oil cooler ?
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
I do have an oil gauge and it sticks pretty much between 200 and 250. I'm retired and I hate city traffic so I usually stay away from them. I changed the exhaust and noticed also that I get less heat coming on my leg. My bottom line is I want the engine to last but I'm still on the fence concerning the oil cooler. The other side is that if the cooler comes with a thermostat like you guys say it can't do any damage. If it makes my engine last longer trouble free its well worth the 300-400$ price
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 26
From: Florida
I've put over 50k miles on my 08 Bones down here in FL and I've never felt a need for an oil cooler. I've only been in one instance of traffic (over an hour of stop and go) where I felt that the bike was getting hot enough for me to be concerned. In which case, I have a hard time understanding how much an oil cooler would have really helped out. As I understand it, the oil cooler requires air to move across it to draw the heat out of the oil in the same way that it happens within the motor. If the problem is stop and go traffic and the inability to get air flowing over the motor then how is the oil cooler which works on the same principal going to help that situation?
In my opinion, if I was ever going to try and install something on my motor to help with cooling then I'd probably go with some sort of parade fan. Having something that is going to move air over my motor when I can't ride at a consistent rate of speed makes far more sense. After all, that's the principal that keeps my car from overheating under the same circumstances. Without a good fan blowing across it, the biggest baddest radiator isn't going to be much help when I'm sitting in downtown Orlando traffic and it's 95 degrees out.
If I was building some sort of race bike then I'd be more inclined to go with an oil cooler since I'd want to keep my oil as cool as possible and I'd be constantly running at high speeds on a track which I imagine would make one very effective.
In my opinion, if I was ever going to try and install something on my motor to help with cooling then I'd probably go with some sort of parade fan. Having something that is going to move air over my motor when I can't ride at a consistent rate of speed makes far more sense. After all, that's the principal that keeps my car from overheating under the same circumstances. Without a good fan blowing across it, the biggest baddest radiator isn't going to be much help when I'm sitting in downtown Orlando traffic and it's 95 degrees out.
If I was building some sort of race bike then I'd be more inclined to go with an oil cooler since I'd want to keep my oil as cool as possible and I'd be constantly running at high speeds on a track which I imagine would make one very effective.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,970
Likes: 900
From: Omaha
Looks like this is going to be one of those threads:
Those that have one: it's needed and beneficial
Those that don't have one: it's not needed or beneficial
So like most things, one will need to do their research and then make up their own mind.
Those that have one: it's needed and beneficial
Those that don't have one: it's not needed or beneficial
So like most things, one will need to do their research and then make up their own mind.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 26
From: Florida
I do have an oil gauge and it sticks pretty much between 200 and 250. I'm retired and I hate city traffic so I usually stay away from them. I changed the exhaust and noticed also that I get less heat coming on my leg. My bottom line is I want the engine to last but I'm still on the fence concerning the oil cooler. The other side is that if the cooler comes with a thermostat like you guys say it can't do any damage. If it makes my engine last longer trouble free its well worth the 300-400$ price
The bottom line is if you want to try one then go for it. I have no doubt that as long as you are going down the road at a constant rate of speed your bike is going to run cooler than one without.
What I don't buy is the idea that having one will save you from things like stop and go traffic given that they work on the same cooling principal that the engine alone does. It's a radiator without a fan! Your motorcycle was designed to run without it.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Florida
I put on the HD oil cooler at beginning of summer. It can't be a BAD thing but I dont really feel any mind blowing difference. If I had to do again I'd probably not do it. Either way stop and go traffic is the real concern for me and an oil cooler alone just aint gonna do it. I'm waiting on some positive reviews on the "Love Jugs" cooling fans.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 784
Likes: 10
From: SE Pennsylvania
I would add, according to the article on oil coolers a couple months ago in American Iron, that while an oil cooler is a radiator and works best when the bike is moving due to the flow of air around the cooling fins, it also cools the oil when standing still because it exposes a higher amount of oil surface area to the atmosphere through the flow of oil around the cooling fins by: the length of time it takes the oil to flow through all of the fins, through the number of cooling fins, and because the oil is spread thinner and can cool faster than sitting in a pool behind the walls of the running engine. So, oil is cooled more efficiently when the bike is moving, but oil is also cooled when the bike is standing still, just to a lesser degree. In either case, the oil is cooled more than not having an oil cooler at all
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 87,503
From: Western South Dakota
Oil Bud for me.
Biggest one that there is.
Guaranteed a 35 degree in temp.
It does all of that too.
Recommended.
Biggest one that there is.
Guaranteed a 35 degree in temp.
It does all of that too.
Recommended.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: Ontario, Canada
Skeezmachine's comments make a good point. Although Jaburg1 also has a reasonable point I'm not sure that an oil cooler will make a such big difference when standing still. I have read Donny's article in American Iron magazine which first started me on this. I'll keep monitoring my oil temperature for now. If I decide to buy one it will certainly be one with a thermostat bypass.