Currently doing the 1000 mile oil change and had a question about the quantity you get when you drain it.
My bike is a 2016 Fat Bob, and I pull the oil drain plug (bottom left side of transmission case), and let it drain. Pulled the drain filler cap and pulled the oil filter. Once it had stopped dripping, installed new filter and plugged it up.
Whenever I drain oil, I measure how much came out, and only got 1.75 qts to drain. The manual states for initial refill, add 2.5 qts. Something not adding up here. Is it possible that Harley under-filled it and its been running low for the 1000 miles? Or something else?
I haven't filled it with new oil yet, till I hear some feed back on this.

Thx

 

That`s correct. About 2 qts. on a refill. Keep the level about 3 notches from the "add" mark when cold.

 

Don't get too caught up in the numbers; if you follow that 2.5 quart recommendation you'll most likely be overfilled and start having a carryover issue in to your external breather or the A/C if you're venting internally.

I only worry about what the stick tells me when I do an engine oil change. Did you pre-load the filter with 3 - 4 ounces of engine oil to let the paper element soak it up when you were doing the oil change? I use a PCS4 permanent oil filter that has high flow rates and stainless filter elements, no reason to add engine oil but on a paper oil filter I've always pre-soaked them to speed up oil return.

If you put the filter on dry, fill until you've got 5 - 5.5 hash marks on the stick. If you pre-loaded the filter go with 4 hash marks on the stick. What you want is a cold engine oil check of 3 to 3.5 hash marks on the stick, no more, with the bike on the jiffy stand. When you do a cold check you may be low, adjust to 3 - 3.5 hash marks on the stick, when the engine is hot the oil level will be exactly right.

Disclaimer: Everyone on this forum has a different tweak on how they do their oil fill; that's just mine But trust the stick, not the numbers

 

Great advise. I pre-load my oil filter on an oil change too. I'd rather err on the low side rather than over fill. Take it for a short test ride after an oil change then let it cool down a bit. Then chick it again. You can always add a small amount if needed but over filling is not good.

 

Thx, took almost 2 quarts to get it correct on the dipstick.
Will check level after good ride.

 

I have had 5 Dyna's since 2010. They all took 4 qt at the service interval. 3 in the crankcase and 1+ in the primary. Never went beyond the full mark on the dipstick. They are and air/oil cooled engine. Why would anyone want to run them short?

 

On a side note, I screwed the dipstick all the way back in to check level (per the manual), I know a few people state just set it in and check it that way.

 

Often, when the tank is filled so that the dipstick reads full, there is actually too much oil in the tank, and that excess oil will be blown out the breather.

Some folks obsess about keeping the tank filled to the full level on the stick, and they wonder why they are using so much oil...

 

You're doing it exactly right; bike on the jiffy stand, screw in the stick snugly and then take your engine oil level reading. The transmission is checked cold on the jiffy stand by screwing in the stick just until you feel contact with the o-ring to get an accurate read; I'd wonder if those folks are confusing the two procedures

 

Yeah and they will overfill it if they do that.