&nbsp\\;I ride an '02 Ultra. I just installed an oil temp gauge to replace the air temp gauge. My question is am I getting accurate temp readings. I installed the sender in the extra hole on the front of the oil pan. I am running Amsoil 20w50. The oil temps run between 180' and 220'. I was riding in Arizona with 107' air temp and the max oil temp was 235'. Now while these seem ok, whenever the air temp would drop or we ran through some cold rain, the temp would drop to as low as 160'. Do these numbers sound normal or am I getting inaccurate reading?

 

My 03 Ultra runs about the same. I am running an oil cooler. On a hot day with temps over 100 my oil temp might goe as high as 235 if I am running hard on the freeway. Most of the time it will be around 180-200.

 

I run Amsoil 20/50 and your temps are similar to mine in Metro Atlanta.&nbsp\\; I don't pay much attention to the exact temps and use the gauge to see if there is a gross difference occurring that would tell me something may be wrong with the engine.&nbsp\\; So far the gauge hasn't varied from what I normally see.

 

Those numbers are the same that I get on my 07 RG. I have a friend and he gets the same numbers on hit 07 SG with lowers. We both have our senders installed in the pan like you and we both are running HD gauges.
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Now that you know your temps are OK, try to relax and quit looking at the gauge so much. It's unsafe to take your eyes off the road all the time! LOL
Steve

 

I had the same question as you after I installed my oil temp gauge (in the pan). It seemed to run cooler than I thought it would. I have an oil temp dip stick that I used to check how similar the temp readings would be and the dip stick showed about 10 degrees hotter.&nbsp\\;I will have to put the dip stick in some boiling water some day just to see if it reads 212 at the boiling point. I agree with what the pingman said though that you should not let it worry you too much.&nbsp\\;Use it for what is normal for your riding and if you see a spike in the temp one day then you can show some concern.

 

Very simple to check. Boil some water, it boils at 212 degrees F.&nbsp\\; Put your senor in the water and see what reading you are getting.

 

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I did that with my LCD dipstick replacement.&nbsp\\; It registered about 229F at sea level in NE SC.
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My bike.&nbsp\\; 103 S2 with HD oil cooler, HD gauge and the sensor in the pan using SYN3.
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The gauge after coming up to temps usually is at 190-200F.&nbsp\\; If I get into slow traffic it creeps up to 230F or so.&nbsp\\; Start moving and it comes back down.
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My LCD dipstick I have no idea since its full of water.&nbsp\\; Its a waste but I had it installed prior to delivery so its under warrenty for 2-years.&nbsp\\; I figure I can get back out of company the money I spent for the first one I had on my RK that filled with water at day 93 of a 90-day warranty.&nbsp\\; Runit hot, put wter on the face of it and as it cools it will suck the water inside everytime.&nbsp\\; So if you ride in the rain dry off the top of the gauge when you park.
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Running fast or hard on the freeway isn't bad on these things. Sitting in traffic on a hot day is when they start heating up!

 

Thanks for the input.&nbsp\\; I had thought about putting on an oil cooler but wanted to check oil temps before heading down that path.&nbsp\\; Lots of things to spend that money on!&nbsp\\; I had figured the oil in the bottom of the pan would be cooler then what is running through the engine, still with running synthetic I won't be worried about an oil related problem.

 

As a master in a large dealership' I have installed quite a few of these gauges. After a long test ride to get the oil hot, I use my infrared thermometer shot down the dipstick hole to verify the gauge readings. Your values are right in line with what I normally see.