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I have had love jugs on my 2021 for two years. I data log via Power vision on every ride. I cant see a significant difference in temp with them on or off. I leave them installed thinking they must do something ( plus theyre already paid for) . IMHO , I would stay away. If I had to do it over, Id go with a fan-assisted oil cooler.
Are some of you guys missing the fact that the 2020 Heritage already has an oil cooler from the factory? Anything else is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Except when youre idling or going 5 mph in traffic. The one oil cooler needs air flowing through it to work just like a cars radiator fan.
Except when youre idling or going 5 mph in traffic. The one oil cooler needs air flowing through it to work just like a cars radiator fan.
I understand that argument, but my experience in the desert heat idling or 5 mph in traffic says otherwise. No one I know here has ever cooked an engine, and I havent heard of any either. It wont hurt anything for sure, but its not necessary.
Your bike is engineered with sufficient cooling for all normal riding conditions. It also has a sensor to richen the fuel mixture and kill cylinders a little at a time to reduce engine heat if it gets too hot. When's the last time you felt it kick in? If never, then you know how useless additional oil cooling would be. The only time it ever happened to me was in stop and go traffic in a construction zone, and it resolved as soon as I took off. In other words: it's a bunch of people trying to sell you a solution to a non-existent problem. Use appropriate oil and there is no real danger of cooking your engine.
tmac00333;
You don't need any extra system if you're not going to be riding in parades or traffic jams often. It will not help prolong the life of your bike any further, in normal riding conditions. The type and places you ride will do more to further your bikes life expectancy. The least harmful riding for your machine is during steady highway speeds. That is the only way I personally want to ride, anyway. I stay out of the city, don't race, don't perform unnecessary modifications, and do perform routine maintenance.
Your preferences may differ, and that will determine your choice.
Dealer's choice; if the OP wants one and has the funds; why not? South Texas summers and I ran two on my built all bore 107 FLHT to keep oil temps below 225* on 100*+ days. True oil coolers don't work without air flow but also true that oil temps are lower running a cooler when you hit that traffic jam. As has been said, installing an oil cooler won't hurt a thing.
Lot of good info here. I go to several rallies a year, two-up, mainly Daytona but also Sturgis and some other smaller ones. You get into a lot of slow traffic jams at those rallies. Long Idling and stop-and-go-traffic. You also get into a lot of slow traffic and jams in construction zones, especially here in Florida for some reason. That could be considered normal riding.
Also, I understand you won't cook your engine with all the existing safeguards, but I'm just curious about how much intermittent overheating affects the longevity of an HD air-cooled engine over time. Like I say, I want to keep this bike for the long haul, and am considering an oil-cooler for that reason, as an investment.
Sounds like you've decided to get one. If you're open to it, have a look at other options with a fan as well. Without a fan, you're no better off in traffic than just running the factory cooler only.
If your bike is 100% stock, you likely dont need it.
If you’ve increased the horsepower one way or another I think you do.
For those that don’t understand that, they likely keep things 100% stock.
I run both oil cooler with fan and luv jugs on my bikes and I need them. In below 75 degree temps with cooler and fans off I run about 200-210 degrees, before coolers 210-225 degrees.
Above 75-80 degrees while moving I’m about 200.. but come to a light and within 20 seconds it will climb to 220-240.. with fans on it stays below 210. That’s a big difference with both running… no clue what the thermal temps are at the head.. that’s just oil temps in the oil tank readings.
Your call.
Road King 113”
Softail 127”
I have all four fans on a momentary switch with my brakes. If I use or Hold the brakes the fans run. I don’t think they are needed when moving.
Last edited by Rains2much; Feb 10, 2025 at 09:08 AM.
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