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Checking Oil and..

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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 07:49 PM
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Default Checking Oil and..

..found these spots at the throat of the tube.

Newbie just being a newbie...apologies!

Cam phone-sorry for the poor quality.

What am I looking at? Should I be concerned? What will remove them..other than scraping upwards with my finger?





 
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 08:40 PM
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How old is the machine? Miles? Geography? Consistency?

These A/C engines get damn hot....230 plus oil temp normal on newer bikes. Oil does cook and sludge does form. Syn oil (not HD/SUNOCO) is supremely better ...less sludge .... much higher cooking temps. I've seen syn oil reduce sludge in auto engines.
 
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Old Jun 13, 2011 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by cpiad
How old is the machine? Miles? Geography? Consistency?

These A/C engines get damn hot....230 plus oil temp normal on newer bikes. Oil does cook and sludge does form. Syn oil (not HD/SUNOCO) is supremely better ...less sludge .... much higher cooking temps. I've seen syn oil reduce sludge in auto engines.

2011 Fat Boy Lo-Serviced at 1000 miles on 05/06...amsoil in all three holes!

Current mileage is just over 2300-Highway miles-not too much city stop/go. Commute is just over 100 miles round trip 2-3 times a week plus weekend rides
Oil color is light yellowish/brownish on the stick when cold, and darker in color after it comes up to temp. like tonight when I got home and checked it 15 minutes after pulling into garage

Another oil change?

Thanks for your response-just concerned here-want to learn everything I can to take care of this bike.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted by MJ-13000
2011 Fat Boy Lo-Serviced at 1000 miles on 05/06...amsoil in all three holes!

Current mileage is just over 2300-Highway miles-not too much city stop/go. Commute is just over 100 miles round trip 2-3 times a week plus weekend rides
Oil color is light yellowish/brownish on the stick when cold, and darker in color after it comes up to temp. like tonight when I got home and checked it 15 minutes after pulling into garage

Another oil change?

Thanks for your response-just concerned here-want to learn everything I can to take care of this bike.
Mmmmmm....Amsoil very good stuff ... as good as it gets. Maybe its cooking off some sort of coating. I have a 10 FLSTFB ..11000 + Miles ... I use Redline in the engine
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 12:31 AM
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Originally Posted by cpiad
Mmmmmm....Amsoil very good stuff ... as good as it gets. Maybe its cooking off some sort of coating. I have a 10 FLSTFB ..11000 + Miles ... I use Redline in the engine
Sorry ... goofed up... I don't see any goop or stain... or cook off. Hmmm.... I did have a Mercedes in the late 90s....and I used syn oil...the overhead cams would froth up the crap out of the oil...and it got hot near the filler neck...and it would cook something the consistency of thick mayo.

I never take a bike back to a dealership.... I just don't trust their work....but maybe ... if you have one of the good dealers ... they can shed some light in your issue. Your engine just doesn't have the miles ... and you are using an oil with very high relative cook off temp. In a word ... I'm stumped.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 06:33 AM
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Just went out and looked at mine. There was a small amount brownish residue around the neck, no evidence of foaming, nothing I consider disturbing. The oil was dark, but consistent with anything I have ever seen on any of my HDs. The oil is Syn 3 and has about 2500 miles on it. Definitely different than yours. I would have speculated on moisture, but it sounds like you ride it far enough to cook it off, unlike short little commutes. I live in the NC Sandhills and it has definitely been humid. Maybe change it again, wipe the crude out and give it hard weekend and see what it looks like. Change it yourself, though. Instructions are in your owner's manual. You may need an oil filter wrench if you don't have one. A strap one or the one with the cut out for the sensor.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 11:02 PM
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maybe the stopper has wore through the chrome into the copper plating.
 
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Old Jun 14, 2011 | 11:37 PM
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Originally Posted by oct1949
maybe the stopper has wore through the chrome into the copper plating.
Yep...looks like that in his picks.

PS: Use K&N oil filter and you have better filtration...and simple socket and ratchet will take it off.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 12:15 AM
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I can't really tell from the pic but it looks like it might be something left over from the coating process. Is the oil filler chromed? If it is copper is one of the base metals used when it goes through the process.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2011 | 12:38 PM
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It looks to me like the base metal from plating. I know the low has a black tank but I've heard that if you take the paint off in some cases they have been chromed underneath. Your picture looks like the nickel or copper base used for chroming. I can't see clearly from your pictures but it could because by the rubber on the stopper rubbing.
 
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