Just finished installing a HD oil temp gauge in the fairing of my SG. I took the bike for a test ride yesterday which consisted of combined highway and through town stop and go traffic. The ride took about 45 minutes.
The outside temperature was 50 degrees.
I have a digital dipstick which I know is accurate because I put it in hot water on my stove and compared it to a cooking thermometer. Both read the same temp.
So what I did was compare the dip stick reading to the in dash gauge and there was a consistant difference of 25 to 30 degrees. The indash gauge read cooler.
The hotest the bike ran was only 205 on the dip stick, guess because of the outside temp and the fact that the bike runs richer in winter.
I'm thinking that the in dash gauge may still be accurate since there can be a difference in oil temp depending on where the reading is taken from. The sensor for the in dash gauge is in the oil pan in the hole next to the drain plug.
In reading old threads on oil temps I would shake my head wondering how some of your bike run so much cooler than mine in the hotter months but I think I have found the answer, they have the in dash gauge.

Was wondering if my location synopsis is correct. Anybody know?

 

Good info. I was thinking of installing the oil gauage on the next oil change. I will keep in mind the temp difference.

 

very interseting.........

 

That's really interesting. Last summer I purchased one of those oil coolers with an intergraded fan and was wondering where the best place would be to mount the sending unit that controls the fan. The options are the pan or just before the cooling unit. I guess that the ribs on the oil pan actually do work. Maybe I should mount the fan sending unit where the oil pressure sending unit it. I also have the dash temp gauge and the sending unit is at the pan as well.
Any thoughts?
Thanks,
Tom

 

I got the aoto zone one 40.00 its pretty spot on, sender in oil tank. reads same as dip stick one. or very close. 45 deg out & hiway ridding yesterday 220 deg oil have jag cooler w/ t stat 1/2 blocked by lowers but its the verticle one...

 

What does the auto zone gauge look like and how and where did you mount it?

 

yea we want to know and was it a kit or did you just piece it togeather

 

Just wait until you ride in the rain! If you have the sending unit in the pan, it becomes very apparent how good the pan is at transfering heat, the oil temp will drop at 50 degrees or more. Realistically, the dipstick and the sending unit should sense the same temps as they are both measuring the oil temp in the pan. Might jst be a calibration issue with one or the other.

 

25 degrees seems to be quite a difference? I can see if you have a sensor just before a cooler....or just after one, but still. 25 degrees off?
I have a dip stick type thermometer. I ride in Florida (gets warm in the summer) and I have never gotten to where I feel my engine is threatened.
At least you can tell your oil temp all the time (within 25 degrees). Mine? I check every
couple gas stops (It is pretty accurate in the morning also for air temp).

chuck the mensh

 

yep, your right the dipstick can give a prety accurate air temp prior to starting the bike.
BTW, no oil cooler on my bike.