Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Oil level question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 02:19 PM
  #1  
joe10softail's Avatar
joe10softail
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: pittsburgh
Default Oil level question

I changed my engine oil an it says 4 quarts it only took 3 an showing on the stick its full? Is that right?
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 02:23 PM
  #2  
Bluraven's Avatar
Bluraven
Grand HDF Member
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,971
Likes: 901
From: Omaha
Default

yep, there's always about a quart left in the oil tank.
I generally put 2.5 qts. in and then top it off as needed.

There are those who swear by "scavenging" all the oil out and do a near 100% oil replacement but I'm not sure there's any data that states doing this results in longer engine life.

IMO as long as you change the oil every 3K for dino oil or 5K for synthetic oil I think the <1 qt. left in the tank is no big deal.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 03:02 PM
  #3  
68 XLCH's Avatar
68 XLCH
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,973
Likes: 158
From: East Coast
Default

Yes don't over fill, i'm with the 2.5, run it and check the stick. Ride it about an hour and check it again. Add a little only if needed, i like to run it in the middle or a tad higher than the middle. No dripping out of the air filter, over fill and it will drip.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 05:37 PM
  #4  
1004ron's Avatar
1004ron
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 50
From: Louisville, KY
Default

I only check it when hot, and never have it >75% on the stick, ......they tend to spit oil out the breakers if too high.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 09:02 PM
  #5  
Gommee's Avatar
Gommee
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
Default

4 qt is capacity of a dry engine. I agree with what every one said about oil level, keep mine between 1/2 to 3/4 full on dipstick.
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 10:02 PM
  #6  
Ripplingh2o's Avatar
Ripplingh2o
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 249
Likes: 4
From: Northern Minnesota
Default

Yup, always keep the case about a 1/4 - 1/2 quart low of full. (Got distracted by the avatar)(my reply is the same as the one above).
 
Reply
Old Mar 25, 2016 | 11:31 PM
  #7  
Gommee's Avatar
Gommee
Devil's Advocate
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 36
From: Alberta, Canada
Default

Originally Posted by Ripplingh2o
Yup, always keep the case about a 1/4 - 1/2 quart low of full. (Got distracted by the avatar)(my reply is the same as the one above).
You like the Guns?
 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2016 | 05:31 AM
  #8  
Warp Factor's Avatar
Warp Factor
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,217
Likes: 90
From: Detroit
Default

Originally Posted by Bluraven
yep, there's always about a quart left in the oil tank.
You can get about half-a-quart more out, if you tip the bike to the right as far as you dare at the end of draining.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 26, 2016 | 07:07 AM
  #9  
martin10's Avatar
martin10
Road Warrior
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,584
Likes: 520
From: VA
Default

These bikes run hot and need all the help they can get. So I always run the oil level at FULL. Vent your air cleaner to atmosphere and you don't need to worry about running it lower. Just my 2 cents
 
Reply
Old Mar 26, 2016 | 08:56 AM
  #10  
dfwhockey17's Avatar
dfwhockey17
Outstanding HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,400
Likes: 284
From: Fort Worth, TX
Default

^This....
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:06 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE