In his "Volume 2" book on HD mehcanical stuff, Donny Peterson insists that the Twin Cam engine "needs" at least one and he recommends TWO engine oil coolers (and says he runs 2 himself), since the twin cam with its lean EPA design constriants tends to keep its oil pretty hot, especially in high ambient temperature environments, but really overall.

He goes on to recommend the Jagg 10-pass cooler specifically as preferable over the HD offering, because it cools better AND creates less pressure drop in the oil pressure to the engine than an HD cooler.

The Jagg oil cooler is not a trival investment, costing almost $400, and more if you upgrade from rubber oil cooler lines to braided s.s. lines, since the rubber ones don't look so great.

Do you guys agree or disagree that this is an "essential" mod?

If it makes a difference to your answers, I live in Austin Texas, where the summertime temperatures routinely get into the 100 to 108 range as peaks, and are always at least in the 90s, and my ride is a Breakout with the 103 engine plus Stage 4 RACE (not street) kit.

Jim G

 

Before I`d spend that kind of money on an oil cooler, I would spend it on a head cooler and see if that is enough cooling for you. If it turns out you don`t think it`s enough you could add the oil cooler later, and then you would have the ultimate cooling system short of a wethead.

 

"Head cooler"?? Not familiar with that. What is it?

Jim G

 

I think an oil cooler is a good idea but it doesn't seem essential. I would like to have one but it has never made it to the top of the list.

I live in Texas too, my bike is an 06 I bought new and have put 81,000 miles on it. Have never had an oil cooler, but again I have come close a couple times to buying one. I personally was thinking of getting the jagg slimline because I can mount it vertical. Also have a true trac which would be in the way of where most people mount the 10 row.

Also I have a pc3 with decent tune, so the bike does not run too lean.

Just having added oil in circulation seems like a good idea

 

Take the 400$ and get the bike tuned.

 

Jim, I'm not a TC96/103 expert, but I suggest Donny P is making his recommendation for a stock or near stock bike. With the level of work you have had done, your bike will be tuned to optimum ignition timing and fuelling levels, not the lean and mean EPA levels of your bike when it was stock. So despite the higher performance of your bike, I suspect it will not need any more than one device for cooling your oil.

You can do that various ways. One is to increase oil capacity with a larger oil pan, which will have greater cooling area, as well as a lot more oil. Another is any of the various brands of cooler, such as H-D or Jagg, etc. The head cooler mentioned is an electric fan or fans, that mount where your horn is and blow air over between or over the heads. HDF sponsor WARDSPARTSWERKS makes a suitable one, however if you like the stripped and bare look, an oil pan will go most unnoticed!

Have you ridden your bike as it is, in the temps you mention? If so do you really feel it needs cooling help, or are you just reading stuff! It could be you need to do nothing.

 

Jim,
This is Don, from San Antonio. Do yourself a favor and install an oil cooler; the one of your choice. I am a Jagg fan; just don't think the get any better. Jagg used to make the H-D coolers but haven't for a few years now. I don't know what part of Texas hellhound lives in but it can get pretty dang hot in south Texas. July and August typically see afternoon temps in the 100+ range. Last summer, I saw 108* about 4:00 in the afternoon on more than one occasion; actually too hot to enjoy the ride. Granted, further south than Austin but I am just pointing out how hot it can get in south Texas. I rode 350 miles last Tuesday and the temp gauge was showing 220* and the ambient temp was 80*+. I can tolerate seeing 250* temps but any more than that and I get nervous and will change the oil at the first opportunity.

As you know, the H-D vtwin is an air cooled motor and relies on the cylinder and head fins and the air flowing around them to keep the head/oil temps tolerable; keep the heads cool and keep the oil cool. Contrary to what many believe, an oil cooler works, albeit not as efficiently, when sitting still; convection is still going on and the oil will be cooler when you stop than it would without an oil cooler which means it will take a little longer for the oil to heat up once stopped. The best combination is an oil cooler to cool the oil while moving and a fan cooler moving air across the cylinder heads when in parade mode. Jason Wards fan setup is a very effective fan setup; check it out.

http://www.wardspartswerks.com/cooling-fans-2.html

I run a hipo, carbureted, all bore 107" motor in my '02 FLHT and I would not run in south Texas summer heat without an oil cooler. I haven't gotten around to installing Jason's fan setup yet but if I spent much time around Austin, in that traffic, I would definitely install one of his fan units on my old FL.

Like I suggested, do yourself a favor and install an oil cooler. It's like insurance; nice to have when you need it.

djl

 

These comments are helpful. Please keep them coming.

Jim G

 

I have a breakout and don't think there are any head cooling fans out for it yet? If I am mistaken, please share where to find one for the breakout.

 

Yea it gets hot here no doubt about that.

I live in Austin but spend more time in SA/New Braunfels area