Oil Temp Dipstick Is Waaay Off
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 509
Likes: 25
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Oil Temp Dipstick Is Waaay Off
Anyone else ever check the actual temp of their oil after a good ride and compare it to what shows on their oil dipstick? I bought an Ultracool oil cooler because my dipstick was always showing 250 - 270 after a ride. Yesterday I finished my ride and the damn fan never went on
its supposed to kick on at 210. My dipstick said I was at 250. I shot the oil bag with an infrared thermometer and it showed it at 190 degrees. Thats a 60 degree difference. Are these dipstick thermometers all garbage or is there a company that makes a good one? Mine is a regular HD unit
not LCD
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 297
Likes: 180
From: SE Mass
As mentioned earlier, try to get a reading of the actual oil since the outside of the oil bag probably isn't the best indicator. Also, try dipping the dipstick is some water on the stove just as it begins to boil and see how close it reads to 212 F.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 509
Likes: 25
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Thats a good idea. Ill give that a shot!
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
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From: Georgia
I’m lucky I guess. I got one off the shelf at the dealer when I bought the bike in April 05. It was off 2* then and it’s still off the same 2*
I got the same Ultracool cooler Berick. It’s got to be 90 + for the fans to run. Very rare to get above 200*.
I got the same Ultracool cooler Berick. It’s got to be 90 + for the fans to run. Very rare to get above 200*.
Last edited by back again; Sep 27, 2022 at 07:36 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 509
Likes: 25
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Thats what struck me as odd. My bike ran 250 to 270 before the oil cooler and after the oil cooler it still runs 250 when run hard. When I checked the dipstick, the temp read 250 degrees but the damn fans werent running
.. so either the Ultracool is buggered or my dipstick gauge is. Ultracool claims a 40 degree drop in oil temp and I havent seen that. Prior to my 124 build, my 103 sat nicely at 230 all the time. Id like to get this thing back to that range.