2002 harley fatboy
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2015
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From: anywhere
2002 harley fatboy
I have a 2002 Harley fatboy with the Frankenstein trike kit on it, It has the dk customs remote oil filter with a horizontal 10 row Jagg oil cooler, with no thermostat. My oil temps after a days ride (about 150 miles) is 180 F with the cooler uncovered, and 200 F with it covered. The outside temps are about 70 to 80 F. My oil level stays at over 1/2 full (about 1/2 quart from the full mark standing straight up as per the manual )
My question.
1. What is the oil temp supposed to be at.
2. Should I remove the oil cooler
3. Or is every thing OK
My question.
1. What is the oil temp supposed to be at.
2. Should I remove the oil cooler
3. Or is every thing OK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,097
Likes: 13,030
From: Texas, USA
I want my oil temperature to reach at least 212°F so the aqueous contaminants will boil off. Cool oil is good but too cool is not just the same as hot oil is OK but too hot is not.
To answer your questions, I like my oil temperatures to be in the range 220-250°F. I am in central Texas and, right now, we have air temperatures from 102-107°F. Even with the twin tube oil coolers I have on my Heritage, my oil temperature hovers around 260°F. I am no worried at all.
Should you remove the oil cooler? That is up to you. In your case, i would want my oil temperatures 20-30°F higher. Is everything OK? Yes it is as long as you do your routine maintenance.
To answer your questions, I like my oil temperatures to be in the range 220-250°F. I am in central Texas and, right now, we have air temperatures from 102-107°F. Even with the twin tube oil coolers I have on my Heritage, my oil temperature hovers around 260°F. I am no worried at all.
Should you remove the oil cooler? That is up to you. In your case, i would want my oil temperatures 20-30°F higher. Is everything OK? Yes it is as long as you do your routine maintenance.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
I have a 2002 Harley fatboy with the Frankenstein trike kit on it, It has the dk customs remote oil filter with a horizontal 10 row Jagg oil cooler, with no thermostat. My oil temps after a days ride (about 150 miles) is 180 F with the cooler uncovered, and 200 F with it covered. The outside temps are about 70 to 80 F. My oil level stays at over 1/2 full (about 1/2 quart from the full mark standing straight up as per the manual )
My question.
1. What is the oil temp supposed to be at.
2. Should I remove the oil cooler
3. Or is every thing OK
Many will quote an optimum range for a Harley engine is an oil temp from 200°F to 250°F.
There are also many who will say that a Harley Engine oil temp is good from 180°F to 235°F.
You want the higher limit to be before your oil starts to break down. So if you use dino oil, you don't want to get above 260°F as conventional oils start to break down around 275°F. If you use synthetic oil, you don't want your oil to get above 300°F. Some racing synthetic oils start to break down at 350°F, but most synthetics start to break down between 300°F and 350°F.
You want the lower limit to be high enough to remove any water vapor from the oil/combustion process. Most experts say that an oil temp of 90C (194°) is the most efficient temp to do that.
OP IMHO.....
I wouldn't worry about 180° oil temps, with one caveat... At 180° it may take a little longer to remove any water/water vapor from the oil/combustion process..
So if my oil temps were 180°, and I was taking short trips, I would use the oil cooler cover to reach the slightly higher, but totally acceptable oil temp of 200°F.
On a ride of several hours or more, I wouldn't use the cover unless ambient temps were cooler than you are reporting..
I'm sure others will share their opinions...
Good luck with your decision...
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 26, 2023 at 02:22 PM.
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