is there an M8 larger capacity oil pan?
HD EFI Guru
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,462
Likes: 4,718
Nope, That was me. Added capacity does nothing to increase cooling ability. With more capacity it does take longer to get to temperature. The reverse is also true! That is it takes longer to cool down too!. You have to do something to remove the heat from the oil if you want to have it run cooler and a higher capacity does nothing, UNLESS more cooling area is added. The +1 for TC did not add anything for greater cooling so we saw no cooler running from it. Now if they made one with more surface area contact between the oil and the pan itself it may help but capacity by itself will not help cooling overall. Spreading the load over a larger amount of oil will help it to go longer between oil changes as well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,143
Likes: 6,165
From: SE Michigan
Nope, That was me. Added capacity does nothing to increase cooling ability. With more capacity it does take longer to get to temperature. The reverse is also true! That is it takes longer to cool down too!. You have to do something to remove the heat from the oil if you want to have it run cooler and a higher capacity does nothing, UNLESS more cooling area is added. The +1 for TC did not add anything for greater cooling so we saw no cooler running from it. Now if they made one with more surface area contact between the oil and the pan itself it may help but capacity by itself will not help cooling overall. Spreading the load over a larger amount of oil will help it to go longer between oil changes as well.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 4,584
Likes: 918
From: coast to coast
Nope, That was me. Added capacity does nothing to increase cooling ability. With more capacity it does take longer to get to temperature. The reverse is also true! That is it takes longer to cool down too!. You have to do something to remove the heat from the oil if you want to have it run cooler and a higher capacity does nothing, UNLESS more cooling area is added. The +1 for TC did not add anything for greater cooling so we saw no cooler running from it. Now if they made one with more surface area contact between the oil and the pan itself it may help but capacity by itself will not help cooling overall. Spreading the load over a larger amount of oil will help it to go longer between oil changes as well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,054
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 299
Likes: 121
From: Potomac, Md.
M8 Oil cooling
Ah a sales ad... Yep, like comments on the internet it must be true. Like several stated above, more oil does not necessarily mean better cooling, it even sates in the "ad" 10-30 degrees...possible/maybe.... No thanks, CSM-H
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,054
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
If that was the case there would be no accessory catalog with mechanical upgrades
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,054
Likes: 8,080
From: Canada
Baker (Im sure you've heard of them) did the test and it mentioned surface area and capacity increases cooling. Seemed like a credible and helpful link.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 8,251
Likes: 3,990
From: Windwardside, Saba N.A.
Harley SE +1.5 qt oil pan has both increased surface area to better dissipate heat and internal baffling to route btu's from oil to surface fins. It is a well engineered part.
I have one on my 120R and oil tank temps went down 10-12degF. On hot days oil stays below 237F.
I have experience with McLaren engine development engineers (Buick GNX) and Lotus F1 engines (Renault Gordini twin-turbo V6 - Nigel Mansell and Elio de Angelis) and my preference is always for more oil and more cooling.
ETA: If I'm driving, there are only two gauges of interest to me:
Coolant temp
Oil pressure
All the rest are extraneous or distracting.
I have one on my 120R and oil tank temps went down 10-12degF. On hot days oil stays below 237F.
I have experience with McLaren engine development engineers (Buick GNX) and Lotus F1 engines (Renault Gordini twin-turbo V6 - Nigel Mansell and Elio de Angelis) and my preference is always for more oil and more cooling.
ETA: If I'm driving, there are only two gauges of interest to me:
Coolant temp
Oil pressure
All the rest are extraneous or distracting.
Last edited by Sierra977; Sep 6, 2019 at 06:22 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,824
Likes: 4,383
From: Texas
