Oil Everywhere
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
A lot of things will cause this problem and most have been mentioned in this thread. Routinely it is the oil level being too high. Most of the time the problem does not surface until running extended periods above 75 mph or repeateded hotrodding of the bike. The breathers from the rocker box area of the heads are fed back in through the air cleaner so any oil mist in the air is fed back through the engine and burned. If excessive oil is pulled through the vents into the air cleaner, eventually the air cleaner element will be come saturated with oil and start to drip and blow back onto the other parts of the bike while riding. Frequent servicing of the air cleaner element, and maintaining the oil level just dow a bit from full will in most cases eliminate any oil from being seen. As engines wear, there is more blow by in the crancase and more mist in the air that is pulled from the engine and the problem worsens. There are a couple of things that can be done - one is to not vent the heads into the air filter, but into a catch can or other arrangement that routes the air elsewhere. The other is when you service the air cleaner, take a kotex pad (without the wings) and lay it in the bottom of the football air cleaner cover and reinstall the cover. The pad will absorb the oil and you can change this at intervals. Sounds funky, but it works.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 827
Likes: 5
From: Ohio
My 99 ultra did that and nothing helped until I changed the breather elements under the rocker boxes to the Doherty breathers (about $125 for the part I did the labor) That completely cured the problem. I havent had any oil in the air filter on the 08 yet with 11k miles. I do my own oil changes and put in 4 qts in and forget it check once after 100 miles or so and then about every thousand miles or so. It hasent used any between changes yet and none in the air filter. It was still full at 5500 miles when I changed and was the same at 10800 when I changed it the second time
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
If you people could see what your intake valves look like after feeding the blow-by back through the carb/fuel injection...you'll never feed it that way again.
Doherty Power-Pacc with Powervents...
ONLY way to go!
I ran the Ness Stage 2 Big Sucker. While my motor was out and my frame was off to the painter, I did a topend refresh. Valves are coated with burnt oil. Over time, this will create valve seating probs.
Doherty Power-Pacc with Powervents...
ONLY way to go!
I ran the Ness Stage 2 Big Sucker. While my motor was out and my frame was off to the painter, I did a topend refresh. Valves are coated with burnt oil. Over time, this will create valve seating probs.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,410
Likes: 8
From: Knoxville, TN
Ever tried a tampon?
Do they absorb more?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 1
From: Tallahassee, Fl
Your best bet for minor maintenance issues like oil changes is to do them yourself ! That way you know they are done right. If you get to something that's out of your league mechanically then go to the dealer. Good luck.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,663
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
That's funny - I wonder where it should be placed...LMAO
It does work though for those that have older bikes and there is blow-by that cant be stopped.
It does work though for those that have older bikes and there is blow-by that cant be stopped.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 5
Learned my lesson about oil level on my 02 Dyna. Had the SE A/C on it and when running it hard I would have oil all over the side of the bike. After that I payed closer attention to keeping the oil level slightly below full.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,661
Likes: 1
From: Santa Clarita
After they did the last maintenance mine read full on the stand cold....I told them all about that one. Asked them to correct it and they refused. Said they filled it correctly. They are responsible for the warranty repairs.
I won't be taking it back there for service. It is there right now because of the '08 recall and to activate the EIMTS. They are also supposed to "Fix" it.
When I get it home I'll be checking my air filter to see if they cleaned it. In fact I may just take the tools with me to check it right there. I don't trust them at all.
I won't be taking it back there for service. It is there right now because of the '08 recall and to activate the EIMTS. They are also supposed to "Fix" it.
When I get it home I'll be checking my air filter to see if they cleaned it. In fact I may just take the tools with me to check it right there. I don't trust them at all.
I just had some work done at County Line Cycles. Quoted me a great price and stuck to their (owner Arman) word. I got the bike back and the work was superb. Did exactly what I asked. It was spotless and actually cleaner than when I delivered it. Theyre close to you give em a try. Tell em Dan with the Street Glide referred you.
Dan