I just spent far too much time installing a turn signal relocation kit, docking hardware, and a detachable sissy bar. Nothing went correctly or easily.

While I had the Night Train on the lift I decided to check the oil. I had a complete service and inspection done several months ago when I first bought the bike. So I checked the stick and nothing. Looked in the tank, nothing. I know the oil is supposed to be checked hot and on the jiffy stand, but jeez. I added a quart of oil and I can see a little at the bottom of the tank when on the jiffy stand. Had to order more oil since I’m using Spectro (my service guy recommended it). Fortunately I haven’t ridden much or far. There was an initial leak at the oil filter but that went away. Have found no other leaks.

Had a Shovelhead so I know about leaking fluids. A couple of dressers (Evo and TC) I had were easy as I did all my own service. This is my first Softail so I’m learning.

So, with the bike on the kickstand, where should the oil level be COLD?

 

If it's been sitting it may be in the crankcase. If you put more on top and overfill it, it will puke out of the intake. Mine has never done even after sitting.for months during the winter, but ymmv.

 

As mentioned above, always check a Harley softail oil level on a warmed up engine...

The engine is a dry sump design, meaning at any time, there should only be 4-6oz of oil in the engine sump. The rest is kept in the oil tank.

The oil tank is above the engine. There is NO check valve in the oil line that feeds the oil pump from the tank. If left alone for a period of time, the oil in the tank can find its way past the gerotors (lobes) in the oil pump and settle in the engine sump.

If you were to check the oil cold, when some oil has settled in the engine sump, it would appear low, and you would overfill it. As the engine would then warm up, the oil settled in the sump would be scavenged back into the oil tank. Since you added oil, the tank would then become overfilled. Your oil dipstick will be launched out from your oil tank and oil will get all over the engine.

The engine was not designed to do this... but it happens. Each Softail, based on numerous factors will, will take a different amount of time before oil will settle in the sump. The amount of oil will also vary. Additionally, the longer it sits, the more oil can settle. It is possible to store a bike full of oil, a long time later you check it cold and find no oil in the tank. If the oil is not on the ground, it's in the sump.... If it were to happen overnight, I would suspect damage to the oil pump gerotors and inspect my oil pump.

It is not an issue that needs attention, if it happens over weeks to months... When starting a bike that has been sitting for a long time, start the bike, and let it idle for several minutes. That will usually do the trick. Sometimes you may need to take it on a little short drive... If you check the oil before and after, on a bike that has been sitting, you will see the difference in the levels after the oil from the sump has been scavenged back into the tank.

The Touring bikes don't have this issue because the oil tank is below the engine. The Shovel Heads and I also believe the EVO engines have a check valve in the line from the oil tank to the oil pump that doesn't allow the oil tank to drain... unless of course, those check valves develop an issue... which has happened..



To specifically answer your question... On a Twin Cam softail, there is no reliable "Cold" level because of what I explained above...

So if you started working on your bike and it had a proper oil level, and no oil leaked out of the engine onto the lift... The oil settled in your sump... Based on your description of events, you are now overfilled 1 quart... be careful, you are close to having oil spewed all over your engine.

Check your oil level cold, let it idle for a few minutes, then shut it down and check it again. Repeat this procedure a couple times to be sure the oil level is at its highest. I suspect you will need to remove some oil from your oil tank..

Let us know what you find....

 

Thank you. Great explanation. My baggers always had the dipstick near the sump so I could do a quick check cold but the final check was always hot. I have a turkey baster as part of my tool kit so I can remove any excess from the tank.

 

The baggers had the dipstick near the sump, because the oil pan is actually at/below the sump. There would be no way for the oil to drain into the sump like in a softail...

Just make sure you don't put the turkey baster back in the kitchen drawer....

 

My 16 Deluxe does this every year( I dont ride Jun-Aug due to 105+temps) I check my oil after every ride so I know it's full when I park it, so as Hattitude said, my tank will be empty, but no oil on the floor so its in the
sump, I start the bike the oil light goes out and I let it run for a few minutes without touching the throttle, all is back to normal, bikes going on 7 yrs old 27k miles, no problems, Good luck, Ride safe.

 

My Softail does the same thing no worries. Check her hot on the stand as Harley recommends.

 

UPDATE:
Ran her this morning. Checked the oil level. It was just at the bottom of the filler neck. My (new) turkey baster removed about half a quart to bring it back down to the full level. I'll ride again and then check it again. I didn't want it puking out through the breather so I'll just remove oil incrementally as needed.

So, lesson learned. Thank you all for the help and information.

 

When I learned about this "quirk" of softail models, I wasn't so lucky....

My oil dipstick popped out on the freeway somewhere, and I ruined a pair of jeans with the hot oil stains....

Not to mention the clean-up that took a long time!

Glad we were able to save you from the same fate....