I bought a 2018 48 special. I really enjoy it! When I checked the oil when I got home from the dealer it was half on the stick. I thought well ok its still in range. It didnt use any after watching it and now Im doing 1,000 mile checkup.I drain the primary,tranny combo and find that it had 25 oz in it. Should be 32 oz. Are they really cutting corners or was it the dealer? If HD does it on all the bikes they build that adds up to some coin.

 

I don't know anything about the sportster engine, but could have been the dealer didn't put enough, or its that not all the oil always comes completely out and you still have a few OZ's in there. Or maybe you have it draining into the engine, reverse of our M8 issues, draining into the tranny. LOL, JK on that one

 

Primary should be filed to the bottom of clutch spring when bike is standing straight up . I dont go by the oz s....

 

Common recommendation... Don't overfill with oil or the breathers will puke oil into the intake (or wherever they may be routed). It's generally recommended to not fill more than half full on stick.

 

From the owner's manual: Add only enough of FORMULA+ TRANSMISSION AND PRIMARY CHAINCASE LUBRICANT through clutch inspection cover opening until the lubricant reaches the bottom of clutch diaphragm spring.

 

I drained the primary on my bike into a large measuring cup, exactly 1qt. drained out. I pulled the derby cover because I was replacing it and 1qt. put the level right where it should be.

I serviced my son's Iron and again drained the primary into the measuring cup, exactly 1qt. drained out, so it got 1qt. put back in, didn't bother pulling the derby cover on his.

I feel safe draining and putting in 1 qt. without worrying about pulling the cover to check every time. YMMV

As far as the engine oil level, I run mine up to the full mark. I have the breathers routed out of the airbox and under the bike. I haven't seen any additional oil residue on the vent cap I have on the line under the bike since doing that. I wouldn't run it at the full mark if they were still venting into the airbox though.

 

Probably a FNG back in the service dept. that was told to put oil between full and add. Can almost bet the FNG didn't research or know how much oil the Sportster took. When I had the dealer do oil changes I learned to check levels on the engine oil reservoir oil tank before I left their parking lot. Then I learned to change all my fluids and recorded amounts in my owner manuals. Too many oops occur when work is started just before lunch.