Oil pressure
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,125
Likes: 1,749
From: In The Woods, PA
Don't worry about the oil gauge. It will make you nuts. Just make sure you have pressure when you get on the throttle the needle moves up. Evo's have low oil pressures at idle
Last edited by flhchaz; Jun 5, 2016 at 09:37 AM. Reason: spelling
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,489
Likes: 34,581
From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
Evo oiling systems work by volume, not pressure. If there is enough pressure in the system to keep the lifters pumped up & turn off the oil light, you are good to go.
FWIW, on a fairly cool day, when fully warmed up (at least 20 minutes) mine reads about 15 lbs at highway cruising speed. On a blistering hot day, that can drop to 12 lbs or so.
But as others have said, don't worry about it. If the oil light is off, you're good. The roller bearings in these engines are nothing like the shell bearings in a car. They do not need oil pressure.
But as others have said, don't worry about it. If the oil light is off, you're good. The roller bearings in these engines are nothing like the shell bearings in a car. They do not need oil pressure.
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 721
Likes: 18
From: Galesville, WI
Yup +1 on all that!
For reference I've actually been surprised to consistently see 20psi at cruising speeds. It will drop to about 10psi idling when hot and stopped. Now the real question should be can I trust what the gauge is telling me? LOL, not worried about it.
I hear many have removed the gauge and put a clock in its place. Better use of space. I say, "No Oil Light? Hang On Tight!"
For reference I've actually been surprised to consistently see 20psi at cruising speeds. It will drop to about 10psi idling when hot and stopped. Now the real question should be can I trust what the gauge is telling me? LOL, not worried about it.
I hear many have removed the gauge and put a clock in its place. Better use of space. I say, "No Oil Light? Hang On Tight!"
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,334
Likes: 17
From: Rosamond, Cali
I live in a desert. It gets hot. I use my gauge as a rough measure of how hot the oil is when at idle. Running 70 I'm at 20. The first time I slow down at a light, to idle, it drops to about 5-7. If I sit in traffic 10 minutes (remember, this is in 100* ambient heat), it drops to 0. If I go again for 5 minutes, then idle again, it come back to 5 or so next time I start to idle. (The latter thing tells me the bike's able to cool the oil faster than the oil heats up when in motion; I added an oil-cooler a few months ago).
Do I need a gauge? All these guys are right, not really. (If I wanted to know oil 'heat' more precisely I'd just use a temp gauge in the oil bag). Does the gauge really do much for me. I'd say 'no', as I can definitely live without it. So it can probably go either way...it'll give you a warm fuzzy if you watch the gauge and see the oil pressure's behaving as it has a thousand times before...or drive you a little obsessed (as you wait for the oil pressure to go 'south' suddenly and the rattlin' to start).
Alan
Do I need a gauge? All these guys are right, not really. (If I wanted to know oil 'heat' more precisely I'd just use a temp gauge in the oil bag). Does the gauge really do much for me. I'd say 'no', as I can definitely live without it. So it can probably go either way...it'll give you a warm fuzzy if you watch the gauge and see the oil pressure's behaving as it has a thousand times before...or drive you a little obsessed (as you wait for the oil pressure to go 'south' suddenly and the rattlin' to start).
Alan
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 344
Likes: 6
From: WV
On HD360 20w50.
My old pump would drop to 0 pretty quickly at a stop light. Highway average was probably 8-12. Cold start I'd see maybe 35-40. When pretty hot outside I might not have 5 showing on the highway. There were visible scuff marks on the pump covers so it was worn some I guess.
My new pump cold start usually 50-60. Highway I usually see 18-20. 12 at most stop lights. Its a standard pump, but my lifters, cam, blocks, etc, is all fairly new right now.
My old pump would drop to 0 pretty quickly at a stop light. Highway average was probably 8-12. Cold start I'd see maybe 35-40. When pretty hot outside I might not have 5 showing on the highway. There were visible scuff marks on the pump covers so it was worn some I guess.
My new pump cold start usually 50-60. Highway I usually see 18-20. 12 at most stop lights. Its a standard pump, but my lifters, cam, blocks, etc, is all fairly new right now.
Last edited by rk1997; Jun 8, 2016 at 10:44 AM.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,872
Likes: 83
From: Canton, Michigan
This.
I had a gauge on my FLHS from new for the first ten or so years. Finally ditched it after having to replace it 4-5 times due to the silicone constantly leaking out. It was more of a chrome do-dad than anything of value.
The only time my bike ever went to '0' pressure was on a 100 degree day while stopped in traffic downtown Chicago.
If the lifters aren't complaining, you're fine.
I had a gauge on my FLHS from new for the first ten or so years. Finally ditched it after having to replace it 4-5 times due to the silicone constantly leaking out. It was more of a chrome do-dad than anything of value.
The only time my bike ever went to '0' pressure was on a 100 degree day while stopped in traffic downtown Chicago.
If the lifters aren't complaining, you're fine.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 636
Likes: 35
From: NorCal
Same story as the rest of these guys. 40psi cold 20 going down the road and about 5-7 at idle. On days over 100 i've seen 0 at idle. Mines mounted down at the oil screen so I really only look at the stupid thing when I first start the bike and once in a while on long trips i'll give a glance at it.