Hot or Cold at oil changes ?
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,013
Likes: 1
From: South Bay, CA
I don't get it ?
Good input guys. I always drain when hot too. Just curious what other thought.
Going to install a HD OEM Super Premium Oil Cooler this weekend that I picked up from a friend. Doing all the fluids at the same time.
Good input guys. I always drain when hot too. Just curious what other thought.
Going to install a HD OEM Super Premium Oil Cooler this weekend that I picked up from a friend. Doing all the fluids at the same time.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
I drain it hot, then go into the house and get another beer while it's draining.
Gotta have the first beer while assembling the tools and parts.........
Fixed it for YOU
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,281
Likes: 3,418
From: Idaho Panhandle
Warm is okay as most combustion and friction particles take hours to settle out. Your magnet should remove any metallic particles and are not the concern for oil changes. They should be captured by the drain magnet every time you run your engine.
My $0.02 and nothing more.
Supporter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 248
From: Milton Mills NH
plus if you do it hot and restart the bike afterwards there will be less time for the oil to drip off internal engine parts - before circulating oil fills the oil filter and pressurizes the system. since filter is sideways you cannot pre fill it and your system gets no oil until its filled
Even if you partially fill the filter, it will start circulating immediately.
I fill mine, if you are fast enough you loose very little, and the engine is fed instantly.
Just my .02. Been swinging wrenches for 55 yrs, have an idea of what I am doing. Same goes for cars.
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,192
Likes: 168
From: Knoxville, Tn
Oil Drains
I sometimes let mine drain all night along with the filter with holes in it. Usually nothing to drip on the front mount if it drains for hours. I do start out with hot oil.
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Club Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 7,618
Likes: 10,437
From: Des moines IA
I disagree with the filter part. NO filter should be put on dry. If you do then the engine runs with out any oil for a number of seconds, that is not good.
Even if you partially fill the filter, it will start circulating immediately.
I fill mine, if you are fast enough you loose very little, and the engine is fed instantly.
Just my .02. Been swinging wrenches for 55 yrs, have an idea of what I am doing. Same goes for cars.
Even if you partially fill the filter, it will start circulating immediately.
I fill mine, if you are fast enough you loose very little, and the engine is fed instantly.
Just my .02. Been swinging wrenches for 55 yrs, have an idea of what I am doing. Same goes for cars.
Either way, you'll hurt nothing. You're draining oil, not wiping the cylinders and bearings clean.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,432
Likes: 290
From: FL
Hot circulating oil puts the combustion and friction particles in suspension so they flow out in the oil. When cold, the parts have settled and are not removed my cold draining. It is better to have very hot oil than very cold oil, not because it will drain better, but because it will remove more wear and tear particles caused by the heat and friction.
Warm is okay as most combustion and friction particles take hours to settle out. Your magnet should remove any metallic particles and are not the concern for oil changes. They should be captured by the drain magnet every time you run your engine.
Warm is okay as most combustion and friction particles take hours to settle out. Your magnet should remove any metallic particles and are not the concern for oil changes. They should be captured by the drain magnet every time you run your engine.