Oil Quantity Question?
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
From: florida
Oil Quantity Question?
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
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
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
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 
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
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,279
From: South Carolina
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
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 
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
Likes: 941
From: Illinois
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?
Last edited by lh4x4; Aug 29, 2016 at 12:38 AM.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 1
From: florida
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.
Trending Topics
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,132
Likes: 12,693
From: South Carolina
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...
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Aug 28, 2016 at 02:28 PM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 10,907
Likes: 8,758
From: Galt's Gulch - MI
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 8,680
Likes: 2,279
From: South Carolina
Yeah and they will overfill it if they do that.
Last edited by kontiki; Aug 28, 2016 at 02:42 PM. Reason: Clarification