Just wondering which is the best way to check the oil level and get the most accurate reading on the M8.Is it cold before you crank and ride or ride and then check hot.In all my years of turning wrenches and doing the service maintenance on any car,truck,mc or anything else with oil in it Harley is the only one that I can recall that has this variable oil check procedure.My 2018 ultra is Harley no 8 for me and I have always checked mine cold before cranking on level garage floor.

 

These bikes sump. by HD own guidelines up to 6 oz in the sump is normal, so there will be oil level weirdness that we are not used too. by weirdness, I mean that there can be none in the sump or 6 oz in there and all be normal, but what you see on the stick will also vary by that same amount.

When I want a good level check, I let my bike idle a couple min after a ride before I shut it down, this will clear the sump if all systems are go. Then I check it a few hours later and maintain it cold at dot five.[ 1/2 way]

 

I believe the most accurate level check is hot the way the manual states..on jiffy, idle for 1-2 minutes, shut down and check immediately, except I let it sit for maybe a minute to allow the frothing/aeration to settle so the dipstick reads solid oil, wipe, reinsert and there ya have the accurate oil level

 

oil temperature plays a role here, for that reason I like the cold check better. Without splitting hairs its just my preference, the key is to let the eng idle before shut down when you want to check the oil.