HD Fan assisted oil cooler kit for M8 engines
#21
08-12-2018, 07:18 AM
Cruiser
For the benefit of others, if you live in a traffic clogged state like Florida, an oil cooler will be of some help keeping oil cooler in traffic. Its not the heat in Florida its the traffic as other states are much hotter in the summer such as mine here is SC.
The reason most bike makers do not include a fan is the faster you go, the hotter your oil gets, not the other way around.
So if your traveling (like we do) on the interstates. 2up at a true 80 MPH, when massive amounts of air are blowing through the cooler, far more then any fan can deliver, that is when your oil is the hottest, once you slow down, to normal stop and go traffic, you oil cools down rapidly all with no fan.
The reason your oil is hottest at the highest possible speeds, again with massive amounts of air blowing through the cooler is simple. The engine is designed to spray oil on the bottom of the pistons at high speeds to cool the pistons down, this is what heats up the oil and why no fan, at low speeds they are no longer effectively sprayed and your oil cools down all by itself.
If your worried about stopped in traffic you are FAR better off with a fan that blows on the heads of the engine, more then any cooler fan. Lenale and Love Jugs.
I have the Lenal and like it because it looks a hell of a lot nicer then the horn, max cooling will come from love juggs though. An oil cooler is not going to help cool the heads of the engine.
Oh and while we are at it, most do not know the normal operating temperature of the oil as stated in the Shop Manual.
The normal operating temperature of the oil is listed as 230 degrees.
For those of you with a PROPER oil temperature guage, travel at 80 MPH for 30 minutes or longer on a almost 100 degree day, as soon as possible stop the bike and measure oil temperature. You will find it around 250 to 260 degrees, then ride around town, you will see it drop 20 degrees, all without a fan.
If you have a water cooled bike, adding a fan is a waste as the fan on the radiators will keep the engine cool which will keep the oil cool.
If you dont have a water cooled fan and are worried about stuck in traffic overheating, then get an engine fan, not an oil cooler fan.
The reason most bike makers do not include a fan is the faster you go, the hotter your oil gets, not the other way around.
So if your traveling (like we do) on the interstates. 2up at a true 80 MPH, when massive amounts of air are blowing through the cooler, far more then any fan can deliver, that is when your oil is the hottest, once you slow down, to normal stop and go traffic, you oil cools down rapidly all with no fan.
The reason your oil is hottest at the highest possible speeds, again with massive amounts of air blowing through the cooler is simple. The engine is designed to spray oil on the bottom of the pistons at high speeds to cool the pistons down, this is what heats up the oil and why no fan, at low speeds they are no longer effectively sprayed and your oil cools down all by itself.
If your worried about stopped in traffic you are FAR better off with a fan that blows on the heads of the engine, more then any cooler fan. Lenale and Love Jugs.
I have the Lenal and like it because it looks a hell of a lot nicer then the horn, max cooling will come from love juggs though. An oil cooler is not going to help cool the heads of the engine.
Oh and while we are at it, most do not know the normal operating temperature of the oil as stated in the Shop Manual.
The normal operating temperature of the oil is listed as 230 degrees.
For those of you with a PROPER oil temperature guage, travel at 80 MPH for 30 minutes or longer on a almost 100 degree day, as soon as possible stop the bike and measure oil temperature. You will find it around 250 to 260 degrees, then ride around town, you will see it drop 20 degrees, all without a fan.
If you have a water cooled bike, adding a fan is a waste as the fan on the radiators will keep the engine cool which will keep the oil cool.
If you dont have a water cooled fan and are worried about stuck in traffic overheating, then get an engine fan, not an oil cooler fan.
#22
08-12-2018, 03:20 PM
Road Master
If you are moving 80mph the air is pushed into the oil cooler at about that speed.
I am thinking the fan will not kick in at speed because it would not do any good.
At slow speed or stopped the fan will draw more air into the oil cooler than without the fan.
So if I do not ride slow and almost never idle for any length of time, the fan is not worth my money.
That is my story and I am sticking to it.
Dang, and I needed to spend money on something.
I am thinking the fan will not kick in at speed because it would not do any good.
At slow speed or stopped the fan will draw more air into the oil cooler than without the fan.
So if I do not ride slow and almost never idle for any length of time, the fan is not worth my money.
That is my story and I am sticking to it.
Dang, and I needed to spend money on something.
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BrandonSmith (08-29-2019)
#23
08-12-2018, 03:36 PM
#25
08-12-2018, 04:17 PM
Road Warrior
Well my 900 Vulcan had a fan that came on like twice in two years . My ultra cooler EG 88ci comes on just a bit more as a drive it more so really about the same. Point is they put it on a cheap bike but not top of the line US bike, it only cost $140 to me that's just sad. I get that most people don't drive these bikes so there for it's not needed but some of us drive every chance we get.
Last edited by xcbullet; 08-12-2018 at 04:18 PM.
#26
08-12-2018, 08:58 PM
Road Warrior
You measure oil temperature by measuring the temperature of the oil. Its called an oil temperature sensor and or oil temperature gauge. You cannot possibly have any idea what temperature the oil is by any other means.
#27
08-13-2018, 10:32 AM
Stellar HDF Member
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So if your traveling (like we do) on the interstates. 2up at a true 80 MPH, when massive amounts of air are blowing through the cooler, far more then any fan can deliver, that is when your oil is the hottest, once you slow down, to normal stop and go traffic, you oil cools down rapidly all with no fan..
Bottom line, I was seeing temps over 250 regularly without my fan and EITMS enabled, and now its rare that I hit 230 without EITMS.
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XXTHESANDMANXX (08-13-2018)
#29
08-14-2018, 08:34 AM
I disagree with your statement. After getting the oil hot from riding at speed and higher RPM, when you stop there is no air flow through the cooler and it really doesn't do much. My oil never cooled down more than a degree or 2 while stopped at a light before I got my fan. But with the fan, I've seen it cool down drastically when I stop at a light after riding. However, if you live in a cooler state, where you might be riding in mid 70s rather than mid 90s in the summer, that might make a difference.
Bottom line, I was seeing temps over 250 regularly without my fan and EITMS enabled, and now its rare that I hit 230 without EITMS.
Bottom line, I was seeing temps over 250 regularly without my fan and EITMS enabled, and now its rare that I hit 230 without EITMS.
#30
08-14-2018, 08:55 AM
Road Warrior
I think you guys are right being the new M8s circulate oil around the valves it may not cool down as it does on the Rushmores when no longer riding at high speeds.
Nothing at all wrong with having a fan on the cooler and a nice option for the M8s
Just wanted to say this, so you didnt take my post the wrong way.
I will say, if your stuck in traffic and do not have the water cooled engine an engine fan will be much greater help then oil cooler BUT at least on the M8s you are circulating a little oil around the valves which helps to cool.
Anyway wanted to make clear, if I had the option on a Rushmore for a factory fan on the cooler I would have one and when/if the day comes for an M8 I will have one!
Nothing at all wrong with having a fan on the cooler and a nice option for the M8s
Just wanted to say this, so you didnt take my post the wrong way.
I will say, if your stuck in traffic and do not have the water cooled engine an engine fan will be much greater help then oil cooler BUT at least on the M8s you are circulating a little oil around the valves which helps to cool.
Anyway wanted to make clear, if I had the option on a Rushmore for a factory fan on the cooler I would have one and when/if the day comes for an M8 I will have one!
Last edited by alarmdoug; 08-14-2018 at 08:57 AM.