Oil Pressure ???
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Laurel Indiana
yeah i have the oil smell once and a while,,,,but i think its because when i change the oil filter you wind up spilling so much from the filter that i dont seen to get it all wiped up,,, and it burns off ??? the smell does seem to go away after a while,,,,,,and another thing i noticed is when i use synthetic oil the pressure on start up is higher like about 45 lbs and when it warms up runs about 38 to 40,,,when i use regular oil the running pressure is 32 lbs,,and idle is like 6 or so syn or dino,,,,,,
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: West Virginia
As for the psi when the bike is hot and at idle the oil psi will drop off. For the oil smell check to see if the level is correct with the bike level. If it is too full it could cause this. I tend to believe like the others that a new bike will put off some weird smells for awhile. Check to see that it's not burning oil also.
Tom
Tom
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,590
Likes: 444
From: Ohio
Harley motors are about flow, not pressure. The smell is crankcase fumes from the vent. Ride and enjoy
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,282
Likes: 2
From: Yukon, OK
I agree with what somebody said...at an idle the gauge will say near zero but it is actually about 5psi at minimum. The oil light is set to go off at 3 psi so you are good just ride it. Mine shows close to zero at an idle warm and 32 + running normal 2500-3000 rpm.....Harleys are all about flow more so than pressure.
Good thing you dont have a pan or shovel , if a gauge cud read a negative oil pressure , they wud do it ..
The '08 Roadie , first 100 miles was pulling over 50 psig running and at idle .. Slowly coming down .. Now pulls about 40 psig cold and when good and hot still gauges about 25psig - 32psig at idle ..
The '08 Roadie , first 100 miles was pulling over 50 psig running and at idle .. Slowly coming down .. Now pulls about 40 psig cold and when good and hot still gauges about 25psig - 32psig at idle ..
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
Originally Posted by dog155
For you non mechanics,it is normal.The reason is Harley motors are all roller bearings,it is amazing they make any oil pressure at all.It is the quantity of oil you can't see that does the work.
My 09 Ultra seems to do pretty much what most have testified to. Mine runs just over the mid point, which is labeled at 32 psi, when cold. Running down the road with the engine warmed up, it'll read at or slightly below that 32 psi point. I've had the bike in downtown traffic, sitting at a red light long enough for the rear cylinder to cut out due to the temps which is about as hot as I've had it get. The oil pressure gauge read at what I'd guesstimate to be about 10 psi. I wish Harley would put a few more graduations on the gauge but I suppose that's not really that important in this application. Anyway, if that's the worst it does, I'll be happy with it.
Good luck with yours!
Steve R.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 31
From: Eastern PA
When I took my 103 engine in for its first tune we checked on sumping, while there the tuner ask if I was interested in a spring that would increase oil pressure, I said sure why not, better oil pressure is always a good thing as far as I am concerned. At idle I read about 10psi now. I do understand your concern.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,179
Likes: 1
From: NH
Someone reads a manual?
