Simple yet disasterous question
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
Simple yet disasterous question
i have a 2001 sportster, just noticed today that there are TWO lines on the oil dipstick. One really high up on the dipstick, and one almost at the bottom. The one way up high was always hidden by this little gasket thing so i never saw it. Ive been running my sportster with the oil level halfway down ON THE BOTTOM mark.....i thought the bottom mark was the full line. Anyways, when i look in my oil tank with a flashlight i can see the oil but its way down there. Its suppose to be pretty close to the top isnt it? Yes i know this sounds stupid.Three questions:
1. The oil should measure basically halfway up the dipstick shouldnt it (when full of oil of course)
2. What oil should i buy? (20/50W? will car oil do?)
3. How much oil should i put in? (When the bike is hot, if i take a reading with it on the kickstand it measures just up to the low level mark (i thought that was the full mark) dam good thing i figured this out now.
1. The oil should measure basically halfway up the dipstick shouldnt it (when full of oil of course)
2. What oil should i buy? (20/50W? will car oil do?)
3. How much oil should i put in? (When the bike is hot, if i take a reading with it on the kickstand it measures just up to the low level mark (i thought that was the full mark) dam good thing i figured this out now.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
ORIGINAL: JohnBoy1
I check mine on the jiffy stand and its a little below halfway on the stick. I used HD 20W50 dino but make ure its bike or only.
I check mine on the jiffy stand and its a little below halfway on the stick. I used HD 20W50 dino but make ure its bike or only.
Okay so i can go to harley dealership to get the oil i guess, jesus isnt there anywhere else i can get motorcycle oil other than the dealership?
So if im suppose to fill it up halfway on the dipstick when its cold, and mine now measures below the lowest mark when cold, i can just buy one quart and start pouring it in a little at a time then take a reading until it reads halfway up the dipstick right? sorry these are dumb questions but im going on a long ride first thing tomarrow morning out of town, and the last thing i need to do now is screw this up tonight.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
ORIGINAL: cHarley
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 14,082
Likes: 8
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
OK here is the straight scoop. Always check the Oil when the engine is Hot. It's just a truer measuremnt of the Oil Level. I have found on my 883 that it just likes the Oil level to be slightly above the lower mark when Hot. It takes 3 quarts to fill it up when doing an oil change including the filter. Always pour some oil into the filter when installing a new one, about half full, the filter that is.
Next, yer question about what OIL? That my frined is Open to debate and will lead to someone getting banne dit is such a Hot Topic.
Care to hear my experiences with Oil over the last 28k miles?
Next, yer question about what OIL? That my frined is Open to debate and will lead to someone getting banne dit is such a Hot Topic.
Care to hear my experiences with Oil over the last 28k miles?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
ORIGINAL: saltlick
so you mean half way up when measured cold right? Thanks for the help on the brand. It dont matter if you mix oils does it? i dont know what the last oil that was put in was.
ORIGINAL: cHarley
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,681
Likes: 233
From:
RE: Simple yet disasterous question
ORIGINAL: cHarley
Check the oil level when it's hot. You can mix brands if necessary. How many miles are on your bike? How many miles since the last oil change? What kind of oil was used at the last oil change? For $24 with 2 quarts left over it's not that expensive to dump what you have and start fresh if you are not sure what oil is in there now or how many miles it has on it.
ORIGINAL: saltlick
so you mean half way up when measured cold right? Thanks for the help on the brand. It dont matter if you mix oils does it? i dont know what the last oil that was put in was.
ORIGINAL: cHarley
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
You should keep the oil level1/2 way up between the 2 lines. What oil you use is up to you as you will get many different opinions here. I would suggest Mobil 1 15w-50 synthetic oil (red cap on bottle). You can get a 5 quart jug from any Walmart for about $24. That's about 1/2 the price of V-twin oil and itexceeds all HD specs and rates much better than any HD brand oil.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
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
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post