Money well spent IMO.

 

Just finished putting one (HD Premium) on my 08 Electra Glide Standard last week. I live in Northwest Ohio so we don't get the big heat like folks in the south but we will get a few weeks in the 90's. But to me anything that helps the engine run cooler is a good thing. It will definitely help on those long trips with the engine cranking for hours on end. I can definitely feel the difference, no question. On the install I had a small drip from my adapter. To cure that I used some Permatex Indian Head Gasket Shellac. Get it at Autozone, $3.59 for a small bottle. I would definitely use a gasket sealer like the shellac. Otherwise install is a piece of cake. Directions stink(confusing). The fitting that attaches the adapter to the engine oil filter surface does require a 7/16" hex key but you can use the three 1/4" nuts on a 1/4" bolt trick. The outside measurement of a 1/4" nut is 7/16 inches. I found a 7/16" hex key at Harbor Freight Tools but you had to buy a set for $19. You can order one at Sears for about $5.50, but I was in a hurry to fix my leak so bought the Harbor set.

 

Anything you can do to cool your oil in a huge air cooled engine is a plus IMHO, if you get one make sure that it has a themostat on it then you'll never have to worry about it! Remember that harley sprays engine oil on the bottom of the very hot pistons to help cool the engine and help prevent spark knock,which super heats the oil speeding up the oil break down so even in cooler climate's the oil cooler is a good idea

 

If you look in the October issue American Iron Magazine they have just the article you are looking for.

 

I think the oil cooler is now stock on the 2009 models. At least the ones I have seen in the show room have had them.

 

You only need to add the oil cooler if you drive a lot in the high temperature places. Also, remember that the oil cooler will only help when your bike is moving since it needs air flow.

 

Cheap insurance, get it, make sure you have the 7/16 allen socket. 09's dont come with oil cooler.

 

do you have an oil temp guage? unless your oil is consistently above 220 degrees you do not need one. 180 - 220 is the optimal range for oil temp - the MOCO has been very good at designing engines to maintain optinal oil temp. cylinder head temp is not indicative of high oil temp. only a temp guage can tell you for sure.

oil below 180 will not evaporate water - water the natural by-product of combustion.

synthetic oil will lubricate up to 300 degrees or more (redline lubricates up to 400 degrees).

for the rest of the story - from Joe "the wizard" Minton (if you don't know him, do some research - he probably wrote the service manual in your shop).




Normal Harley engine-oil temperatures ought to be between 180 and 220 degrees fahrenheit. This is the range most engine and oil manufacturers recommend. Harley, since the first Evo Big Twin, has done a superb job of maintaining these normal oil temperatures.

Temperatures lower than 180 may not evaporate water from the oil in a reasonable time. Remember that water is the majority by-product of combustion. Some of it finds its way into the crankcase on the oil side of the pistons, especially when the engine is cold. A dozen miles at 180 degrees fahrenheit pretty much dries the oil.

Higher oil temperatures—especially above 240-260 degrees—greatly accelerates petroleum-oil degradation. The oil oxidation rate increases with temperature, and 300-degree oil becomes useless “gunk” in a very short time.

High-quality synthetic oils, such as Harley Syn or Mobil 1, withstand much higher temperatures without losing their ability to protect your engine’s moving parts. I know that Red Line Synthetic racing oil continues to lubricate normally at 400 degrees.

I have used oil coolers on Harleys. Most of the time they were not needed and I either covered or removed them. However, there are circumstances that may call for some extra cooling. For example, heavy touring bikes making long climbs on hot days, or being ridden in low-speed parades, can overheat oil. Road racers going very fast on a hot day might run oil temps above 240 degrees.

Canyon racers (I used to be one) can have as much of an oil-temperature problem as the mountain-climbing bagger pilot. Both need an unusual amount of power at relatively low speeds where cooling is reduced. My experience is that road racers are less likely to have an oil-temperature problem than canyon riders simply because they are going much faster and the cooling is better.

Unless your engine’s oil temperature consistently exceeds 240 degrees, I wouldn’t bother with an oil cooler. If you do need one, buy it from Harley-Davidson. I have tested a number of oil coolers and most of them didn’t work very well. The Harley coolers do and they have been tested to withstand all those Milwaukee power pulses that we know and love.

One more thing. As we all know, the rear cylinder of Twin Cams, especially the TC96 and 103 engines, radiates a lot of heat on the rider’s right leg. This does not mean that there is a problem with overheating. These engines were designed to handle these temperatures. The only problem is that it feels so hot! So do not judge an engine’s running temperature by the heat you feel coming from the engine—use an oil-temperature gauge.

 

That's what I was told. To which I asked, "Then why do they put them on most Screaming Eagles?" ............no reply from him.

 

^ Pure and utter BULL****! Get one because your air cooled motor needs one.