Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Tuned and still runs hot

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 30, 2011 | 04:41 PM
  #1  
WVNightrain Rider's Avatar
WVNightrain Rider
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: WV
Default Tuned and still runs hot

On my 2010 Fatboy after an hour freeway ride at 70mph, my oil temp gauge reads 250 with the outside air temp being around 90. I hate to think of what these 100 degree days will be like.
My oil gauge has been verified with my works calibration lab.
Mods: Vance and Hines big shots, stage 1 air, Thundermax with autotune, and running Amsoil

The worst part is my friend has an 07 (same 96 engine) Fatboy, all he has done was add slip-ons and rip the back of the OEM air cleaner off (no tuning) on a side by side run he is always 20 degrees cooler than me.

I would rather avoid an oil cooler and fix the problem rather than cover it up.

Already check the intake for leaks.
I am tempted to have it dyno’ed

Any ideas to cool things down?
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 04:51 PM
  #2  
95yj's Avatar
95yj
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 601
Likes: 6
From: Aruba
Default

One thing I never liked about the Twinkies; they just run too hot. 250 on a 90 degree day sounds hotter than it should, but that could be the nature of the beast if you're sure your air/fuel mixture is good. My girlfriends 2004 883 runs at 225 on an 85 degree day doing 80 mph for over a half hour. Even though its technically an Evo motor, it has similar oil squirters that spray oil on the piston skirts which really heats up the oil. The pistons run cooler but the oil runs a lot hotter.

Nothing wrong with putting an oil cooler on the bike. Original owner of my Evo put one on it and I have a hard time getting the oil over 150 degrees in the tank.

+1 on running Amsoil on a hot running V-Twin.
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 05:44 PM
  #3  
Stretchman's Avatar
Stretchman
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Air Force
20 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,513
Likes: 443
From: South Florida
Default

250 is within the operating range. I run a stock 96b with an oil cooler. My tempts in south florida average about 230 whether running amsoil or syn. That's the thermostat doing it's job.

I don't care what anyone else says. The oil cooler is the best option for summer riding. Works fine in the winter too. Temps run about the same.
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 06:13 PM
  #4  
fcsallan's Avatar
fcsallan
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,337
Likes: 4
From: Sunny South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Stretchman
250 is within the operating range. I run a stock 96b with an oil cooler. My tempts in south florida average about 230 whether running amsoil or syn. That's the thermostat doing it's job.

I don't care what anyone else says. The oil cooler is the best option for summer riding. Works fine in the winter too. Temps run about the same.
An oil temp thermostat? WTF is that?

I would not worry about getting a cooler, it won't hurt, but that is high. I run all year here in S Florida and with a dealer download and SE stage one I was running those temps but after upgrading to a FatCat and TMax I"m down to 210'ish. Me things he still have a problem.

Are you sure you have the right base map loaded? How long have you been running the autotune?
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 07:06 PM
  #5  
wanabe's Avatar
wanabe
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,718
Likes: 1
From: manhattan beach
Default

i wonder if you arent running too lean- and same question as above...
ever have any slight hesitation on acceleration? popping/ backfiring at all?
pull a plug and check to see the color- if its white or near white thats the issue... if not, back to the drawing board!

copied from crazy biker:

<<<<<
Lean running symptoms
[ol][*]â–ş Bike hesitates when throttle is increased
[*]â–ş Bike runs jerky or surges at steady throttle openings
[*]â–ş Engine detonates, (knocks) when accelerating
[*]â–ş Engine spits back or coughs through intake system
[*]â–ş Exhaust pipe deposits are light gray in color
[*]► Bike runs poorly when cold – engine runs better as it warms up to operating temperature
[*]â–ş Spark plug color is white
[*]â–ş Fuel consumption is abnormally low
[/ol]
 

Last edited by wanabe; May 30, 2011 at 07:11 PM.
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 08:00 PM
  #6  
cwsharp's Avatar
cwsharp
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Default

Run richer... lower your gas mileage, flip the bird at the EPA and you won't have those temps. But... you aren't out of range for acceptable temps on your year bike as far as I know. You can change the target AFR on your bike very simply with a laptop to cool it down. If it is already low, then eventually the Autotune will take care of that for you within a certain amount of variation. The EPA wants your bike that lean...
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 08:29 PM
  #7  
WVNightrain Rider's Avatar
WVNightrain Rider
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 1
From: WV
Default

Just put the autotune on over the winter and have 1000+ miles on it. Accepted the map changes twice, sent the logs to Zippers and they check for an intake leak (done). The plugs have a slightly white color to them and I have been getting more and more backfires on decal, also an occasional cough through the air filter when I shut the engine down.
I am running map 401 but now zippers said 703 is the newest map for me but the changes are only with timing.
Looks like it may be time for another call to zippers to see how to manually change the AFR, from what I hear it is a long manual process changing every point on every rmp.
 
Reply
Old May 30, 2011 | 08:38 PM
  #8  
Gliden's Avatar
Gliden
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
Default

I don't think 250 is "too hot". I used to run 265-275 before I bought my ultra cool oil cooler. Now I run 230 on a hot day. Your problem won't be the 250 you run. Your problem will be the 280 you run when stuck in traffic. If 250 is your worst case senerio I think your good.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 31, 2011 | 08:36 AM
  #9  
cwsharp's Avatar
cwsharp
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
Default

Normal >engine< operating temperature is 260-285. Oil temperature does not necessarily represent your engine operating temperature. Hook up your laptop to your TMax after a good ride and use the monitor feature to tell you what the engine temp is. If you are popping on decel you are lean. Tmax will help you make any adjustments to correct the situation. You will probably need to create a monitor log and send it to them.

Read through your TMax manual and watch the youTube videos online first, if you haven't already.
 
Reply
Old May 31, 2011 | 08:47 AM
  #10  
cpiad's Avatar
cpiad
Account Closed
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: In the World
Default

Originally Posted by WVNightrain Rider
On my 2010 Fatboy after an hour freeway ride at 70mph, my oil temp gauge reads 250 with the outside air temp being around 90. I hate to think of what these 100 degree days will be like.
My oil gauge has been verified with my works calibration lab.
Mods: Vance and Hines big shots, stage 1 air, Thundermax with autotune, and running Amsoil

The worst part is my friend has an 07 (same 96 engine) Fatboy, all he has done was add slip-ons and rip the back of the OEM air cleaner off (no tuning) on a side by side run he is always 20 degrees cooler than me.

I would rather avoid an oil cooler and fix the problem rather than cover it up.

Already check the intake for leaks.
I am tempted to have it dyno’ed

Any ideas to cool things down?
What is your head temp? Tmax has log feature. I have similar setup on 10 Fatboy. Temps are close. Typical factory bike runs oil temp hot day 231 deg F.

I added MOCO oil cooler and use 20w50 Redline Vtwin for duty running and installed fan I fabricated for idle parade duty. Do you have any bags or other things obstructing running duty air flow? What does autotune run say about AFR. You may bit a bit too lean.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:46 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE