Flushing the oil system
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
handysteve36
I have enjoyed reading all the oil flushing posts. I was hit with a brain tumor about 2 years ago and my bikes have sat. I am now getting some health back since my radicul chemo and radiation treatments. I was smart enough to hook up a battery tender before I got really sick, and was pleasantly surprised that the batteries are still good.
The oil is black and thick. I always simply oil changed as noted in my HD manual, no oil,gas,diesel flushing inside the engine. After reading everyones input I will drain all the floods and replace with new. I will also add the new filter. I plan to run the motor just long enough to heat it up. I then I will be replacing the fluids again, with another new filter too. This may be over kill but after it being stored for so long I feel it is the safest way to get the old contaminated oil out and working fresh oil in.
I feel like if the gas has not gummed up in the carb and it starts, then the oil change may be as simple as that.
Thanks to All, Steve.
The oil is black and thick. I always simply oil changed as noted in my HD manual, no oil,gas,diesel flushing inside the engine. After reading everyones input I will drain all the floods and replace with new. I will also add the new filter. I plan to run the motor just long enough to heat it up. I then I will be replacing the fluids again, with another new filter too. This may be over kill but after it being stored for so long I feel it is the safest way to get the old contaminated oil out and working fresh oil in.
I feel like if the gas has not gummed up in the carb and it starts, then the oil change may be as simple as that.
Thanks to All, Steve.
I have enjoyed reading all the oil flushing posts. I was hit with a brain tumor about 2 years ago and my bikes have sat. I am now getting some health back since my radicul chemo and radiation treatments. I was smart enough to hook up a battery tender before I got really sick, and was pleasantly surprised that the batteries are still good.
The oil is black and thick. I always simply oil changed as noted in my HD manual, no oil,gas,diesel flushing inside the engine. After reading everyones input I will drain all the floods and replace with new. I will also add the new filter. I plan to run the motor just long enough to heat it up. I then I will be replacing the fluids again, with another new filter too. This may be over kill but after it being stored for so long I feel it is the safest way to get the old contaminated oil out and working fresh oil in.
I feel like if the gas has not gummed up in the carb and it starts, then the oil change may be as simple as that.
Thanks to All, Steve.
The oil is black and thick. I always simply oil changed as noted in my HD manual, no oil,gas,diesel flushing inside the engine. After reading everyones input I will drain all the floods and replace with new. I will also add the new filter. I plan to run the motor just long enough to heat it up. I then I will be replacing the fluids again, with another new filter too. This may be over kill but after it being stored for so long I feel it is the safest way to get the old contaminated oil out and working fresh oil in.
I feel like if the gas has not gummed up in the carb and it starts, then the oil change may be as simple as that.
Thanks to All, Steve.
If I were in your shoes, I think I would just drain the oil, replace the filter and then fill up with new oil. I wouldn't run the engine with 2 year old oil thats black and thick in it. After the oil change, run it around for 10 or 15 minuets or so and then check the oil level and color. If it still looks pretty clean you'll be fine, if dirty, I'd change it one more time.
I would also probably use dinosaur oil as synthetic might have some leaks. Some of your seals might have dried out and syn oil has smaller molecules and will find their way out easier than dino oil will.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,241
Likes: 7
From: Daytona, Fla.
Sounds like some have been watchin' too much TV. While Castrol is good oil, & I use it in most of my vehicles, I'm more than a little annoyed at their "sludge" commercials. When I was a kid & pulled my first motor apart there was *lots* of sludge in it. Of course we used "bulk" oil & even fresh oil didn't have much detergent in it. Disassemble a modern motor that's been run on quality modern oil. You'll be amazed at how clean everything is. Yeah, oil gets dark as it's used, but the detergents clean the surfaces they contact & hold the contaminants in suspension. At least till they get to the filter. Flushing a motor is a major waste of time, money, & natural resources. Using the chemicals referred to by the original poster is also hard on the motor. Change the oil & filter, & quit looking for problems that don't exist.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 17
From: The Desert SouthWest
I see no point in it at all unless the motor has been horribly neglected and/or you think it's got heavy sludge down in there perhaps. But if anything resembling normal care then just ride the bike til motor is hot, park it in the garage, drain/change filter and refill it.
Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
Here's a neat way to flush the old oil during an oil change if you really must.
http://www.roguechopper.com/products.html
Neat idea for the truly **** retentive Harley owner.
Mick
http://www.roguechopper.com/products.html
Neat idea for the truly **** retentive Harley owner.
Mick
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 33
From: TEXAS
Now I am going to show my age. Back in the day before detergent oil and before most engines had oil filters. Oil filters were actually an option at one time and you could add an after market filter bought from the JP Whitney catalouge. Anyway before filters and detergent oil it was fairly common to wash the oil system out with deisel fuel or kerosene, it did remove a bunch of stuff. But with todays oils and filters it is not necessary or smart.
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