How do I check the oil?
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 345
Likes: 19
From: Houston
Another thing I was noticing. Previous owner told me it was fully serviced with Harley 20/50 less than a thousand miles ago. This oil looks like **** to me. Looks like really dark chocolate milk.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,162
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From: Doghouse... mostly
All that "chocolate milk" is just accumulated moisture from not being ridden long enough to get the oil good and hot enough to evaporate it. Get on it and ride it for at least an hour. Then look at it again and I guarantee you it won't look like it previously did.
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Joined: May 2008
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From: South Carolina
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 13,402
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From: Illinois
Shade tree mechanic trick on the Softail is when hot the oil level on the jiffy stand should just be below the bottom edge of the filler tube. Fast and easy. Jut don't stick you finger in to see if the oil is at the bottom edge. It's hot!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 345
Likes: 19
From: Houston
What is the best oil to use in these things? The guy I bought it from gave me 2 quarts of screaming eagle 20/50 synthetic. Also how much oil should it take?
I looked in the service manual and it said 3.5q. i drained the chocolate milk out of it yesterday to change the oil because I wanted to ride it this week. Using a funnel I put in 3 quarts and it was all the way full. I didn't replace the filter because the dealer wasn't open yesterday for me to get one and the one that's on there is pretty new. But I don't see the filter holding 1/2 a quart of oil.
I looked in the service manual and it said 3.5q. i drained the chocolate milk out of it yesterday to change the oil because I wanted to ride it this week. Using a funnel I put in 3 quarts and it was all the way full. I didn't replace the filter because the dealer wasn't open yesterday for me to get one and the one that's on there is pretty new. But I don't see the filter holding 1/2 a quart of oil.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 12,210
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From: Along the shoreline in SW FL
You don't need a dipstick...just pull the cap and look down.
It's an oil bag...doesn't need to be precise, just "some oil in there".
As to "what kind of oil to use"...oh boy, here we go. Hope you have a few days to run a 100 page debate of "mine is better".
Personally, I prefer old thicker dino oil to new peewater synthetic that makes the top of the engine to chatty sounding. Key to engine life ain't what brand you use, the important thing is just changing it often. A Harley engine doesn't need a lot of oil, frequent changes are cheap.
It's an oil bag...doesn't need to be precise, just "some oil in there".
As to "what kind of oil to use"...oh boy, here we go. Hope you have a few days to run a 100 page debate of "mine is better".
Personally, I prefer old thicker dino oil to new peewater synthetic that makes the top of the engine to chatty sounding. Key to engine life ain't what brand you use, the important thing is just changing it often. A Harley engine doesn't need a lot of oil, frequent changes are cheap.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
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From: Centennial, CO
What is the best oil to use in these things? The guy I bought it from gave me 2 quarts of screaming eagle 20/50 synthetic. Also how much oil should it take?
I looked in the service manual and it said 3.5q. i drained the chocolate milk out of it yesterday to change the oil because I wanted to ride it this week. Using a funnel I put in 3 quarts and it was all the way full. I didn't replace the filter because the dealer wasn't open yesterday for me to get one and the one that's on there is pretty new. But I don't see the filter holding 1/2 a quart of oil.
I looked in the service manual and it said 3.5q. i drained the chocolate milk out of it yesterday to change the oil because I wanted to ride it this week. Using a funnel I put in 3 quarts and it was all the way full. I didn't replace the filter because the dealer wasn't open yesterday for me to get one and the one that's on there is pretty new. But I don't see the filter holding 1/2 a quart of oil.