Oil Coolers Worth It?
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,552
Likes: 1
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
IMO every TC should have a cooler installed from the factory. None except CVO's do, so one should be installed after taking delivery. The cooler will reduce peak oil temps 20° or more, and synthetic oil will reduce them another 5-10° over fossil oil. This will allow you to tune the EFI leaner for better fuel economy, if this interests you.
Install is easy, but as has been mentioned the instructions are dubious. If you have an '07 and possibly earlier or later bikes, disregard the section about re-routing VR wires, as it isn't required. Make sure you have a 7/16" (11mm) Allen socket or facsimile to torque the new filter adapter. A threaded coupler of 7/16" OD would work fine if you can fine one, or take a long bolt and thread a nut with a 7/16" head, jammed with a second nut of the same size. This will work in a pinch to get the filter adapter installed.
The HD Premium (an 8-row) is a good choice and the single complaint of leakage and chafing appears to be an exception, and the first such complaint I've heard. I believe if you install the lines correctly you won't have any problems. The same goes for the clamps, again the first complaint I've heard about them. They only need moderate tightening, as the oil flow through the cooler is of low pressure and leakage should be easy to control. A thermostat is standard with this kit.
Jagg's 10-row, either vertical mount on the downtube or low-mount near the VR, is another good choice. A thermostat is a must, IMO, as otherwise you will be cooling cold oil when an air-cooled engine has enough trouble with initial warm-up. Prolonging the warm-up process is bad for everything--oil and engine.
Install is easy, but as has been mentioned the instructions are dubious. If you have an '07 and possibly earlier or later bikes, disregard the section about re-routing VR wires, as it isn't required. Make sure you have a 7/16" (11mm) Allen socket or facsimile to torque the new filter adapter. A threaded coupler of 7/16" OD would work fine if you can fine one, or take a long bolt and thread a nut with a 7/16" head, jammed with a second nut of the same size. This will work in a pinch to get the filter adapter installed.
The HD Premium (an 8-row) is a good choice and the single complaint of leakage and chafing appears to be an exception, and the first such complaint I've heard. I believe if you install the lines correctly you won't have any problems. The same goes for the clamps, again the first complaint I've heard about them. They only need moderate tightening, as the oil flow through the cooler is of low pressure and leakage should be easy to control. A thermostat is standard with this kit.
Jagg's 10-row, either vertical mount on the downtube or low-mount near the VR, is another good choice. A thermostat is a must, IMO, as otherwise you will be cooling cold oil when an air-cooled engine has enough trouble with initial warm-up. Prolonging the warm-up process is bad for everything--oil and engine.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 508
Likes: 14
From: Tallahassee
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
I have the HD premimum on my 08 RG and a dash mounted oil temp gadge. I put the gadge in before I installed the cooler so I could see if it really helped. Dropped temps 20 deg across the board.
Also, I dont understand how anyone could have a problem with the oil lines chaffing. They are pre-shapped. On my bike they do not touch anything to chaff. I have watched carfully for over 4000 miles now, nothing touches, no chaffing.
I will say it is more of a PIA to change the filter now but otherwise no complaints.
My .02,
Doug
Also, I dont understand how anyone could have a problem with the oil lines chaffing. They are pre-shapped. On my bike they do not touch anything to chaff. I have watched carfully for over 4000 miles now, nothing touches, no chaffing.
I will say it is more of a PIA to change the filter now but otherwise no complaints.
My .02,
Doug
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,172
Likes: 0
From: WI/ The State of Harley
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
ORIGINAL: 08anni
What happens to the oil in the cooler when you change your oil? It seems that the low mount
cooler would hold the 8 to 10 oz. of oil. Does it drain completly?
What happens to the oil in the cooler when you change your oil? It seems that the low mount
cooler would hold the 8 to 10 oz. of oil. Does it drain completly?
2nd Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Sorrento, Fla.
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
I use amsoil and thinking about adding a cooler, but don't know if I want dirty oil to mix with
new oil. i change every 5,000.
new oil. i change every 5,000.
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
<<Seems to me that you only need one when you're stopped. And they only work when you're moving. Hardly seems worth the bucks or hassle.>>
I live in FLA and I've been waffling on this subject for quite some time now. I've read reviews from well respected "Uber Wrenches" that make a good case both ways. A recent article in AI magazine by Donny Peterson (massive Uber Wrench) has me leaning towards going with a Jagg 10-Row cooler, Donny actually has two in series on his bike. I guess I can rationalize the oil cooler bringing the temp down while "in the wind" helping to a certain degree (pun intended) to keep the overall average thermal cycle lower. It doesn't do a hell of a lotfor parade duty (read as: Main St Daytona). Heat is the big killer for air-cooled (read as: oil cooled) motors and anything you can do to lower the overall thermal load will help.
JMHO, YMMV.
I live in FLA and I've been waffling on this subject for quite some time now. I've read reviews from well respected "Uber Wrenches" that make a good case both ways. A recent article in AI magazine by Donny Peterson (massive Uber Wrench) has me leaning towards going with a Jagg 10-Row cooler, Donny actually has two in series on his bike. I guess I can rationalize the oil cooler bringing the temp down while "in the wind" helping to a certain degree (pun intended) to keep the overall average thermal cycle lower. It doesn't do a hell of a lotfor parade duty (read as: Main St Daytona). Heat is the big killer for air-cooled (read as: oil cooled) motors and anything you can do to lower the overall thermal load will help.
JMHO, YMMV.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,754
Likes: 4
From: GA
RE: Oil Coolers Worth It?
I put an oil cooler, Reinhart true duals, Stage I and mild cams (Andrews 26A) on my '08 and it is as cool-running as any bike I have ever owned. Definitely worth the money.
The leaking of the older model oil coolers is not much of a problem any more.
The leaking of the older model oil coolers is not much of a problem any more.