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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 10:55 PM
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Default Oil capacity

What is the oil capacity for the engine oil and the primary case?
Thanks !!!
 
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:29 PM
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Helps to know your bike, year and model.

But usually the engine is 2.7 quarts or so, and the primary/transmission is 32oz for a late model Sportster.
 
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:31 PM
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Sorry, is a 2008 sportster 1200 low
 
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Old Jun 15, 2012 | 11:38 PM
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Originally Posted by QBANHARLEY
Sorry, is a 2008 sportster 1200 low
Above still stands.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 01:17 PM
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The manual lists engine oil capacity at 3.6 quarts for my '07 1200. 2.7 quarts definitely doesn't fill the reservoir.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Zenmervolt
The manual lists engine oil capacity at 3.6 quarts for my '07 1200. 2.7 quarts definitely doesn't fill the reservoir.
04-07 Manuals incorrectly list the quantity as 3.6 quarts. That's the quantity for a factory DRY motor, not an oil change.

They corrected the manual in 08.

The reservoir isn't supposed to be full, it's supposed to be filled to the 1/2 way point on the dipstick.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 03:20 PM
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Originally Posted by cHarley
04-07 Manuals incorrectly list the quantity as 3.6 quarts. That's the quantity for a factory DRY motor, not an oil change.

They corrected the manual in 08.

The reservoir isn't supposed to be full, it's supposed to be filled to the 1/2 way point on the dipstick.
Charley . I followed your instructions . I did my oil chsnge and used mobil1 15w50 synthetic for the engine and Mobil1 75-90 synthetic for the primary ..
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 04:54 PM
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Originally Posted by cHarley
The reservoir isn't supposed to be full, it's supposed to be filled to the 1/2 way point on the dipstick.
Should have specified that by "full" I meant to the appropriate point on the dipstick.

Either I'm draining my engine a lot longer than most during an oil change or something weird's going on though because it definitely takes more than 3 quarts to get to the proper mark when I change the oil in my '07. Never quite 3.6, but generally between 3.2 and 3.3 quarts.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 05:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Zenmervolt
Should have specified that by "full" I meant to the appropriate point on the dipstick.

Either I'm draining my engine a lot longer than most during an oil change or something weird's going on though because it definitely takes more than 3 quarts to get to the proper mark when I change the oil in my '07. Never quite 3.6, but generally between 3.2 and 3.3 quarts.
What are you calling the appropriate point? Halfway between the Add and Full marks is considered the correct level.
You don't have an oil cooler do you?
 
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Old Jun 16, 2012 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by cHarley
What are you calling the appropriate point? Halfway between the Add and Full marks is considered the correct level.
You don't have an oil cooler do you?
Yes, I'm calling halfway between the marks the appropriate point.

No oil cooler. Though I'm including the amount of oil that I pour into the new filter in my total as well.

Usual process is:
- Get the bike up to operating temperature (oil temp between 150 and 200 degrees in the reservoir)
- Let the bike sit for ~15 minutes so that the exhaust cools
- Open the reservoir
- Remove the drain plug
- Let the bike drain for 20-30 minutes to ensure that it's empty
- Replace drain plug
- Remove old filter
- Allow area around the old filter to drain for a couple minutes
- Wipe dribbles off the frame under the oil filter
- Pour as much as I can get into the new oil filter without it coming out while I'm screwing the new filter on
- Screw on new filter
- Empty the remainder of the quart that I used to fill the new filter into the reservoir, along with an additional 2 quarts
- Replace reservoir cap
- Run the engine for 60 seconds to allow the system to re-pressurize and fill the internal oil galleries again
- Shut off engine and re-check level
- Add oil as needed to bring the level in the reservoir between the two lines on the dipstick

This most recent time it took something like 3.2 quarts. There is a noticeable drop in the reservoir level after running the engine the final time so I never trust an oil reading without doing that.
 

Last edited by Zenmervolt; Jun 16, 2012 at 09:42 PM.
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