Are oil cooler systems really worth it?
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2024
Posts: 567
Likes: 556
From: Northern plains
Police and Shriners that participate in parades with their bikes have used auxiliary cooling fans for years. Even water cooled bikes can run hot and have their electric radiator cooling fans working overtime. It can be an extra drain on your battery, so some upgrade to higher output alternators, too.
Back in the 90s, there were lots more Goldwing riders and clubs. Those Honda Goldwing 1500s that participated in long parades had to watch out for that and a different problem - the slow walking speeds and stops of parades didn't provide enough of the engime revs to keep the alternators charging. We were always told to run up the idle once in awhile.
Might have been the extra draw of those cooling fans working so long...they're only meant to run a short time, until the coolant cools below the trigger temperature.
I don't see your average traffic backup as a reason for an upgrade, though - unless maybe you commute in L.A. traffic all of the time.
Back in the 90s, there were lots more Goldwing riders and clubs. Those Honda Goldwing 1500s that participated in long parades had to watch out for that and a different problem - the slow walking speeds and stops of parades didn't provide enough of the engime revs to keep the alternators charging. We were always told to run up the idle once in awhile.
Might have been the extra draw of those cooling fans working so long...they're only meant to run a short time, until the coolant cools below the trigger temperature.
I don't see your average traffic backup as a reason for an upgrade, though - unless maybe you commute in L.A. traffic all of the time.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2020
Posts: 374
Likes: 98
From: ny
i have a Jims Force Flow fan and a Ultra Cool oil cooler with twin cooling fans but i have a 160hp 131. Stock you dont need it. I like the build quality of the Ultra Cool over the Jagg. I would recommend the Force Flow on any harley though. Dropped my head temps around 20f.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,303
Likes: 2,404
From: Florida
Hell, I might even stick those old Love Jugs on, from my old Fat Boy. If I decide to do that, I'll probably wait for summer, they do cover up the engine and pretty much mess up the looks of the bike. Maybe just have them on for summer, which lasts about eight months here in Florida.
Been thinking about oil cooler systems lately, always interested in cooling my 2020 Heritage 114. I want to keep this bike for the long haul.
Anybody have any experience with this? I know DK and his boys make good products and I was looking at these. They aren't cheap so I was just wondering if it's worth spending the money. Do they really cool the bike down enough to justify the expense? Anybody have any reliable numbers?
Thanks for any input.
https://www.dkcustomproducts.com/200...odels-c153.htm
Anybody have any experience with this? I know DK and his boys make good products and I was looking at these. They aren't cheap so I was just wondering if it's worth spending the money. Do they really cool the bike down enough to justify the expense? Anybody have any reliable numbers?
Thanks for any input.
https://www.dkcustomproducts.com/200...odels-c153.htm
In most cases, the M8 Softails do not need an oil cooler. The factory one works well. (This is NOT true on the M8 Baggers and Trikes, nor any of the Twin Cams). You can see a video below on that.
What the M8 Softails can benefit from are strategies to cool the actual engine, they do get too hot for their own good. There is a video on how to do that in a practical, common sense, method at the bottom.
Always feel free to email or call us with any questions, contact info in the signature.
Kevin
__________________
DKCustomProducts.com
DKCustomProducts.com
Last edited by DK Custom; Feb 18, 2025 at 11:34 AM.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
