Oil Temperature
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 868
Likes: 1
From: Trenton,N.J.
I am new to Harley riding, and bought a 2011 Fat Boy Lo. I have installed a screaming eagle air breather and V&H big radius 2-2 pipes. The dealership put in their recommended EFI map.
When riding around the city, my legs get extremely hot from the engine, to the point where it is quite uncomfortable. I put in an oil tank temperature gauge, and when riding in low humidity, at 22 Deg C (72 Deg F), the oil temperature gets to about 120 Deg C (248 to 250 Deg F).
I hit a fair amount of red lights, but normal city driving with light traffic.
Can anyone advise if this is a normal oil temperature, or is my bike running hot? If it is running hot, does anyone have any idea of what might be the cause?
I have about 2000 KM on the bike, and switched to AMSOIL 20W-50 synthetic after the break in.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
When riding around the city, my legs get extremely hot from the engine, to the point where it is quite uncomfortable. I put in an oil tank temperature gauge, and when riding in low humidity, at 22 Deg C (72 Deg F), the oil temperature gets to about 120 Deg C (248 to 250 Deg F).
I hit a fair amount of red lights, but normal city driving with light traffic.
Can anyone advise if this is a normal oil temperature, or is my bike running hot? If it is running hot, does anyone have any idea of what might be the cause?
I have about 2000 KM on the bike, and switched to AMSOIL 20W-50 synthetic after the break in.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 10,216
Likes: 224
From: Glendale AZ
Dont get obsessed with constantly looking at the oil temperatures. It's an air cooled engine and they are going to run hot. Usual oil temp from my research is 240-280 which is within the normal operating temperature of most newer stock motorcycles. It won't damage or hurt the engine and any good synthetic oil can handle those temperatures with no problems. If you buy a guage your going to be looking at the dang thing all the time and get obsessed with it mark my word. Research all the threads on oil coolers and pick one. Then ride it and enjoy it. If your not using a synthetic oil research the threads and pick one also....Tucci
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,539
Likes: 6,412
From: Honah Lee
Assume you are using a dip stick gage. Put it in water and soon as it boils note the temperature. Should be 100C/ 212F . Bet you gage is reading high. Hard to believe you are running that temperature at 22C/ 72F . I run around 105C/220F at 95 degree. Don't forget to allow for elevation up there in you calibration if necessary. What's your boiling temperature?
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Aug 21, 2011 at 09:38 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,394
Likes: 263
From: Southern California
Same experience and same results from using the HD Oil Cooler.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Portland, OR
I think your oil temp is normal, 250 is not too high at all
Correct me if I'm wrong but the ECM doesn't shut down the rear cyclinder til it reaches the 290-300 degree range
My Lo has a well tuned, high compression 107" putting out 120+ HP and it runs in the 230-250 degree range. Even if riding hard on the hottest of days, it never breaks the 250 mark
Correct me if I'm wrong but the ECM doesn't shut down the rear cyclinder til it reaches the 290-300 degree range
My Lo has a well tuned, high compression 107" putting out 120+ HP and it runs in the 230-250 degree range. Even if riding hard on the hottest of days, it never breaks the 250 mark
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 383
Likes: 2
From: New Jersey
For the heat discomfort on my legs I went with the RJ's originals heat shields. I got the plain black and they match my denim black Fat Boy Lo so well, people barely notice that I even have them on. I am very pleased with how they work and how they look on the bike. I think if you search the vendor part of the forum there is a code for a discount for forum members.
Here is the site:
http://www.rjsoriginals.bizland.com/newSelect0010.htm
Here is the site:
http://www.rjsoriginals.bizland.com/newSelect0010.htm
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 224
Likes: 6
From: Eastern Kansas
I put the Xied's on my '07 last month, and it did bring the head temps down quite a bit. It feels more like what I'd consider "normal" now, instead of scorching hot. And my Harley oil temp guage is showing about 8 deg hotter than it should, so I factor that in when I look at it. I tested it against a high quality candy thermometer from Mama's kitchen, in boiling water.