2012 FXDC oil use question
2012 FXDC oil use question
Curious, my 2012 FXDC has 3000 miles on it, I did the 1k service changing the oil and using conventional HD oil. Since then I have to add about 3 ounces of oil every 1000 miles and it seems when like the level will drop at once. I check the oil every fuel up and it's ok and then it needs some oil to bring the hot level to just above half way. Any other Dyna owners experience this?
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Meridian, Idaho
Welcome to engines 101!
All internal combustion piston engines burn oil! All of them! There are those that will swear over and over that their engine burns absolutely no oil! Were this true, then their engine isn't long for this world! Some burn more than others due to various factors! One being, how the engine was broken in! If you take a V twin Harley for example, a large displacement air cooled engine, and baby it (low RPM and light loads for the first 1500 or so) the rings will not seat to the cylinder walls and that engine will be a poor performer and burn lots of oil! If you take the same engine and get on a mountain road...climbing and descending, slowing for turns and pulling out briskly and allowing it to cool down some every half hour, it will seat the rings right away and burn normal oil thru out its life. What is NORMAL? On a 302 Ford, it was 6 to8 oz. every 3000 miles. Some more...some less!! I have no idea what it would be for a Big Twin...sorry! The same rules apply however! Oh...NEVER lug any engine, Harley or not!
You are mid to upper normal I would say, IMO.
All internal combustion piston engines burn oil! All of them! There are those that will swear over and over that their engine burns absolutely no oil! Were this true, then their engine isn't long for this world! Some burn more than others due to various factors! One being, how the engine was broken in! If you take a V twin Harley for example, a large displacement air cooled engine, and baby it (low RPM and light loads for the first 1500 or so) the rings will not seat to the cylinder walls and that engine will be a poor performer and burn lots of oil! If you take the same engine and get on a mountain road...climbing and descending, slowing for turns and pulling out briskly and allowing it to cool down some every half hour, it will seat the rings right away and burn normal oil thru out its life. What is NORMAL? On a 302 Ford, it was 6 to8 oz. every 3000 miles. Some more...some less!! I have no idea what it would be for a Big Twin...sorry! The same rules apply however! Oh...NEVER lug any engine, Harley or not!
You are mid to upper normal I would say, IMO.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,384
Likes: 12
From: Out on Deranged
What he said! All engines have their own oil comfort zone too much and they spit it out or burn it off. IDfatbob has good information as well and they are both along the same lines of thinking. My question to you, does it seem to dump oil out of the breathers? Or in other words do you notice the oil goes down a lot after twisting the throttle hard? Any blue smoke coming out when the engine is cold - or hot? But your not burning tons of oil, 3 ounces times three your at 1/4 of a quart and nearly due for oil change. I think your fine. have you tried filling it to the full cold mark and see what happens?
I try to keep the level at the cold fill mark,which makes it 3 marks down from the full when hot (see pic for hot level I try to maintain.). Today it was almost 4 marks down. There is some oil in the breathers but not a lot and not running out of the filter. The plugs look good and I don't see blue smoke. Usually notice a more drastic drop after riding 2 up.
I will try letting it drop and seeing if it stabilizes there. I just get a little nervous when the oil gets below half on the dipstick hot, maybe I am just paranoid.
Thanks for all the advise. I don't remember my sportsters being so hard to keep the oil level steady.
I will try letting it drop and seeing if it stabilizes there. I just get a little nervous when the oil gets below half on the dipstick hot, maybe I am just paranoid.
Thanks for all the advise. I don't remember my sportsters being so hard to keep the oil level steady.
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 4
From: USA
You are over thinking it. You do not have a problem. Put good syn oil in and enjoy the ride. These are good bikes with good motors. Stop worrying about a little oil. Its good to check it but it sucks the fun out of riding when you have to worry about every little thing.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,863
Likes: 172
From: Clarksville, TN
To the OP, my Street Gikde does the same thing. The Street Bob stays at the full line. I just keep an eye on it and ride.
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 578
Likes: 22
From: Ontario, Canada
My 09 VRSCF did the same thing. I switched over to Amsoil one spring and never added a drop all season. It's all I run now in my Dyna as well.
Not trying to push or brag up Amsoil just sharing what happened.
Not trying to push or brag up Amsoil just sharing what happened.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,548
Likes: 7,175
From: Oxford, Nc
3 oz/ added every 1,000 miles? That's 15 oz over a 5,000 mile service interval. Less than a pint.
You are ahead of what most guys here are using, so go ride your bike!
( And you can check your oil every 1,000 miles or so now that you know that...)
You are ahead of what most guys here are using, so go ride your bike!
( And you can check your oil every 1,000 miles or so now that you know that...)
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,982
Likes: 2,141
From: Ohio
^^^^ Well, I don't know if I agree with that. I've owned several brand new Harleys, and I've "babied" them during break in, and NONE of them ever "burned lots of oil" or were "poor performers".