Oil leaking from air cleaner?
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Upstate NY
Oil leaking from air cleaner?
I'm sure this topic has been covered before but today I just noticed that there was some oil dripping out of the air cleaner, not a lot but enough to grab my attention. A few months ago I added the AN big sucker and I know this hasn't been happening the whole time, it must be something recent. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 3
From: Northwest Georgia
If it's over full, just suck out the excess with a turkey baster. Might want to take your AC out and clean it up while you're at it.
Those in the know know to leave the oil level half a quart low. So if your changing it yourself only add 2 bottles. Not 2 1/2. Then ride around to get er warm and check again. If while warm it's at the full hot on the dipstick that's too much oil. If it's 3/4 of the way up while warm,that's perfect. No more breather drip. I learned this from experience on my 96.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
I'll try to explain why this happened to me when I used the AN Big sucker. After installation I had the oil drip from the cleaner and started looking for the cause. Looking into the throat of the cleaner there are two holes from the breather that are just above raised portions of the casting that let oil slide down into the engine . At the end of those "slides" the casting wasn't finished smooth at the factory and stopped the oil from returning to the engine and directed it down the back side of the backing plate. I removed the backing plate and filed down the excess metal and my problem is solved. Sorry if I have a hard time explaining this but if you weere to take the backing plate off and from the engine side feel with your finger inside the throat you will feel the excess flashing if it wasn't removed on your filter.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 178
Likes: 3
From: Chicago NW suburbs
Nels, That sounds like exactly what is happening. I have the same problem but not all the time. At first I thought it was dripping out of the bottom where the filter meets the backing plate but looking behind the backing plated it was coming down the back of the plate making it look like it was dripping out of the filter. I took it off thinking maybe it wasn't seated correctly but that didn't help. I am going to give your idea a try which I think may be the answer. Oh by the way my oil is in the middle of the lines on the stick.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,063
Likes: 5
From: Flatlander
I'm sure this topic has been covered before but today I just noticed that there was some oil dripping out of the air cleaner, not a lot but enough to grab my attention. A few months ago I added the AN big sucker and I know this hasn't been happening the whole time, it must be something recent. Any thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.
After a few different trips to the dealer they finally found
a crack in the AN Big Sucker backing plate.
Repaced it all went well at my $$$.
I'll stick with HD SE now for sure.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skatera...in/photostream
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,234
Likes: 7,815
From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
Also check behind your A/C....look at the two short black tubes that the breather uses to expel oil into your intake (to burn)..they will often dry and crack..and drip because of that crack on the bend.
I replaced mine from cheap heat resistant tubing from my local NAPA..cost about 3 bucks. I cut two lengths..each about 1" longer than stock.
I made them a little longer than stock so that they would not have as much bend or pressure on them from the bend, hoping they'd be less likely to crack a few years from now.
I replaced mine from cheap heat resistant tubing from my local NAPA..cost about 3 bucks. I cut two lengths..each about 1" longer than stock.
I made them a little longer than stock so that they would not have as much bend or pressure on them from the bend, hoping they'd be less likely to crack a few years from now.