I got soaked in engine oil!!
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Banned
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 797
Likes: 93
From: USA
I got soaked in engine oil!!
Fixing/modifying a 2008 Heritage. The bike had front end damage and probably lying down for a while. The engine oil reservoir was empty. I drained all the oil from the bottom. Prob a quart came out. I put 3.5 quarts of synthetic. Also changed all other oils. Painted the bike, replaced front end etc etc. The bike was on a stand all this time straight. After marrying the TSM, I started the bike, it started and was running fine. After two minutes the engine oil reservoir cap flew and oil splashed all over the place. It was overflowing and seemed kinda dirty and frothy. Where did all this come from? I drained 3/4 of a quart started it again and after one minute the level in the reservoir started to rise again to reach the top. I shut it off and wan to know experts opinion.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 22
sumpin
All the oil had bled down into the crankcase. I've still got an oil stain on my shop floor from the same thing happening. Bought a 100 year Anniversary Heritage that had been sitting for 4 years. No oil in the bag so filled her up and had mount Vesuvius style eruption. Don't know if it will be the same in your case but ended up changing out the oil pump a few months later.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Not sure about this since Harley's have a dry sump, but you might consider a blown head gasket. It might be pressurizing the oil system. The froth is the key. Another thought that comes to mind is you said it had little oil in the tank. It may have been in the crank case. If so, then when you drained the oil, you really didn't get all the oil out of the bike. If thats the case then you may have as much as 5 quarts in it.. Again the froth. With that much oil the crank is whipping it up. I'd vote for the quantity of oil. The first thing I mentioned is remote, if not impossible on a Harley.
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Oct 8, 2014 at 09:21 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Canada
Not an expert but i assume that all the original oil drained into the engine from the oil bag and was trapped in there by the check valve. when you added the new oil it added to the old trapped oil and your oil bag ended up overfilled and overflowed. i would start over again and drain the oil bag and add 2 quarts start motor and get it up to operating temp then check level and add additional oil until halfway up the dipstick at operating temperature.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 604
Likes: 22
sumpin
Well PitB sumping into the crankcase is something that does happen and is not impossible. Our oil tanks are above the oil pump and if the oil pump has some wear, or it might have some contaminant, poor tolerances or whatever it is possible for oil to seep by and fill the cam chest and crankcase. The Heritage I bought is living proof and sounds like katanaplanet will be able to verify. On a side note I have a 80 shovelhead(totally different oil pump than TC) that when it sits for a few months it blows a quart out the exhaust pipe when starting it. It has a check ball that stops the oil from leaking by theoretically. And I also had to look for the Oil cap:-)
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Florida
When I swapped the stock cap for a "temp" cap I noticed it wasn't as tight as the stock cap and would come out of the tank while riding. The cure was to put a o-ring on the neck of the temp cap. No problem since.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
Likes: 54
From: Dallas tx
Well PitB sumping into the crankcase is something that does happen and is not impossible. Our oil tanks are above the oil pump and if the oil pump has some wear, or it might have some contaminant, poor tolerances or whatever it is possible for oil to seep by and fill the cam chest and crankcase. The Heritage I bought is living proof and sounds like katanaplanet will be able to verify. On a side note I have a 80 shovelhead(totally different oil pump than TC) that when it sits for a few months it blows a quart out the exhaust pipe when starting it. It has a check ball that stops the oil from leaking by theoretically. And I also had to look for the Oil cap:-)
Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
on engine oil changes with new filter on my 07 Heritage only takes 2 1/2 qts to fill her back up to the 1/2 way between low and full marks on the dip stick....
3 1/2 qts is to much oil to put back in ....
3 1/2 qts is to much oil to put back in ....