Turkey and that you would like to speak to someone who isn't.

[shuskisson]

UPDATE: I have an appt for next Wednesday @ 9am to drop off my bike at the dealership. Their gonna check the oil leak issue, bad gas mileage, and a clattering noise at certain rpm's( which I was told that 110's clatter plus the use of synthetic oil makes them noisey). Hopefully I haven't bought a lemon. I never had a problem with my streetglide in the 4 yrs I had it.

[Midnight Rider]

UPDATE: I have an appt for next Wednesday @ 9am to drop off my bike at the dealership. Their gonna check the oil leak issue, bad gas mileage, and a clattering noise at certain rpm's( which I was told that 110's clatter plus the use of synthetic oil makes them noisey). Hopefully I haven't bought a lemon. I never had a problem with my streetglide in the 4 yrs I had it.

Even more BS being piled on top of an already large pile...

[ultrafxr]

Even more BS being piled on top of an already large pile...

What he said.  I quit being amazed long ago by the BS that comes from some folks at the moco, dealers, techs, sales people, etc.  
For example when the voltage regulator failed on my '12 seuc at 3,500 miles the out of town dealer and my local dealer encouraged me to keep the black replacement because having them chromed causes them to be hotter which can lead to failure.  Nothing to do with the pizz poor QC from their vendor(s) causing a recall, oops 'campaign to improve customer satisfaction' for the voltage regulators - both black and chrome.  Thank goodness for this site because it helps keep me sane when I have to endure such blather explaining away problems.

[grayghost731]

This whole  thread smells a little Fishy    I think someone is back 

[shuskisson]

Update: took it in and they found the two o-rings where the air cleaner mounts to the cylinders were bad. So far, that has did the trick. we'll see!

[shuskisson]

greyghost731, dont know who you're referring two, and don't care but im a new CVO owner and had a problem that I addressed with this blog. I had my Streetglide for over 3 years and had no ploblems ever. Just wanted to see if i've bought a lemon.