I recently had an HD oil temp gauge installed in place of that real valuable ambient air temp gauge. The install was done with the adapter that attaches to the oil filter mount.

My bike is an 08 SG. SE air cleaner, PCIII, V&H Slip-ons.

The bike is running the just as before the oil temp gauge install... but the gauge is reading WAY hotter than anything I have read on here. The gauge reads 250+ after about 20-30 minutes of average around town street riding.

Anybody have any insight? It is scaring the crap out of me.

 

You are right....thats a bit hot. Unless when you say around town, your talking about New York City at rush hour on a Friday night!

The only thing I can think of right now is the fact that the install has been done via the HD prescribed method and not the method that 99.9% of the guys here on the forum use, where you install the sending unit in the oil pan. The difference in temp could be just because the oil is hotter at the adapter on the oil filter than it is in the pan, and if you think about it, it sounds plausible.
If you want you could try switching to a fully synthetic premium oil (Red-Line, Mobil-1 V Twin, Amsoil). Or you could add a oil cooler.

One thing you could do that would be very easy is to get one of those oil dip sticks with the oil temp gauge on the top. I aint talking about one of those big dollar light up jobs....just the normal analog readout one.....I think its like $30. Then you can compare the oil pan temp against the temp at the filter, and see what you get.

Other than that, i have no idea what to tell you except a good synthetic should be able to handle temps a bit higher than 250*F before it starts to get broken down.

 

Thanks... That is a great idea.I hadn't thought about a dipstick gauge.

I will give it a try tomorrow.

 

Ibuilt a 32 Ford and put a 4 core, three pass radiator in it. Oil cooler, Fan Shroud etc.
It seemed to run hot like 210 degrees all the time.
I had Stewart Warner wings gauge set in it (new ones). I had heard that gauges are not always calibrated to the sending units.
So I sent it off to San Diego Speedo-Tach and had the temp set calibrated.
Ya know, that 32 ran ran pretty cool after that.
Just saying.

 

Where to get the dipstick temp gage for the 08 SG??

OR a setup like they had on a softail etc. where the gage comes up on the right side of the motor etc.

 

I dont think you can get the analog dip stick for a touring model. I have looked and never found one. If you happen to find one that will work please post it. Also you can check the gauge by taking a long cooking thermo. and placing it in the oil through the dipstick hole. just as soon as you cut off the engine take out the dip stick and place the therm in the oil, the compare it against the fairing gauge and it should be close. or it will tell you if the gauge is way off. Just a thought

 

Ya, not unless someone else makes one:
http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Thats easy
63046-07A
Fits '07-later Touring models

 

You are "Rockin".. Rod..!!

Yes.. and cheaper than the fairing mount one with no fancy install or tapping into the oil lines etc.
Also will travel to the new bike if I ever trade,,!!

Thanks.. didn't know they made one for it yet..!!

 

Has anyone had one of those for any length of time? I heard they don't last long if they get wet!

 

I vaguely remember hearing something about that.. But thought it was on some of the older ones.. HHMM.. Better check the warranty...!!!