Oil cooler
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,456
Likes: 2,860
From: SW FL-Jersey Shore Emigre
It is ignorant, and irresponsible, to give such advise as above. Do cars not overheat if the fan stops running?? And that's a water cooled system with plenty of coolant, and a huge radiator with a large surface area. But if that fan stops, in traffic, with no air flow, it WILL OVER-HEAT.
Bear in mind that air cooled HD V-twins have no external oil coolers stock, so having a cooler can't possibly cause overheating. Whether there's an measurable benefit otherwise remains open to discussion.
Last edited by shorelasHD; Nov 21, 2013 at 10:03 AM. Reason: clarification
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
In fact radiative cooling is directly related to the area of the heat exchanging surface. Airflow over the radiating surface will increase the temperature gradient therefore increasing the rate of cooling. So, an oil cooler WILL lower oil temperature even when standing still (convection through the fins will, in effect, move the air), but will cool more effectively faster if air is blowing through it by a fan or forward motion.
Bear in mind that air cooled HD V-twins have no external oil coolers stock, so having a cooler can't possibly cause overheating. Whether there's an measurable benefit otherwise remains open to discussion.
Bear in mind that air cooled HD V-twins have no external oil coolers stock, so having a cooler can't possibly cause overheating. Whether there's an measurable benefit otherwise remains open to discussion.
I gotcha. Maybe my point was lost in my post. Any oil cooler is an improvement over not having one. But one with a fan will be that much better when stuck in traffic, preventing the oil temps from climbing very high.
By the way, the newer bikes have oil coolers. At least the touring models do. Sure wish they'd started that when they made my bike.
Thanks.
Last edited by DannyZ71; Nov 21, 2013 at 10:25 PM.
Put the Harley cooler on. With thermostat. In winter, wrap some tinfoil around it.
Ride.
Enjoy.
Sometime we do stuff to our bike just to have something to do. I have a rule, I will not take off a part to replace it with another part that only has cosmetic value. I MIGHT add a cosmetic part, but rarely.
If used responsibly (covered in winter) then an oil cooler can do no harm.
Ride.
Enjoy.
Sometime we do stuff to our bike just to have something to do. I have a rule, I will not take off a part to replace it with another part that only has cosmetic value. I MIGHT add a cosmetic part, but rarely.
If used responsibly (covered in winter) then an oil cooler can do no harm.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 867
Likes: 15
From: South Central Pennylvania
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,416
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
Put one on my bike and it works. A lot of traffic riding in north Jersey & NYC. No fan because I didn't think it necessary. I would think it would be required on a 103 and larger motor but HD wants you to add it on for the accessory biz.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
Synthetic oil will run hotter than Dino if everything else is constant. We had a multi page argument about this a while ago and I lost. Synthetic oil has a higher heat transfer coefficient. Therefore more heat will flow from your engine into your synthetic oil making your oil run hotter than if it were dino oil. I also proved this empirically by doing an oil change and noting the oil temperature difference. The Syn ran a consistent 10 degrees F hotter.
So if you want to reduce your oil temperature you need better cooling. An oil cooler is a good idea.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: Northern Colorado
If your bike didn't come from the factory with an oil cooler then it probably doesn't "need" one. As long as you use the proper grade of oil and change it when it needs to be changed then it will be just fine! It has lasted this long without one, and if its been properly maintained then it should still be in great shape.
Last edited by NoCoLoco; Nov 26, 2013 at 02:31 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: North Carolina
If your bike didn't come from the factory with an oil cooler then it probably doesn't "need" one. As long as you use the proper grade of oil and change it when it needs to be changed then it will be just fine! It has lasted this long without one, and if its been properly maintained then it should still be in great shape.