What are you guys seeing for oil pressure? While I prefer a mechanical gauge I am currently stuck what the infotainment system tells me.
29 PSI on a cold start (Seems low to me)
26-28 PSI in 6th gear cruising between 55-75MPH.
12 PSI at warm idle.


The cruise and cold start pressures have me worried. Just over 3K miles in the last month and it has not come apart yet so I guess its ok.


Could the screen be lying to me? Is it worth fitting a mechanical gauge to check it?


Dealer says its normal, but my neighbors 2013 classic runs much higher pressure on his analog gauge.

 

Those are exactly the same numbers I run at. I am guessing there isn't a problem.

I think it may just be the gauge but I haven't checked the number in the book.

 

Thanks brother. That puts my mind at ease. I was worried sick about it.

 

No prob. I constantly flip the switch to check temp and notice the pressure as well. I did check the pressure quite a bit in Sturgis as it takes an hour to move a quarter mile down the main drag. I was also monitoring the EITMS as the bike was getting extremely hot.

 

The info screen on mine reads:
Cold cruise 55mph 42 psi
Hot cruise 32-36 psi
Hot idle 13-17 depending on how hot.
I don't see an issue with yours, beside probably not accurate anyway.

 

That's what worries me. Everyone I talk to is above 30 at cruise. It makes me want to fit a mechanical guage and go for a ride to check it.

 

My limited is exactly the same as yours. The air cooled models still have the oil cooler and I suspect that maybe the reason for more pressure. My 10 limited 32 to 35 at hot cruise and near 40 when cold and about 20 at hot idle.

 

My 07 ultra when I bought it a year ago (30k) would run about 32-35 at cruising but would drop to about 12 at idle, thought it was normal. When I added cams I took a good look at the oil pump. Not much scoring but obvious this pump was not machined right and never should have been installed at the factory. I have pics somewhere. Replaced with new stock pump and for good measure new stock cam plate.

Oil pressure is now at 35-40ish when cruising and never falls below 32 at idle. Stock oil pump spring and all that. Made me a believer that QC at the Motor Company is really lacking. The defect I saw was from manufacturing only, not from mileage.

 

You might enjoy looking at the oil flow section of the manual

Most twin cam models have a bleed off set at about 35 PSI right after the oil pump...next in the line is the gauge sender...then the filter.

restrictive filters can cause the sender to show a higher psi...but it ain't, the bleed off takes care of that.


these motors get hot and the viscosity of the oil will drop quickly...resulting in even lower readings. ( the oil is sprayed at the piston skirts and bore..as well as going through the bearings. it carries alot of heat away from the internals, it gets pretty thin.
When it drops back into the oil tank the oil moves through a baffle ( 09+) to slow it's return and mixing with the oil already in the tank. this helps it to shed heat and to ensure that the oil feed is getting oil which is cooler than the stuff returning


don't dwell on it

mike