Still trying to understand the oil level I'm seeing...
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 804
Likes: 92
From: Texas
Still trying to understand the oil level I'm seeing...
I am still trying to understand what I am seeing on my M8 Road King when I check the oil.
The oil level on the dip stick fluctuates in a way that I do not understand.
For instance, yesterday I measured the oil level after a 5 minute idle period and it was about half way on the dipstick. I let it sit over night and measure the oil level today and it is BELOW the half way mark. The only difference between the two measurements is the oil temperature. Yesterday when I measured it after the 5 minute idle period, the oil temp was 110° (measured on my new LCD TEMP/OilLevel dipstick). Today when I measured the oil level, the oil temp was 64° (ambient temp). So why would the oil level DECREASE over night? Oil must be draining from the oil tank but I do not understand how that could happen since the oil tank, is really an oil pan at the bottom of the engine.
Could it be caused by the oil temperature difference? When the oil cools will the oil level in the oil pan decrease? That must be it.
In another thread I asked a question, "How hot is hot?", but now I am asking the question, "How cold is cold"?
You know what? This is why Harley says you cannot measure the oil level accurately on a cold engine. The same amount of oil (say 5 quarts) will measure lower on a cold engine in Canada than on a cold engine in Texas, because they will be at different temperatures. But when the engine gets to normal operating temp, say 200°, they should be at the same level on the dipstick?
The oil level on the dip stick fluctuates in a way that I do not understand.
For instance, yesterday I measured the oil level after a 5 minute idle period and it was about half way on the dipstick. I let it sit over night and measure the oil level today and it is BELOW the half way mark. The only difference between the two measurements is the oil temperature. Yesterday when I measured it after the 5 minute idle period, the oil temp was 110° (measured on my new LCD TEMP/OilLevel dipstick). Today when I measured the oil level, the oil temp was 64° (ambient temp). So why would the oil level DECREASE over night? Oil must be draining from the oil tank but I do not understand how that could happen since the oil tank, is really an oil pan at the bottom of the engine.
Could it be caused by the oil temperature difference? When the oil cools will the oil level in the oil pan decrease? That must be it.
In another thread I asked a question, "How hot is hot?", but now I am asking the question, "How cold is cold"?
You know what? This is why Harley says you cannot measure the oil level accurately on a cold engine. The same amount of oil (say 5 quarts) will measure lower on a cold engine in Canada than on a cold engine in Texas, because they will be at different temperatures. But when the engine gets to normal operating temp, say 200°, they should be at the same level on the dipstick?
Last edited by BobRR; Mar 28, 2019 at 12:47 PM.
Popular Reply
Mar 28, 2019, 01:06 PM
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,848
Likes: 17,894
From: Lafayette, Louisiana
I have never seen or heard of anyone having difficulty with something so simple and basic.
Sell your Road King. By a Livewire. Problem solved.
Sell your Road King. By a Livewire. Problem solved.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
110 is not hot yet at least 200 is hot for checking.. You are over thinking this. Check it cold to ensure you have enough to run it. ride once it HOT check it . The hot check is the one that madders. Remember cold check is just to ensure you are good to ride and get it hot.
And that that oil temp dip stick and toss it for your own good. The only thing it will do for you is make your head hurt.
And that that oil temp dip stick and toss it for your own good. The only thing it will do for you is make your head hurt.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 804
Likes: 92
From: Texas
110 is not hot yet at least 200 is hot for checking.. You are over thinking this. Check it cold to ensure you have enough to run it. ride once it HOT check it . The hot check is the one that madders. Remember cold check is just to ensure you are good to ride and get it hot.
And that that oil temp dip stick and toss it for your own good. The only thing it will do for you is make your head hurt.
And that that oil temp dip stick and toss it for your own good. The only thing it will do for you is make your head hurt.
Please look at my first post again, the last part of the post, because I think I am agreeing with what you just said.
Do you know what the key for me was? Getting that LCD digital oil temp gauge. For the first time I have an accurate measurement of the oil temp. Everything is falling into place now.
You know what? This is why Harley says you cannot measure the oil level accurately on a cold engine. The same amount of oil (say 5 quarts) will measure lower on a cold engine in Canada than on a cold engine in Texas, because they will be at different temperatures. But when the engine gets to normal operating temp, say 200°, they should be at the same level on the dipstick?
Last edited by BobRR; Mar 28, 2019 at 12:47 PM.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 804
Likes: 92
From: Texas
Yes, I think you are right. But do you know what that means? (The canadians in the forum are not going to like what I am about to say LOL).
It means that the oil expands more for the Canadians than for the Texans, which means, more heat energy is required to run your bike in Canada than in Texas. LOL. There are more internal losses when running your bike in Canada than in Texas. I am just saying...(I know its miniscule, but hey...)
It means that the oil expands more for the Canadians than for the Texans, which means, more heat energy is required to run your bike in Canada than in Texas. LOL. There are more internal losses when running your bike in Canada than in Texas. I am just saying...(I know its miniscule, but hey...)
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
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From: Olean, NY
It means that the oil expands more for the Canadians than for the Texans, which means, more heat energy is required to run your bike in Canada than in Texas. LOL. There are more internal losses when running your bike in Canada than in Texas. I am just saying...(I know its miniscule, but hey...)
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Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 22,848
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From: Lafayette, Louisiana
I have never seen or heard of anyone having difficulty with something so simple and basic.
Sell your Road King. By a Livewire. Problem solved.
Sell your Road King. By a Livewire. Problem solved.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2014
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From: New Jersey
I doubt it is just temperature. When you are checking the oil, you are checking the oil level in the tank. When the bike has set for a period of time (e.g., overnight) I would expect the oil level in the tank to go down as some oil drains out and back into the engine. That is why you check the oil when the bike is hot, before the oil has a chance to drain back into the engine.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: USA
I am in Colorado, the only safe place to check your oil. That’s why I have had no engine failures in my life. As a note, Colorado is trying to push a law through that it’s illegal to check your oil more than once a month.