Harley Davidson Oil Cooler Guide

Oil needs to be kept constantly between a certain temperature ranges for it to lubricate the engine of a Harley Davidson
motorcycle best. Oil that becomes too cold will thicken and lose its
ability to lubricate, while oil that becomes too hot will begin to
break down and cause the same problem.  An oil cooler is a head
exchange device that controls the air currents that cool the oil and
keeps it within the correct temperature range for efficient engine
operation. They are available in horizontal and vertical mounted models
and as a factory installed or third party feature like the oil coolers
marketed by Jagg or Setrab Oil Coolers.

Why Use an Oil Cooler?

Using an oil cooler on your Harley Davidson motorcycle will increase
the life expectancy of your engine and your motorcycle as a whole by
cooling the oil that lubricates its moving parts. This reduces the
expected costs of repairs or possible early replacement of your
motorcycle due to wear and tear. Oil coolers are also a decorative
chrome feature that adds to the visual appeal of the exterior of your
motorcycle. In addition, an oil cooler helps to keep your bike
operating at optimum performance levels when it’s the most important,
when you need it. They’re a great investment for helping you protect
and ride your motorcycle longer.

3rd Party Oil Coolers

There are a few benefits and drawbacks to having an oil cooler
installed on your Harley Davidson motorcycle. The variety of different
third party models available provides a lot more choice in look than a
factory included oil cooler will have. A factory installed oil cooler
may only have one or two style choices at most, but they come installed
and running.

Third party parts may not come with everything you need to do the
installation, and instructions can be very difficult to follow.  For
third party coolers, if you aren’t a savvy motorcycle technician, you
might need to find a shop to do the installation for you (which can
present another set of concerns).  Also, the third party oil cooler you
decide to purchase might have compatibility issues with other parts if
you are a fan of after-market modification–be very careful when
changing parts.

Got any tips on after-market Oil Coolers? Post in our forums!