I called the Dealer and inquired, 3.5 quarts can be too much, "initially". Thats close to the end amount total. They start with 3 quarts, then top off with the needed amount. I followed the Manual, and had to siphon some oil off. I'm hoping to make someone else aware of what happened to me...

 

So what has changed in recent years? Different oil pan or different oil feed? Why is not returning to pan?

Alot of people run a little low, to reduce pressure, blowing dip stick out, or blowing out air cleaner. Newer ones have screw in dip stick, rather then fix the problem. Also changed venting over the years.

 

The bellows don't always work good , that's why I don't use them. Let her breath

 

There are few of things that explain why you didn't drain all the motor oil out of the bike.

1. The 09 up oil pans have the labyrinth in the oil pan cast into the bottom instead of like the older EVO / TC oil pans where the labyrinth / baffle was a plastic piece held down by a spring.. On the early pan the seal between the plastic piece and pan was poor and all of the oil could drain out.. The later cast-in baffle / labyrinth can trap oil when on the side stand.. Holding it upright should help but if the oil is cool it may take more than a couple minutes for it to all drain out..

2. If the bike was ridden hard and put away wet, oil can flow into the crankcase / cam case from the filter over the period of a couple days.. With the motor hot, if there is the slightest air leak in any part of the pressure side lubrication system. The oil can siphon into the motor. I suspect that the air leak is someplace either in the pump/ plate or joint between the cam plate and crankcase. The amount could easily be 1/2 quart including the oil filter.

3. If the motor was sumping slightly when shut down, there would have been more oil in the crankcase than normal.. Say the motor was run at high RPM at a constant speed for some time before it was shut down, or simply the seal between the crankcase and the scavenge side of the oil pump wasn't good, the motor could be holding more oil than normal.

It could be a combination of all 3.

I have a lift and the 2 baggers I own go on the lift after a reasonably long ride.. They are allowed to cool for about an hour and the oil is changed. Motor oil is still pretty hot and the bike is upright.. They typically take 3 1/2 Qts to get to mid dipstick which is where most like to run them.. Both have 09-up pans on them..

 

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Umbrellas in breathers

 

Same with my bike, takes 3 quarts only.

 

my dealer does. We won't do a fluid change on a cold engine.

 

Oil flows quicker when hot, is the the reason. To my knowledge, it is the only reason. I have done cold, just gave it longer.

I have also had my oil pan off. Trying to figure out what effect the baffle would have on this topic. I think more about oil pump and sumping.

My bikes are 01 and 07, FLH, and they do vary a little.

I am confused on what you are calling breather. When I think of umbrella, I think of the valve under the rocker covers, in the heads. Just a piece of rubbery you stick in.

Aftermarket Cometic kits come with it. I don't have the ***** tto take it out, cause I don't fully understand. Anti drain back, so oil only goes one way, into heads.

 

3 qts. and check, yes, yes.
Good habit to get back to lifting your bike up level, it will drain well and you can more easily get to and check fasteners, spin and examine wheels, all kinds of things.
When I service my bike, I jack it up and put it on a dolly that I refer to as "The King's Throne". I can roll Him around as I like, get to everything, then just admire the machine.
Lot's of things need checked over on our bikes, service time is a great time to go in depth on it. A year or so ago I found a small finishing nail in my rear tire that I pulled out before it became a problem, probably would not have seen if not for a good exam.