Oil temps - too cool?

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Sep 2, 2009 | 12:00 AM

m3apx

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Oil temps - too cool?

I have an '08 Nightster and picked up a dipstick oil temp gauge last week. Looks like the warmest I've run is a little over 180 degrees. Went out this evening for an hour, was about 60 degrees outside, and the oil temp never rose above 150 degrees. This seems rather cold to me - not hot enough to burn off the water condensation or acids in the oil. Has anybody run into this problem? Doesn't sound like it's good for the motor to run oil temps that low.....

I did boil some water in a cup in the microwave this evening and put the dipstick probe into the cup - just to see if the temp gauge was accurate - or close to accurate. The gauge did jump to over 200 degrees, so I think the probe is ok - maybe a bit low. (Wife didn't like it though - she won't drink coffee out of the cup again.....).

Sep 2, 2009 | 12:18 AM

tumbleweed883

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Good question. I'm looking through the service manual but I cant find a freakin' thing about an ideal operating temperature. I've got the same temp/dipstick and mine is about 180* after 45 minutes to an hour of riding. I've seen it hit 210*, but no higher.

Oh, and BTW...there should be no difference between motor oil and a good cup of coffee!

Edit - Found it. Manual states that normal operating temp is 230*. I've rode a few hours at a time and never did my temp dipstick hit this.

Last edited by tumbleweed883; Sep 2, 2009 at 12:30 AM.

Sep 2, 2009 | 01:41 AM

Bentwrench

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Oil Temps

It takes more than an hour of riding at 60 deg. ambient air temp to bring the engine oil up to full operating temperature. Two hours at highway speed might do it. It depends on ambient temperature. As to "ideal" Harley oil temp, I don't think there is such a critter. I've never seen the oil temps go above 188 on either of our Sportsters. Mine usually runs below 175 even on a long, fast highway run. Riding in congested traffic after a long run will see it get a bit warmer, but not by much.

As to evaporating water that has condensed in the crankcase, even a steady 150 deg. temperature is enough to evaporate the moisture. It's the short, under 1 hour rides that tend to allow moisture to condense in the engines. That's why it's a good idea to do a 2 hour run at highway speeds at least once a week if you do a lot of short trip riding.