Too much Engine Oil?
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: along the shore of Mishigami
I'm going to get real basic here. If you got the owners manual when you bought the bike, more than likely you did and tossed it somewhere. The owners manual will specify how oil to put in after a filter and oil change. The owner's manual for my '02, '05 and '13 are pretty specific. I'm sure yours is too.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: Variable
I'm going to get real basic here. If you got the owners manual when you bought the bike, more than likely you did and tossed it somewhere. The owners manual will specify how oil to put in after a filter and oil change. The owner's manual for my '02, '05 and '13 are pretty specific. I'm sure yours is too.
Yes, I have the manual. I also have the factory service manual. As my prior post stated, the manual says to put 3 quarts. How's that for real basic?
R,
Sanjuro
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Variable
Dang. Looks like I'll need to pull out about 0.5 quarts.
R,
Sanjuro
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Waukesha, WI
Make sure you prime the filter before installing it, and take that quantity of oil into account. Don't fill it up to the full mark or you'll get carry-over into the air cleaner after running at high speed or RPMs. Halfway between full and add is perfect.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
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From: Michigan
I have owned a number of Softails since '87 and it's important to always have the engine warm before either checking the oil or draining it before servicing (oil change) the engine.
I have only experienced the "sumping" issue once and that was because I (all my fault) had serviced my wife's '08 Heritage in the fall and when I got the bike out in the spring I checked the oil level before starting it and made the mistake of adding some oil to bring the oil level up to the "FULL" mark before starting the bike.
I actually rode the bike to the dealership (about 10 miles) for new tires, without incident, but on the way home (with my wife following me) I decided to blow some carbon out of her bike and in the process I also blew the dipstick loose and created an oily mess on both the rear of her bike and the front of her car!
After draining the oil tank, I replace the drain plug and them remove the filter (funnel recommended) and allow the remaining oil to drain for several minutes.
I then use a few drops of oil to lubricate the oil filter gasket and the install the new filter.
I hand tighten the filter and then use a filter wrench to "snug" the filter (1/4 to 1/2 turn).
I then add TWO quarts of engine oil and replace the dipstick.
I start the bike and watch the oil warning light to make sure that it goes OFF.
I then allow the bike to idle and look for any leaks around the drain plug.
After that I add enough oil to bring the oil level to the "FULL" mark on the dipstick.
On trips, I check my oil level at the ends of the ride and if necessary I add just enough oil to maintain this level (or slightly below).
I have only experienced the "sumping" issue once and that was because I (all my fault) had serviced my wife's '08 Heritage in the fall and when I got the bike out in the spring I checked the oil level before starting it and made the mistake of adding some oil to bring the oil level up to the "FULL" mark before starting the bike.
I actually rode the bike to the dealership (about 10 miles) for new tires, without incident, but on the way home (with my wife following me) I decided to blow some carbon out of her bike and in the process I also blew the dipstick loose and created an oily mess on both the rear of her bike and the front of her car!
After draining the oil tank, I replace the drain plug and them remove the filter (funnel recommended) and allow the remaining oil to drain for several minutes.
I then use a few drops of oil to lubricate the oil filter gasket and the install the new filter.
I hand tighten the filter and then use a filter wrench to "snug" the filter (1/4 to 1/2 turn).
I then add TWO quarts of engine oil and replace the dipstick.
I start the bike and watch the oil warning light to make sure that it goes OFF.
I then allow the bike to idle and look for any leaks around the drain plug.
After that I add enough oil to bring the oil level to the "FULL" mark on the dipstick.
On trips, I check my oil level at the ends of the ride and if necessary I add just enough oil to maintain this level (or slightly below).
Last edited by 2AMGuy; Jan 30, 2018 at 08:15 PM.
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Stellar HDF Member
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From: Variable
Great advice from most everyone here. Thank you.
You know, I checked my manual, and service manual again to see if it said something about using 2.5 quarts for a "wet" refill, but could not find it. I did find that it did say something about a "wet" refill for the primary... Thought I had missed something.
R,
Sanjuro
You know, I checked my manual, and service manual again to see if it said something about using 2.5 quarts for a "wet" refill, but could not find it. I did find that it did say something about a "wet" refill for the primary... Thought I had missed something.
R,
Sanjuro
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,853
Likes: 429
From: E-town, Alberta
[QUOTE=Scudda;17043388]These bikes are dry sump systems..meaning they don't store oil in the engine like most cars do. That being said when you drain the oil you will never get out all of the oil in the entire system...[QUOTE]
You could if you really wanted.
https://roguechopper.com/products/tw...-scavenger-kit
No waste and no old nasty Oil left to mix with the new stuff
You could if you really wanted.
https://roguechopper.com/products/tw...-scavenger-kit
No waste and no old nasty Oil left to mix with the new stuff
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2011
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Likes: 631
From: NorCal Rocklin
I do the same. The manual say it different but 2 qts is enough to do an oil change