Using oil between changes
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Stage IV
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Paoli, PA
Using oil between changes
So, I have put about 4K on my bike this year. I had the oil changed with Drag Specialities 20/50 synthetic, along with the primary and trans. After about 2000 miles, I decided to check the oil going on a long ride out of state, only to find the oil low.
The bike used 1/2 of a quart in around 2k miles. Anyone else have their 96ci using oil between changes? Is this normal? Thoguhts?
The bike used 1/2 of a quart in around 2k miles. Anyone else have their 96ci using oil between changes? Is this normal? Thoguhts?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13,870
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From: Taylortucky, MI
So, I have put about 4K on my bike this year. I had the oil changed with Drag Specialities 20/50 synthetic, along with the primary and trans. After about 2000 miles, I decided to check the oil going on a long ride out of state, only to find the oil low.
The bike used 1/2 of a quart in around 2k miles. Anyone else have their 96ci using oil between changes? Is this normal? Thoguhts?
The bike used 1/2 of a quart in around 2k miles. Anyone else have their 96ci using oil between changes? Is this normal? Thoguhts?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: wet coast BC
I had the same between the 1000 and 5000 service, kept adding to fill back to the full make. Then I decided to leave and monitor after each ride. It never went below the 1/2 mark on stick. conclusion was that it was going into the breather. Try that instead of adding to see if you find the same result
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
Can you explain how oil that kept in an oil tank lower then the air cleaner, and is circulating in a motor, not collected in the heads, but drains back to the oil tank, gets leaked into the air filter?.,,
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: wet coast BC
are we still talking 96? Have you read any on oil dripping from the AC on the touring bikes. the breather tubes from the heads go into the intake to be burned. vapor is oil. enough vapor and you can measure the loss on the stick.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Deep in the heart of New Jersey
Ok, so how does running the motor a 1/2 qt low on oil, now prevent the "vapor" from forming and leaking out the breather tubes?. I just read Harley sells a bigger oil pan. It holds 1.5 qts more oil then the standard pan. Any thoughts on that?.,,
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Ultimate HDF Member
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From: wet coast BC
or you can keep adding to full and ignore what I said.
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From: North Florida
The tank is vented to the crankcase, that is vented to the rocker covers. There is a umbrella valve in the breather in the rocker cover that works as a PCV or positive crankcase vent. This means the breather is sucking in air instead of letting air/oil into the atmosphere. This is then plumed/vented to the air cleaner.
Also as the oil pump scavenges oil out of the sump it pumps oil into the tank.
The scavenge pump that pumps oil into the tank is larger than the oil pump that goes to the motor as it pumps oil out of the tank. This also puts positive pressure on the oil tank.
The area above the oil acts as a area for this slightly pressurized air/oil spray to expand.
If the tank is too full then this air/oil is forced into up into the rocker covers, and if the umbrella valve is not working at 100 percent, oil blows out the air cleaner.
This problem can get worse as the piston rings are worn, and the blow by makes the problem even worse.
So that is why most guys run the tank no on the full mark, but down half way to the add mark.
This problem is worse on the Softail where the oil tank is above the motor.
Does that make since?
And yea it is pretty normal for a motor to use a half quart of oil between oil changes, especially when you get some miles on it.
Last edited by Harleycruiser; Sep 2, 2013 at 08:58 PM.
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 89
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From: McLouth Kansas
I had the same between the 1000 and 5000 service, kept adding to fill back to the full make. Then I decided to leave and monitor after each ride. It never went below the 1/2 mark on stick. conclusion was that it was going into the breather. Try that instead of adding to see if you find the same result