Oil Temperature Dip sticks
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
I have the analog one. It seems to be accurate, but I'm not **** enough to test it. Sometimes when it's hot I wish I didn't have it because it shows the motor get HOT. I mean hot. Just makes me worry when there really isn't much I can do about it!
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Had the analog in our 2 softails and they worked fine. Was nice to be able to look down and see your temps. My buddy had the LED and had to get off and push a button to get a reading.
I can pretty much tell what my oil temp is now by the seat of the pants method. So I put the stock dips back in. Why?. Because reading the oil level on the temp gauges is a pita. The dipstick is no bigger than a coat hanger.
I can pretty much tell what my oil temp is now by the seat of the pants method. So I put the stock dips back in. Why?. Because reading the oil level on the temp gauges is a pita. The dipstick is no bigger than a coat hanger.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,074
Likes: 1
From: Baltimore, MD
So Whaddayagonndo? Pull over and stop every time it gets hot? The EFI bikes start missing when they get too hot. THEN ya gotta shut her down. Seems to me like getting too hot is normally a result of traffic. Not much you can do about that. Just sayin' I'm not arguing that oil temp isn't important.....
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 621
Likes: 0
Because our bikes are air cooled so are more vulnerable to temperature spikes if you're lugging the motor, stuck in traffic, etc..... The oil temp will let you know if the motor is getting to hot. If the oil gets too hot, it loses it gets too thin and can lose it's ability to lubricate. How hot is too hot depends on the type of oil, but it's nice to know if you're running hotter than normal before it gets too late.
It seems like the people with troublesome digitals all have the newer style (displays level and temp). I've been using the old style digital (temp display only) for over 2.5 years and no problems at all... still on the original battery in fact.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 7,882
Likes: 5
From: So California
I've been running an analog one in my old softail for years with no problems.
Thankfully the digital wasn't out for my Rocker when I got a chrome one to replace the brushed aluminum one.
Started seeing the posted problems people were having with the digital one and saved me some cash.
Thankfully the digital wasn't out for my Rocker when I got a chrome one to replace the brushed aluminum one.
Started seeing the posted problems people were having with the digital one and saved me some cash.