Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

MOTORHEADS, please answer this question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 1, 2008 | 04:44 PM
  #1  
Streetrunner's Avatar
Streetrunner
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Default MOTORHEADS, please answer this question

Guys, this is driving me crazy and I'm hoping someone has a fix.
As soon as the weather gets a little cooler, 60's and below, I smell heavy exhaust fumes when I decelerate. After a ride my clothes smell like exhaust.
In the summer months I do not notice the exhaust fumes and I get around 45mpg but when it gets cooler the smell appears and the mileage drops to 32-35 mpg.
The bike has Screamin' Eagle air and slip-ons and a race tuner. Naturally the bike has been on the dyno more than once.
Obviously the bike is running rich but I'm wondering why in the cooler temps. ( my a/f mixture is at 13) I have been thinking along the lines of a bad temp sensor etc.
The dealer tried to hook the ECM up to their computer (not for the map) to see what it was doing but they couldn't get in and they didn't know why they could not get access.
They said that if it was a sensor it would turn my check engine light on so they don't think it's that.
Also I don't know if this has any relationship but I use about 3/4 qt. of oil between 3000 mile oil changes.
Other than that the bike runs strong.

HELP!

Frank
 
Reply
Old Nov 1, 2008 | 06:09 PM
  #2  
HB's Avatar
HB
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 530
Likes: 0
Default

Don't know what your problem might be but I put on a crankcase breather and now I smell oil all the time at stop or slow speeds. I guess that is the downfall to getting the crankcase exhaust away from the intake.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 03:55 PM
  #3  
Streetrunner's Avatar
Streetrunner
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Default

Wow! If the forum doesn't have any answers, no wonder why the dealer is at a loss.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 03:58 PM
  #4  
HDV-GLIDE's Avatar
HDV-GLIDE
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
Likes: 45
From: Indian Land, SC
Default

I'm hoping that we can get an answer to the heavy fuel smell after we shut them down in a garage or shed.

Yesterday it took over an hour to clear the smell out of my 3 bay garage and that was with a window open.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:25 PM
  #5  
Streetrunner's Avatar
Streetrunner
Thread Starter
|
Stellar HDF Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by hdvrodsg
I'm hoping that we can get an answer to the heavy fuel smell after we shut them down in a garage or shed.

Yesterday it took over an hour to clear the smell out of my 3 bay garage and that was with a window open.
I agree. I always leave my garage door open for a while after shutting down to get the fumes out.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:31 PM
  #6  
DDuess's Avatar
DDuess
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 727
Likes: 1
From: Silverdale, WA
Default

I would still test the IAT (intake temp) or the Engine Temp Sensor, it could be faulty without being out of range and setting a check engine light.
 
Reply
Old Nov 2, 2008 | 04:32 PM
  #7  
jmacdonald5's Avatar
jmacdonald5
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,144
Likes: 10
From: Mass
Default

..check the head and cylinder base gaskets when the problem is occuring...sounds almost like at cooler temps you are not getting the proper sealing effect which is supposed to happen by heat expansion of the metals at certain points..obviously just a guess...
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
almostakeeper
General Harley Davidson Chat
13
May 8, 2019 08:36 AM
dnespolo
Touring Models
16
Apr 4, 2015 09:00 PM
Black Beauty
Softail Models
30
Aug 27, 2011 12:19 PM
Far 3ast
Exhaust System Topics
6
Jan 24, 2010 02:10 PM
jakeg823
Sportster Models
9
Sep 18, 2009 05:39 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:08 PM.

story-0
Jason Momoa Is Turning Classic Harleys Into PHEVs

Slideshow: Jason Momoa's latest restoration project blends 1920s Harley-Davidsons with modern electric technology, creating some of the most unusual hybrid motorcycles ever built.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-10 17:18:58


VIEW MORE
story-1
Harley-Davidson Fat Boy Becomes a Dark, Decepticon-Inspired Custom

Slideshow: Killer Custom's latest build relies on styling changes rather than performance upgrades, giving the cruiser an entirely different personality.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 18:28:05


VIEW MORE
story-2
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-5
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-7
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-8
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE