Do I need a 2nd oil cooler?
Thread Starter
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 34
Likes: 1
From: DeLand, FL
Do I need a 2nd oil cooler?
I live in FL and ride a 2013 Limited 103 engine. I was looking into engine cooling fans and someone told me that I should also get an oil cooler with a fan.
The bike has an oil cooler up front. Would it be beneficial to buy and mount a second oil cooler with fan??
Steven
The bike has an oil cooler up front. Would it be beneficial to buy and mount a second oil cooler with fan??
Steven
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,423
Likes: 421
From: Northern, Ohio (Yuck!)
I would not be a second oil cooler. It would be 1 oil cooler with a fan that replaces the one you have.
No you don't need it (or a parade fan) unless you spend hours a day idling in Miami....
I have a Lenale fan that I bought after hearing horror stories about main street at Sturgis. After 5 years other than testing I use it once or twice a year and to be honest I have probably never really needed it.
No you don't need it (or a parade fan) unless you spend hours a day idling in Miami....
I have a Lenale fan that I bought after hearing horror stories about main street at Sturgis. After 5 years other than testing I use it once or twice a year and to be honest I have probably never really needed it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 22,999
Likes: 11,439
Cool the oil all you want it will do nothing to reduce the heat. The heat is in the heads and no way the system flows enough volume to carry that heat away. More post on this subject than you can ever read.
If you want to see a major reduction in heat one of the better designed Fans that flow air across the heads will do a lot more than any oil cooler.
I won't bring up brands because it starts a war. Just a snap shot of what a difference it can make . If you feel it is necessary. This was done on a 2013 103. The bike enjoyed a long life. Same thing with the fan on a 2007, and 2011.
These numbers came from the Dynojet tuner, not a wild guess with a thermal gun.
Out side air was about 70 degrees
103 with lowers open
SYN 20/50 oil
Temp management off
No natural air flow
Started bike allowed to idle
At 261 turned on Fan
40 seconds dropped to 255
90seconds 239
120 seconds 225
at this point the drop slowed a bit
3 minutes 219
5 minutes holding 219 @ same 1000 rpms
7 minutes raised to 221
10 minutes 221 1000 rpms holding
Fan off
10 seconds 230
1 minute 248 climbing steady
1 minute 30 262
2 minutes 266
3 minutes 277
3minutes 20 280
4 minutes 293
FAN on drops of 1 degree per second or so
2 minutes 260
3 minutes 248
4 minutes slowed to 237
FAN off allowed to come to 331
Fan on
Fast drop
1 minute 289
came back down to 228
If you want to see a major reduction in heat one of the better designed Fans that flow air across the heads will do a lot more than any oil cooler.
I won't bring up brands because it starts a war. Just a snap shot of what a difference it can make . If you feel it is necessary. This was done on a 2013 103. The bike enjoyed a long life. Same thing with the fan on a 2007, and 2011.
These numbers came from the Dynojet tuner, not a wild guess with a thermal gun.
Out side air was about 70 degrees
103 with lowers open
SYN 20/50 oil
Temp management off
No natural air flow
Started bike allowed to idle
At 261 turned on Fan
40 seconds dropped to 255
90seconds 239
120 seconds 225
at this point the drop slowed a bit
3 minutes 219
5 minutes holding 219 @ same 1000 rpms
7 minutes raised to 221
10 minutes 221 1000 rpms holding
Fan off
10 seconds 230
1 minute 248 climbing steady
1 minute 30 262
2 minutes 266
3 minutes 277
3minutes 20 280
4 minutes 293
FAN on drops of 1 degree per second or so
2 minutes 260
3 minutes 248
4 minutes slowed to 237
FAN off allowed to come to 331
Fan on
Fast drop
1 minute 289
came back down to 228
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
Personally I think all the fan's and extra things to cool the engine are just to make the owner feel good about it. You don't really "need" anything else. They are air cooled engines that are designed to take the heat. HD tests them in the Arizona dessert. Yes, they can get very hot if stuck in traffic and will not run very good but as soon as you get rolling again and get air across the engine, it will get back to normal operating temps very quickly. You may not be able to take the heat coming off the engine but the engine will be fine.
I live in Houston and commute daily in traffic. I've been stuck in stop and go traffic more times than I can count. Temps in the high 90's. My engine was still running fine when I had it opened up for the first time at 112,000 miles. The only reason I did is because I had the money in the bank and wanted to upgrade it. The indy that rebuilt it said normal wear. Worst being the valve guides. Could have been the heat in the heads but after 112,000 miles, who knows and who cares what caused it. That's a pretty good life for an air cooled motor and it could have kept going a lot longer.
If you are worried about the heat, find ways to make yourself cooler or the heat you feel more tolerable before worrying too much about the engine.
Just an opinion that doesn't mean anything from a guy that rides in the heat every day. I'm sure others will tell you the fans are a must. Fans or an better oil cooler can't hurt but your question was, do you need another cooler. My answer would be no, what you have works fine.
I live in Houston and commute daily in traffic. I've been stuck in stop and go traffic more times than I can count. Temps in the high 90's. My engine was still running fine when I had it opened up for the first time at 112,000 miles. The only reason I did is because I had the money in the bank and wanted to upgrade it. The indy that rebuilt it said normal wear. Worst being the valve guides. Could have been the heat in the heads but after 112,000 miles, who knows and who cares what caused it. That's a pretty good life for an air cooled motor and it could have kept going a lot longer.
If you are worried about the heat, find ways to make yourself cooler or the heat you feel more tolerable before worrying too much about the engine.
Just an opinion that doesn't mean anything from a guy that rides in the heat every day. I'm sure others will tell you the fans are a must. Fans or an better oil cooler can't hurt but your question was, do you need another cooler. My answer would be no, what you have works fine.
If the felt engine heat is a problem Especially while sitting in traffic check out a product that we make called a Crotch cooler . They work and they are very easy to install .http://shop.captain-itch.com/Harley-...hields_c58.htm
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 895
Likes: 27
From: Outside Dover, OH
First thing I'd do is lose the cat converter. If it's still runnin hot, I'd look into an aftermarket cooling fan.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 88,134
From: Western South Dakota
It's too bad that there is not a conversion kit for at least the rear cylinder as this is where all of the heat stays. It is the placement of the motor and the rear cylinder does not get the air that the front does.
I have an oil bud cooler and it drops the temp 35 degrees but the rear cylinder still almost burns my right calve on my leg at times.
Anything that prevents the heat from escaping is merely holding it in IMO regardless of what you are using.
I don't have the fans either so I do not have an opinion on that.
Jason of Wardwerks said that he did not know if I purchased his fans if that would fix my heat issue either so I didn't buy his fans.
I have an oil bud cooler and it drops the temp 35 degrees but the rear cylinder still almost burns my right calve on my leg at times.
Anything that prevents the heat from escaping is merely holding it in IMO regardless of what you are using.
I don't have the fans either so I do not have an opinion on that.
Jason of Wardwerks said that he did not know if I purchased his fans if that would fix my heat issue either so I didn't buy his fans.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 5,691
Likes: 1,651
From: Olean, NY
Lots of advice in your other thread on the same subject.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-in-fl-2.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...e-in-fl-2.html
Last edited by Cygnusx51; May 13, 2017 at 09:29 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,630
Likes: 185
From: Mountain West, Big Sky Country
biggest concern i have with adding a 2nd cooler is idle pressure loss. at speed, pressire loss is minimal
at idle, without adjusting oil pressure for 2nd cooler, its a concern. i think changing the spring in tge oil pump to a baisly spring could readily overcome this issue.
i have seen 2 twin cams both a 95 and a 103 with twin jagg 10 rows. neither rider expressed any other concerns except idle oil pressure
both engines consistently ran temps below 220. this was in Alabama where heat and humidity are present
at idle, without adjusting oil pressure for 2nd cooler, its a concern. i think changing the spring in tge oil pump to a baisly spring could readily overcome this issue.
i have seen 2 twin cams both a 95 and a 103 with twin jagg 10 rows. neither rider expressed any other concerns except idle oil pressure
both engines consistently ran temps below 220. this was in Alabama where heat and humidity are present
