When caught in stop and go traffic my 2010 Ultra Limited oil pressure drops from 35 psi to below 10 psi even in parade mode. Is there a better oil pump or cam plate that can be installed to eliminate or reduce this problem. I have looked at the Harley Screaming Eagle Kit and the Fueling Kit, both are expensive or is there a better alternative to keeping the oil cooler and the oil pressure up.

 

Mine does that too...That's plenty of oil pressure for a mostly stock Twin Cam.

 

oil pressure is rpm dependent.

low rpms - like idling will see low(er) oil pressure

mike

 

mine is below 10 when it is above 90 in traffic, is normal. There are several kits you can put in, the SE is about $500 but I think you have to buy other things, the fueling kit is complete and Andrews sells a kit as well, there all going to cost money though.

 

You can see around 5psi hot at idle, nothing to worry about. For these bikes it's more about flow than pressure as they use roller bearings for the crank instead of plain bearings.



cheers

 

I asked the same question here a few weeks ago. Thougth it was odd but everyone says its fine.

 

At a cancer bennifet ride last weekend or the weekend before I got to talking to this older gentelman who I know as a mechanic at the local John Deere dealership outside of town....Anywho I was telling him how after my SE HYD tensioner upgrade my oil pressure is so much better and his remark was

"Harley twin cams only need 7 PSI to run safely" and " so if you see your oil pressure needle moove at all you're fine"

 

When fully warmed up 5 psi is normal at idle. At freeway speed it's around 35 psi when at full operating temp.

 

These are my 'everyday' values using HD basic mineral oil 20W50 on a stock 96ci:

When air temperature is in the 70's:
- at startup 35 psi (1100 rpm)
- warm idling 20-25 psi (900 rpm)
- hot engine @ traffic light 16 psi
- riding above 2000 rpm = 35 psi

When air temperature is 90°F:
- at startup 30-35 psi
- warm idling 16 psi
- hot engine @ traffic light 10 psi
- riding above 2000 rpm = 30-35 psi

When air temperature is around 105°F:
- at startup 20 psi (900 rpm)
- warm idling 10 psi (900 rpm)
- hot engine @ traffic light 5-7 psi (when in single cylinder mode)
- riding above 2000 rpm = 30 psi

I park mostly in the shade, warm idling is after 10 minutes of city driving, "hot engine @ traffic light" is idling at a red traffic lights after 20 miles of highway or during "coagulating" traffic. I'm usually in single cylinder mode when I can burn myself on the rear cylinder head

I'm ready to bet 20$ that when the engine can no longer produce normal oil pressure due to it's high temperature, the primary oil also gets hot, thins, and fretting starts in the compensator!

 

My favourite indy calls oil pressure gauges 'worry gauges'! Best to ignore the darned thing. Everything is fine.