I bought a 2006 Fat Boy last month and considering installing the HD oil cooler for softails. My reasoning is for engine longevity and cooler running temps. Any thoughts on whether it is worth it to spend the $300.00 or should I leave it alone. I love the bike and have had no issues/problems with it. Jack

 

My vote would be save your money. The harley cooler sits right behind your front wheel. Because the fatboy has a fat front wheel and fender, it gets virtually no air, even at highway speeds. I know because I have one on my fatboy. It made zero difference in my temps and when I put my hand down there... very little air flow.

 

I wouldn't know about the damn thing works or not... but the fat boy does need oil cooling... mine does!

Mimo.

 

I understand your concern, but I'll save the money for other bling.

I laugh at myself each time I think I can out-engineer the MoCo. I keep forgetting that they've beenworking with air-cooled motorsfor 105 years, with very few heat-related failures.

I have synthetic oils in all three holes that can handle temps far beyond what iginition or theweather can do to it. I am quite certain that I am not hurting my motor or cooking the oil.

An oil cooler is one more thing to break, leak, or collect bugs. It won't do a thing to help when you are stopped in traffic, and the newer ECMs have a built-in protection that will drop the rear cylinder from firing if things get too hot. (older ECM-equipped bikes can get their steelerships to download "parade mode", which is the same thing).

 

Thanks for the feedback. Since Harley sells them I figured the engineeers must have so same so in the products. I think I will save the money for now and see how it goes this summer. I had just been doing some reading about using an oil cooler to drop the heat down which in theory should prolong the life of the engine. I want to keep this bike for a long time and just looking at ways to minimize future problems. I also wonder why there are so damn many after market parts that are supposed to improve Big Twins - from exhaust systems to air intakes. Why don't the HD engineers just put these on stock bikes? Rhetorical question I guess since you can buy a screaming eagle for big bucks.

 

Interesting. Never gave the airflow issue with the fat tire a thought. Makes since to me. Thanks for the feedback. J

 

I have a 2000 Fatboy. Not the most HIGH tech of the bikes, but it has 43K
and no oil cooler.
I also considered once, getting an oil cooler. Before I went into the dealership, I looked at all the bikes parked out front (Rossmeyers place....lots of customers bikes to look at).....
I didn't see a single oil cooler that day.
That was the last time I ever 'saved' money at Rossmeyers. LOL

Chuck

 

Thanks Chuck- Pretty much convinced me that I will save the $$$. Jack

 

Yeah the oil-cooler is a waste of money. If anything get the fan that blows air on the cylinders instead of theoil cooler.

 

I agree with poorboy I have 17k on my 01 Fatboy and never a problem. Save the $ for bling!